“Then come, follow me.” She said to everyone before looking directly at the prince. “This way, your highness.” Prince Damron and the others hefted their packs and weapons and followed her down corridors unknown. Cassandra’s wisp of a form distorted and morphed to stay out of the light coming in through windows and doorways. She slinked and even walked upside down on the ceiling to move along untouched by the light. She seemed to take no mind or effort to contort herself in such an unnatural way as she continued along. Through two more doors and down a staircase she led them. At one point she changed her form into a thin strand of smoke to slip through a keyhole and unlock the door from the others side and open it for the others. Hoxley and Ignatius shared an unspoken glance of amazement. At the bottom of another flight of stairs and through another two doors she finally came to a halt. “This is where we part ways.” she said somberly. “This door opens at the top of the hill above the beach. If you head south and stay below the crest, the others shouldn’t be able see you depart.”

  “Thank you again for everything.” Said Hoxley.

  “No, thank you. If you hadn’t found me and brought the prince and witches and Morell, then my people would have died of a wasting disease. You’ve saved my parents and kingdom. I am forever in your debt.”

  “There’s no debt to be paid, Princess.” Said Ignatius. “Our misadventures have aligned to bring us together. I hope we cross paths again.”

  “I hope it our fate to do so.” she said, unlocking the thick wooden door and pulling it open enough for them to slip through. The door creaked with age as she hid in the shadow behind it. “Now hurry, there isn’t much time.” One by one the companions filed through the door, turning sideways to fit through the opening, Atticus handed the broom dangling Robert to his brother and sucked in his gut to squeeze his massive girth through.

  “By the way, your grace.” The man added. “The other men who were your father’s prisoners are still tending to the weak. If I might ask on their behalf that they be rewarded in some way. They’ve earned their freedom but have also demonstrated good will to your father’s crown by continuing to aid the people.”

  “I could not agree more.” the princess said. “I will see to it that such a thing comes to pass. Take care on your travels, Atticus.”

  “Thank you, your grace.” He said before continuing to push through the threshold. His weapons and shield clanked and scratched before finally getting through. Morell was about to step through when the princess reached out to him.

  “You are the hero to my home and kingdom.” She said. “I hope your learning of the fungi continues and I would be honored to present your work to my father for the education of the kingdom when its ready.”

  “Th-thank you your grace.” Morell said, still holding his nose then checking his hand for blood.

  “Your highness!” Loxo exclaimed as he drew closer. “You would do well to guard your valuables while your kingdom is in such a frazzled state. Do be on the lookout for potential goods that may or may not have been misplaced in all the confusion.”

  “Thank you, Loxo.” She said “Be well.”

  “As for you,” she said to Siouxsie. “Witches are always welcome wherever I dwell.”

  “And the same to you.” Siouxsie replied with a small but dainty curtsey as she passed. “Merry part, princess Cassandra.”

  “Merry part.” The shadow girl smiled. The witch stepped out walked out leaving only Prince Damron and the princess within.

  “I’m sorry we have to leave you while danger is still about.” He offered.

  “Let us hope they come to their senses and depart before nightfall.” She said.

  “And if they don’t?” he asked?

  “Then I’ll come for them in the night.”

  “And kill them?”

  “I’ve no desire to take a single life but I won’t be kind either. I’ll slip through their lines and unbuckle their horses, steal their swords and fling them into trees until the cowards run. Whomever stays will receive a severe ravaging. Perhaps I’ll sling them into the ocean by the dozen until their will is broken.”

  “I wish I could be here to see such a thing.” He said.

  “I would like for us to see each other once again when all this chaos has played itself out.” She said.

  “As would I. Your kingdom has taken a terrible wound, but I believe it will recover. As for mine. I cannot say whether I shall have a home to return to.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “I believe if you hold true to yourself and press on even when hope is lost then you’ll find yourself in the arms of victory.” She said

  “I would like that more than anything.” Before he could react, she slipped closer and placed a shadowy peck upon his cheek. The gesture was welcome but instead of the sensation of lips touching the side of his face it felt more like a chilling breeze. “For luck.” She smiled. “To hold you over until that victory finds you and we meet again.”

  “Farewell, princess Cassandra.” He said stepping out into the sunlight.

  “Farewell, Prince Damron.” She said, shutting the creaky door and locking it behind him.

  Hoxley held her hand up to her eyes to block the glare coming off the western sea as titan sized waves crashed upon craggy cliffs stretching over a hundred feet below. Thick bushes and shrubs blocked any advance to the north, but to the south the remnants of a small path that hadn’t been used in a long time beckoned. She stepped past the pirate and prince to size up the overgrown branches before swinging her spear in wild diagonal arcs. Swipes here and there cleared the underbrush enough for the others to follow. The strikes were quick and efficient in whatever the cutting end sliced away, a wild swing from the butt of the weapon batted it out of the way. It was thick to be sure.

  Behind her, Siouxsie watched Morell as he grimaced and grunted. His thumb, tongue, and forefinger occupied the same space in the top of his mouth. They wiggled and prodded until finally he yanked hard enough to pull an entire tooth free, roots and all. Morell eyed the tooth for a moment before pitching it aside. Siouxsie acted fast enough to snatch it midair.

  “You’re getting rid of it? Can I keep it?” she asked anxiously.

  “You want my tooth? Why would you want it?”

  “It’s possible I can use it for a component in a potion or something.”

  “A potion for what?”

  “I haven’t thought about it yet, but I don’t think I’s a good idea to let a tooth go to waste. I’ll only keep it if you don’t object.” Morell looked confused., closing his eyes to shake his head before opening them again.

  “You can keep it if you want.” He said, spitting blood off the trail.

  “I lose teeth all the time, you know.” Loxo said, injecting himself into the conversation. “It’s bound to happen sooner or later when dealing with rapscallions in a bar or place of ill repute. How did you lose a tooth?”

  “Hoxley’s brother hit me in the face with a door.”

  “That brute in the cell at the end of the hall in the dungeon? The murderer? Wait a moment, how did he get his cell door open?” Ignatius was walking nearby and overheard the question. He too was eager to learn the answer.

  “He’d grabbed Hoxley’s arm through the feeding tray hole and threatened to break her neck if I didn’t open the door to his cell.” Morell spat again. “When I turned the lock, he battered me with the door in the face.”

  “Is what he said true, Hoxley?” Ignatius asked, stepping past the others to walk behind Hoxley “Did your brother really threaten to kill you?” Hoxley’s nostrils flared in frustration, trying to forget the ordeal altogether.

  “He took advantage of my kind nature.” She said without taking her eyes off the swinging blade. “I should have been more careful, but I was careless and now he’s loose again and Morell has lost a tooth because of it.”

  “Oh pish,” Loxo said with a dismissive wave. “Having been locked away in that dreadful hole I’m sure your boorish brother has taken to the hills and is eager to start his life over as a new centaur! The threat of losing one’s life can have a very profound effect on one’s outlook on life so that they never wander from the path of the straight and narrow, you know.”

  “Hoxley got you out of stocks…” Robert groaned from his hammock. “and you tried to rob the first kingdom you came to the second it was convenient.”

  “THAT…” Loxo paused as every eye was upon him to hear his retort. “Was an unfortunate circumstance for which I have already explained was nothing more than a simple misunderstanding. Besides, I’m more than certain that Hoxley’s brother has had a complete change of heart, regrets the entire ordeal and won’t step another hoof out of line for the rest of his days!”

  “Please stop talking.” Robert groaned.