“Most of them are about our history or teach a valuable lesson.”

  “What lesson does ‘Piggy Piggy’ teach?” asked Morell.

  “I said most of them.” snarled the leather cocoon. “Piggy Piggy a nonsense song for children to enjoy, but ‘Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow has always held its value.”

  “For children?” asked Siouxsie “Hurumph! I happen to find Piggy Piggy a delightful ditty to sing and share with others.”

  “Ha! That’s quite funny, Robert.” snarfed Loxo “Is Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow actually a song?”

  “No.” said the cocoon before falling silent again. And so, the companions gathered their things, reluctantly leaving the sunbeam and its tranquility behind them as they traveled toward Oldvale. Cautiously, Hoxley led across an unfamiliar wilderness. Through dense thickets and across tall ridges they climbed.

  “Do you know where you’re going, Hoxley?” asked Atticus “I feel like we’ve climbed every hill in the area!”

  “It’s not my intent. I don’t know this place as well as I do others.” She replied, her eyes and head peering in every direction. “We need to keep travelling northeast, but the landscape only has ridges running north to south. I’m sorry it’s difficult. I knew an easier way that wouldn’t be watched by soldiers, I’d gladly take it.”

  “I’m sorry to be a burden.” Said Morell.

  “It can’t be helped.” She answered. “But I’d happily carry any warrior who held his ground like you did against those horsemen.”

  “I was scared.” said the redhaired boy as he rested his forehead against her back.

  “Everyone was scared.” she replied with a small backward glance. “It was a perfectly good situation to make one scared and you held your ground, which is all anyone can ask. I should want better for you and the others. A battlefield is no place for a boy. You should be free to climb trees and read books and study your mushrooms.”

  “I’d almost forgotten.” Said Morell. “I’ve hardly filled any pages of my grimoire since I left home.”

  “Too much has been happening.” The prince spoke. “If we didn’t spend all of our time being hunted, then your book could be all but full by now.”

  “Speaking of brave.” Added Atticus. “I believe this little pyromancer I’ve got slung over my shoulder dispatched more than any three of us combined. Can anyone learn such power or does one have to be born a witch?” he asked Siouxsie.

  “I don’t know if non-witches can use magic.” She said with some thought. “To use magic is to have a connection with…with… oh, I don’t know what to call it. It’s a feeling I suppose. It’s a handshake with invisible things bigger than yourself. Perhaps I’m not being very clear. I don’t think I’ve ever had to tell anyone what it is because it’s always been for me. But for all the magic I hold, I don’t think I could have been brave enough to tackle a horse like Prince Damron.”

  “I’m grateful for the intervention.” Huffed Atticus to the prince. “But you could very well have been trampled yourself, your highness. This whole misadventure would be for naught if you were mangled by a horse, would it not?”

  “I thought you and Hoxley might’ve been killed.” Said Price Damron without taking his eyes off the ground he walked. “I had to do something. I wasn’t thinking whether it would get me trampled.”

  “You should teach him to throw a spear.” Robert told the old soldier. “That way the spear can trip up the horse without putting himself in front of it.”

  “That’s not a bad idea.” said Atticus. “It never hurts to learn a new weapon, but the prince is young and needs more strength to heft it properly, a spear is many times heavier than a short sword. It takes muscle to throw one with any force or accuracy. Look at me, I started training when I was a young pup. Now, I’m grey in the hair and just now becoming proficient.”

  “Shouldn’t you have gotten better with it a lot sooner?” asked Robert.

  “That is not an unwise observation.” Considered the man. “Perhaps if the prince starts now, he’ll be better with the weapon at a younger age. Regardless, that magic shield would not have put itself between us and the horse on its own.” Atticus beat a fist across his heart three times. “I’m in the prince’s debt for intervening.”

  “I wanted to keep others safe.” said prince Damron.

