“I can still hear you…” said the phantasmal voice.

  “Can you now.” Hoxley said, draping her blanket over her head and stepping from beneath the rock. “Can you hear me now?” She asked

  “I can.” Whispered the voice. Now that Hoxley could hear it, the voice sounded vaguely feminine.

  “Who can speak words in my ears without a mouth? Who are you? Reveal yourself. I won’t hurt you.”

  “I cannot remember who I am supposed to be, although I know I should be somebody.”

  “Riddles?” asked the faun girl, looking in every direction for a sign of life or movement. “I’m afraid I don’t know your game.”

  “No games.” Whispered the voice. “It is only me in the darkness.”

  “I see no darkness in this place.”

  “There is at least one place…” the voice trailed off.

  “What is your will? Are you friend or foe?” asked Hoxley. She waited and listened for a response… “Hello?” There was no reply, only a calm wind that scattered errant grains of sand about her hooves. She watched the horizon for any sign of life only to find the nothing she expected. Convinced that nothing more would come, she returned to the shade and made herself comfortable. After an uneventful watch, she tasked the prince to stand guard. As hot as it was, she forced herself try and get some rest before the journey ahead. Her hands clutched her spear and she pressed it across her shoulder which felt a little comforting. A dreamless sleep followed and carried her the rest of the day.

  “Hoxley, wake up.” Prince Damron said. She opened her eyes to find the sun was setting. “It’s time.”

  “Very well.” She yawned, pushing herself up. After a stretch she walked over to the floating twins still soundly asleep. Pointed hats covered their heads. She pulled them away to find Siouxsie and Robert still in their twinly embrace. Siouxsie’s gel, Pumpkin, now resting on the side of her head as it was facing up now. Each of the twins had one arm draped around the other while the other was held close to the chest and clutching sheathed daggers. The pair always slept armed so she was careful as not to startle them as she woke them. Without getting too close she leaned near and whispered the magic words:

  “Fresh pumpkin bread.”

  Both witches immediately opened their eyes and looked right at her.

  “Did you say pumpkin bread?” They asked in unison.

  “Pumpkoo.” The gel replied.

  “Yes, I have a little in my saddlebags. You’re welcome to a bite each after you’ve dismantled your hammock.” The two untangled themselves from one another and effortlessly slipped out of the web of straps. “Everyone, take a few bites of your rations and have a sip of water.” She told the group. “We need to be sparing in how much we use while we cross the desert. Take a few minutes to prepare yourselves and we’ll set out.” Morell, Prince Damron and Idris followed suit. While they were eating, Idris got to his feet and came over to stand next to her.

  “You’re the leader of the group.” Idris said.

  “I just keep everyone moving.” She replied.

  “But you do it well.”

  “Thank you, the others have less experience but they’re learning.”

  “I can’t thank you enough for caring for the prince in my absence.” He gave a slight bow. “You’ve done a great service to our kingdom. Do you come from the eastern plains?

  “I do.” She said “My mother and father and nine, well, eight brothers live there.”

  “Is it eight or is it nine?” he asked

  “Eight are welcome under my father’s roof.” She said, slightly looking away. “The ninth was something of a menace and was constantly breaking the law or being an embarrassment. He was large, brutish, and could pick a fight for no reason. Eventually my father’s words of love, reason, and discipline could not reach him. It was because of this that my brother, Friesian, was sent away and told never to return. He headed west and I don’t know what became of him. The last I’d heard of him, he was a ferocious brawler and a sword for hire. People who live that way seldom live very long. We parted on poor terms and I’m sure he still hates me. I miss him. He had the most beautiful black coat…. it was the color of midnight. He took after father and has the lower body of a strong horse, massive muscles. The day he left we were all there and he said he never wanted to see any of us again.”

  “I’m sorry you had to suffer his ignorance.” Said Idris.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “As am I.” nodded Hoxley. “I was the last of our family to be born before my mother gave up birthing so I spent the least amount of time with him. I loved him for being my blood nonetheless.”

  When the others had their packs situated, Hoxley led them out into the desert. The last of the sun dipped below the horizon and the land took on its supernatural glow. Footsteps made no sound on the sandy dunes. Hoxley led the way with the prince and his man close behind. Morell brought up the rear while the witches circled in the sky. Occasionally they returned to point out changes in the landscape so the group could follow ridgelines and not have to exert the extra energy to climb up and down hills. It was during one of the periods where Siouxsie had decided to levitate low enough to travel next to the others that she took an interest in a small notebook that Morell was writing within as he walked.

  “Whatcha got there?” she asked whilst hanging upside down from her broom.

  “More research.” He said with a smile at her silliness. “I’m chronicling all the sub-genus of the mushroom by different types. As I do more experiments, I’ll be sure to identify new samples properly by their properties so they can be found more easily when studied by others.”

  “Will it take long to do all that?” she asked.

  “If done correctly? Probably my whole life.”

  “Is there really that much knowledge about mushrooms? There’s how many? dozens of kinds?”

  “There’s tens of thousands, actually.”

  “Tens of thousands? How is that possible? I’ve never seen that many! I think you’re playing games with me.” She pouted.

  “No, no, I would never do that.” he assured her. “Mushrooms exist in so many different types of environments that even if you never left the grasslands, the number that can be found there alone would be almost too many to count.”

  “And how do you know all of this?” she asked

  “Because…because…I just do! H-hoxley, would you be so kind as to tell what you saw in the basement of my grandfather’s home?”

  “I would.” Hoxley said glancing back without stopping. “He’s right, Siouxsie. I saw his library before it was destroyed. If Morell knows even a small amount about what he’s revealed to me, the number may truly be innumerable.” Siouxsie’s eyes widened and she flipped herself right side up.

  “What will you do with all this mushroom wisdom?” she asked

  “Why, if I could get enough people to listen, I’d share it with the whole world! Everyone in every land could better themselves by learning even the most basic aspects of mushrooms. Not only do they provide sustenance for us to eat them but they can be used for healing, and strengthening your mind…they’re just wonderful!”

  “That sounds amazing.” She said. “Can they help with magic?”

  They certainly make entire cottages vanish. Hoxley thought to herself.

  “I…..I don’t know.” The he said as question stumped him. “But that’s a good question to ask! I’m going to make an entry in my notes here and I’ll be sure to add that aspect to my studies.”

  “You’re pretty smart!” she said before hanging upside down again. “I feel like I’m getting smarter too!”

  “Maybe you are!”

  “This is great!” she said, her face awash in wonder, he speech getting faster and more erratic “What if witches can use magic to grow mushrooms? Or, or what if mushrooms can bestow magic or what if there’s mushrooms that cause magic to make mushrooms…or, what if…?” Siouxsie’s eyes crossed, her face went blank and she fell silent midsentence.

  “What if…what?” Morell asked as the witch remained expressionless. “Siouxsie?” he asked. Are you alright?” It took a moment, but the girl finally blinked a few times and she looked him in the eyes. “Hi!” she said, half dazed. “Were we talking about mushrooms?”

  “Yes.” he said. “We were.”

  “Good. Wow. Yes, mushrooms. Mushrooms are good.” She said before flying back up in the air before rejoining her brother. Morell continued walking on, all the more bewildered.

  Onward the party carried on through the bright night. In the last hour before dawn, each of the companions began to hear the disembodied voice that slipped by on the wind. Hoxley led the way, but eventually found herself catching up to the sibling witches standing in her path. They stood side by side staring off into the west and the faun girl came up from behind. The others gathered behind her.