When the prisoners were bathed, clothed and fed, Ignatius explained their conundrum. Each of the prisoners were baffled as they each finished an additional bowl of mushroom broth.

  “How could this have happened?” asked one in between slurps.

  “Why didn’t it affect us?” asked another

  “It’s the rain that follows the green lightning, isn’t it?” Atticus asked the witch. “Its magical poison doesn’t affect us because we were locked away.”

  “We believe that’s the reason.” He nodded in agreement. “Those who came into contact with it have become as helpless as babes. It is our hope to offer aid by feeding the kingdom and there isn’t time to waste.”

  “Feed an entire kingdom?” said one man “That could take days!”

  “But we don’t have days.” Ignatius reminded them. “To keep the people from starving to death we must feed them this thin soup. They’re awake enough to take water which is why we’re using this broth. We hope it is enough to sustain them.”

  “For how long are we to nurse these people?”

  “We’re not sure. One of the members of our group understands mushrooms with unique properties. He’s added those ingredients to this broth in hopes that it can cure them.”

  “This broth we’ve been eating?” asked Atticus with wide eyes as he looked down at his empty bowl.”

  “Yes, the same. But have no fear, its effects on the able-minded are strange but minimal.”

  “We shall see.” Atticus said, pitching his bowl aside with disgust.

  “Now come along.” Said Ignatius as he beckoned them to come with him. “It’s time for all of us to earn the king’s favor.” The prisoners followed him into the royal kitchen where Morell and Prince Damron were finishing their efforts of straining the miniscule pieces from the broth by pouring it through a sheet. For their ingenuity, it captured the very last of the solids. When they entered, the prisoner’s eyes grew very wide.

  “Is…is that Prince Damron?” the man asked. Hearing this, the others looked as well before taking on the same shocked expression.

  “It is I.” the prince said, setting down his pot to address them. Several of the men bowed while some averted their eyes. “I speak for the king. You have been given amnesty for your trespasses in exchange for your greatly needed services to the kingdom.” He said in the most convincing voice he could manage. “If you choose not to aid us, you’ll be sent back to the cells. Is there anyone who doesn’t want to partake of this bargain?” No one said a word. “Very well. You’ll be divided into groups and given two large pots; one of broth and one of water, and a section of the kingdom to cover. You will give each person you come across who is still alive a ladle of broth and a sip of water to wash it down. Does everyone understand?” They nodded in agreement. “Keep track of where you are. We don’t want to skip anyone as this portion may be the only thing keeping these people alive. Witches will be flying around to help keep everyone on course. If you have to stop for rest, make it short. If you have to stop to piss, make it quick. When you run out of broth and water, return here and refill your pots. It’s going to be dark before we know it. Find lanterns and oil where you can to keep going. Hundreds of lives depend on you. Does anyone have any questions?” again, silence. “Very well, work in teams of two if you can; one to hold the helpless and one to feed them. Now come, get your pots. The witches outside will give you your tasks.” The men did as they were told; gathering their supplies and departing. When he was sure that they were gone, Prince Damron’s shoulders sagged as he relaxed. “I thought they were never going to leave.” He told Morell. “It takes a lot of concentration to convey a sense of royalty. It’s more tiring than I thought it would be.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “I think you did an excellent job.” Morell replied. “You sounded like a king to me. I’ve never met one but if I had to imagine I’d say you sound just like I think one might.”

  “That’s good.” He said. “I think we have all the broth we need. Are you coming with me?”

  “Hoxley says she has a different task for me.” Morell said as Hoxley came in through the door with a pail in each hand. “Ah, here she is now.” The prince looked upon the pails of milk she held and seemed curious.

  “Milk, Hoxley?” he asked.

  “For babes.” She replied. “I had Robert and Siouxsie comb the kingdom for infants and bring them to the throne room where they could be fed.”

  “I don’t think I would do well to care for babes.” Said the prince.

  “Nor I.” said Hoxley as she looked to Morell. “That’s why I believe Morell is the right person for this task. Come along, and I’ll show what needs be done.” The pair followed her to the throne room where pillows and blankets had been situated in rows to accommodate a mewling and fussing nursery of dozens upon dozens of babies of different ages. Siouxsie was putting the last of the finishing touches in getting them all situated as they entered. When she saw them, she immediately removed her hat to show her eyes were red where she’d been crying and still had tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “What’s the matter, Siouxsie?” asked Morell. “Why are you crying? You’ve done a magnificent job of collecting them.”

  “There…*SNIFF* There are many…” She paused to wipe the snot from her nose on her sleeve. “There are many that could not be…be collected.” Her pained words made every heart in the room sink into their owner’s stomachs. “The smaller ones perished for want of food.” Her lips trembled with grief. “We tried. *SNIFF* We tried to gather as many as we could as fast as we could, but we were not swift enough. These here are all we could find.” Hoxley set down the pails and held her arms wide to receive her. Siouxsie raced to be held and buried her face in the centaurs’ shirt. “We weren’t fast enough.”

  “Shhhh.” Hoxley tried to soothe her. “You’ve done a magnificent job. It’s not your fault. We’re going to do the best we can to save as many as we can. That’s all we can do. Where is your brother?”

  “On the edge of town.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes again. “He buries the ones we couldn’t save. He said I shouldn’t have to see such a thing. I wouldn’t, Hoxley. I couldn’t. It’s too much.”

  “It is. It is all too much.” She agreed. “But what’s beyond us is beyond us. For now, we must do what we can with what he have. I’ve fetched fresh milk and I’m going to show Morell how to feed them. He’s going to see that these babes you’ve gathered are properly fed.”

  “He is?” she asked before letting go of her and hugging the boy, nearly crushing him, not that anyone figured he would mind. Siouxsie then planted a long joyous kiss on the side of the face before letting go. “You’re better than a full cave of bats, Morell, you really are!”

  “Th-thank you!” he said, feeling the place where her lips had found the outside of his cheek. “I think I’m ready, Hoxley! He said.

  “I’d like to be of some help as well.” Said the spectral voice from the prince’s clothes. “Would you mind closing off all the windows?” The companions did as they were asked. And when the last one shut to bathe the room in darkness, the shadow girl slipped from the prince’s pockets and reformed into her “girl shaped” self before them.

  “An extra two hands would be very welcome.” Said Hoxley.

  “Only two?” asked the shadow. As she spoke, a duplicate form of the same size stepped from beyond her silhouette. The same piercing white eyes glared from the ink-colored form bordered in stardust. “Then perhaps four would be better?”

  “Oh!” said Hoxley with some shock, “You can be two persons at the same time?”

  “Perhaps more.” the girl said, the shadows began to multiply, an exact copy of the girls form stepping out of the silhouette of the others time again to become four, then eight, then so many that there was no longer any room to stand in the chamber. Hoxley and the others stood unnerved in shocked silence.

  “Jumping pumpkins.” Whispered Siouxise “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

  “Pumpkoo!” said a voice beneath her hat.

  “This is fantastical.” Hoxley gasped. “How can you do such a thing?”

  “Without the confines of the flesh and light to bind me, I can be much more than just a larger form, I can become than one or two. With my help we can manage these children and once the sun’s light is gone, I can help the others to feed the kingdom.”

  “That’s magnificent.” Hoxley said. “Thank you! But a question remains: how will we feed the children? We’ve neither enough expectant or recently birthed mothers or enough breasts at hand for them to suckle.” Everyone to include the shadow girl appeared perplexed. How would they do it? Everyone remained deep in thought until finally Siouxsie’s face brightened.