  “Then your heart is in the right place.” Nodded Hoxley approvingly.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Onward, into the dusk and evening hours they walked, each one staying close to the others. Traversing the ups and downs of the ridges wore Atticus out first. And just as night spread its cloak over the land and set its calm over the woods, Hoxley stopped to make camp for the night. It was a cozy place, a small nook nestled between two large rocks surrounded in foliage. It was the perfect spot as anyone attempting to find them could easily walk past the spot without noticing. Robert emerged from his cocoon and stretched.

  “You’re moving better.” said his sister with a hug. “How do you feel?”

  “I’m sore but there’s no more bleeding.” He replied. “I won’t be looking for any hills to roll down for a while, but I can fight.”

  “That’s good to hear.” she said. “We need your fire. Hoxley? How far do you think we are from Oldvale?”

  “Half a day, maybe less if the terrain turns in our favor. I’m tired of climbing across these ridges.”

  “I would drink a cup of wine to that.” said Loxo. “Speaking of which, no one happens to have any wine would they? I would be ever so grateful for even a taste.”

  “Only rations, I’m afraid.” offered the faun.

  “I do have some extra mushrooms.” Offered Morell. “The peppery kind. I filled my jars before we left. There should be enough that no one goes to bed hungry.”

  “A delightful feast!” squeaked Siouxsie. “Let us combine our foodstuffs.” Everyone opened their packs and put forth their stores of nuts and fruits. It seemed like there would only be a meager selection until Loxo unbuttoned his pack to reveal a tan clothed lump of something salted as big as his head. The oddly shaped parcel was big enough to thump when it was set upon the thin rock in the center being used to gather the items. Everyone looked on curiously at the mystery item.

  “Good gracious.” Remarked Atticus. “What is that you’ve got there?” Robert sniffed the air several times.

  “I smell salt and hog.” said Robert

  “Right you are!” declared the pirate as he began unwrapping the item. Robert raised his arms before summoning a fireball to light the group. As soon as the swirling ball of magic “poofed” into existence, he removed his hat and held it just overhead to keep the light from spreading outside the group.

  “That’s half a salted ham hock!” exclaimed Morell as he licked his lips. “Where did you get that?”

  “I’d imagine Princess Cassandra is a hock poorer.” said Prince Damron.

  “If no one wants part of an unexpected ham its entirely understandable. If you’re uncomfortable with its presence I could just as easily put it back in the pack and return it to his majesty at a later date.” Said Loxo with his nose in the air. “I’m sure it was just a mistake and there would be no hard feelings. Who knows? There might even be a reward for finding and returning royal provisions.”

  “I wouldn’t object to a small slice.” Said Hoxley. “We’ve been traveling all day, and I am rather hungry. A less than empty stomach could ease the pain of this gash in my head.”

  Loxo used a small knife to cut chunks from the hock and handed everyone a piece. The companions gratefully accepted the meat and grabbed a handful of other things from the shared pile before relaxing some and chewing to their hearts’ content. Everyone ate their meals in peace. There were licks and smacks of enjoyment as the companions took turns carving off pieces of the hock. It was very salty, which caused everyone to drink up the stores of their water. After a long day of walking, no one had the energy to complain in the slightest. When Hoxley finished the last of her ham, Siouxsie started to search through the inner parts of her cloak

  “I can help with the cut on your head.” offered Siouxsie, digging into the pockets of her cloak. “I have some remedies in a pouch somewhere: witch hazel, purghum root, shadow silk, alus, and if I might offer a suggestion, you should be holding your gel against the wound to help clean it.”

  “I’ll gladly take whatever you can offer.” Said Hoxley. “Thank you.” Siouxsie finished the last bite of her ham before wiping her hands on her clothes and tending to Hoxley’s wound. The faun sat patiently still as the witch rolled her gel, Pumpkin, time and again across the gash. It seemed tedious and painful to have the girl pressing against the one place she didn’t want to be pressed but Siouxsie assured her it was for the best.