“That idea has merit.” He though aloud. “Yes, yes, what if we, or I, took the broom and affixed it to a spare broom and flew high into the air and left it floating far out of reach?”

  “Would that work?” Hoxley asked. “Can you do that? Would the broom not fall down on its own?”

  “Not if I leave it enchanted. I could perform the spell or Siouxsie could. That would leave another one of us without a broom but it would solve our problem with being followed.”

  “And what about the two armies?” she asked. “What can be done about them?”

  “To fight two armies, you need three armies I would think. But in a land with only two armies in total, how does one fight against them?”

  “Would the witches be willing to fight?”

  “The witches would only fight if they were directly threatened, and even then, they would only account for one quarter army.” said the witch “That’s hardly enough to take on Lord Baltus.”

  “Horse apples.” Hoxley cursed. “I’m growing weary of asking questions. Every time I do, another one presents itself.”

  “Then stop asking for now. Perhaps let’s listen to the waves crash until a solution can be devised.”

  “That’s a fair trade.” She said, resituating her head again to get comfortable without impaling him with her horns. And for a while, everything but the sea was still. The stars twinkled above as they always had and Hoxley took his hand in hers. “Tell me a story, Ignatius.” She said.

  “A story, eh? Very well. Do you see those two bright stars there?” he pointed high in the sky to a pair of twinkling dots on the sprawling canvas of black.

  “I do. They’re the ‘witches hat’ stars, aren’t they?”

  “They are. And a long, long time ago there used to be three of them and three together made a triangle like the shape of a witches hat.”

  “What happened to the third one?”

  “That’s the story. The elders and stories passed down through the generations say that all magic kind lived in peace and harmony and abundance underneath the witches stars until one day a pair of witches started a fire that killed many people.”

  “Why would they do such a thing?”

  “No one seems to remember. But to punish those witches, all witches, the powers that made the stars extinguished the third star. Taking away the sign of the witches caused all of us to suffer until a great atonement is made.”

  “And what can be done?”

  “No one knows. There were notes and rumors in the old tomes that a witch would rise from our ranks to perform a deed so great that the mighty forces of the stars would grants us a third star to make the witches hat whole once more and deliver us to times of abundance once again.”

  “That sounds marvelous. Do you think it can happen?” she asked

  “I’m beginning to lose hope. For generations the lands we’ve come to settle upon yield less and less food for us to survive upon. Thus, our people have suffered poorer and poorer health. Our numbers are dwindling with our constitution. Look at Siouxsie and Robert; they’re tiny for their size, almost like children despite being an age on the cusp of adulthood. In a few more generations, who knows? All of witchkind could fade away and become nothing more than a cautionary story to be told to children to not play with fire.”

  “Don’t talk that way.” said Hoxley “I believe in you and your siblings. I believe once we’ve helped to set things straight to aid the prince in getting his kingdom back good things will come.”

  “I hope you’re right, but part of me thinks I won’t live long enough to see it.” He said.

  “You can’t think like that, Ignatius. You need to believe that anything can come to pass if we hold true to virtue and fight for what’s right.”

  “Ah, Hoxley the eternal optimist.” He smiled. “Always ready to butt heads with hopelessness.”

  “Nothing ever comes from giving in but defeat.”

  “Ha.” He chuckled. “That’s very true.”

  “Then don’t give in.” she said squeezing his hand. “Always find a way to carry on, no matter how hard it gets.”

  “Then I guess there’s no arguing the point any further. You’ve convinced me.” He squeezed her hand in return. “In the morning I’ll fly the prince’s crown to Oldvale.”

  “How will you hide it?”

  “I’ll lash it to Siouxsie’s broom and leave it suspended high above the old bell tower where no one without a broom can reach it.”

  “Siouxsie won’t mind you taking her broom?” Hoxley asked

  “When I tell why I need it she won’t object.”

  “When will you leave?” she asked

  “The earlier I depart the better.”

  “How long will it take? When and where will we find you again?”

  “I believe I can reach Oldvale in a day or so. As for finding you and the others, that’s a different matter. Depending on how close the enemy is still following you, your path may change between here and there. Where you think you should go next. Do you know what direction you’ll go?”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “I thought perhaps we’d continue south a little further before heading due east. That should put us just north enough to avoid Steelbriar.”

  “I’ve never been there.” said Ignatius. “Is it really so terrible?”

  “I have no desire to go tromping through a poisonous bog.”

  “Then perhaps it would be more prudent for you to meet me in Oldvale, well maybe not in Oldvale but perhaps just south of the place. There’s a gumfruit grove there both Siouxsie and Robert know well. It’s dense with trees and would be an easy place to defend if you’re discovered, which I don’t think you will.”

  “How will we know when to be there?”

  “Just make it to that grove without being followed and I’ll seek you out. I’ll find you. Listen for a song on my witchle.”

  “I will. I’ll get them there.” She said. “I promise.”

  “Very well. If the crown is enchanted like we think it is, then you should have no problem eluding scouts to make your way there.”

  “Then we’re in agreement.” She said, letting go of his hand and pushing herself up to her hooves. “Come, let’s wake the prince.” Ignatius floated down through the center of the opening in the rock formation while Hoxley found her angled stairsteps down the outside of the sheer face. Once inside, she approached the sleeping prince while Ignatius collected his sister’s broom. “Your highness?” She nudged his thigh with the butt of her spear. “Prince Damron, wake up.” The boy looked half groggy and confused as he roused.

  “What is it? Is it my turn for watch already? I feel like I just laid down.”

  “No, you’ve still got time for sleep, but we need something from you.” said Hoxley

  “What? What is it?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.

  “I need you to give me your crown.” said Ignatius

  “My crown?” The boy asked defensively. “What do you want with it?”

  “We believe it’s enchanted.” said Hoxley. “Take it out of the bag. If it’s still glowing green then there is likely a spell upon it that tells the enemy where we are.” Prince Damron reluctantly did as he was asked and sure enough, when he pulled it from the pack, the gold crown did give off an eerie green glow.

  “Give it to me.” Said Ignatius, taking a step closer.

  “What are you going to do with it?” asked the prince,

  “I’m going to take it and fly it back to Oldvale. There’s a place where I can put it where it’ll be safe in a place where your uncle cannot retrieve it.”

  “I’m not letting you take it anywhere.” He said, shoving it back in the pack.

  “Please?” asked Hoxley. “This is the right thing to do.”

  “No! It’s my birthright and I’m not giving it to the witch!”

  “Your highness, please be reasonable.” said Ignatius taking a step closer with his hand out. “I’m trying to protect you, to protect all of you.” By this time, everyone in the chamber had awakened to see what was causing an argument. Even Atticus stirred from his sound slumber to see what was the matter.

  “No!” shouted the prince, jumping to his feet and clutching his bag with both arms around it like a mother protecting a child. “I go anywhere it goes!”

  “Humans can’t ride brooms.” Ignatius told him “And you can’t keep up with me on foot. Even Hoxley couldn’t keep pace and she can run for hours. It’s better if you let me have it.” Ignatius took a quick step in and snatched a handful of the material of the bag to seize it. Still the prince resisted. “We don’t have time for this, your highness. The sooner I get this crown away from the group the safer you all will be.”

  “Get…your…hands… off my crown.” growled Prince Damron as he glared him down. “Or I will cut that hand off.”

  “Is that so?” asked Ignatius with a cocked eyebrow. The tall witch let go and took a step back before pulling his long, shimmering sword from its sheath and holding the tip a foot from the boy’s face. Seeing this, Morell’s eyes went wide, and he backed away to the edge of the chamber with fear. Atticus saw the blade and scooted on his butt to get further away from the two. Loxo however, found the exchange fascinating and took a few steps closer to almost stand between them. His eyes were wild with interest and he bit his bottom lip with excitement to see such an exchange.

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: That's 100 chapters, everyone! there's still another hundred or so to go before this story is concluded. Thank you very much to each of you who have decided to take a look or stick around until the end. You will not be disappointed! There is still loads more of action, wonder, romance, friendship, suspense, magic and songs waiting just for you! -AJC