Category: Fantasy Publisher: Saguaro Books, LLC
ISBN-10: 1482740820
Type: Fiction
Pages: 152
Copyright: April 15, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781482740820
While on a journey to find the final ingredient for her Practically Perfect Parsley Potion, Quagmire Pinch, has a misstep and tumbles down a cliff drawing the attention of a group of gnomes and discovers that in the past their king has killed any and all witches who have stumbled upon his hidden kingdom.
While on a journey to find the final ingredient for her Practically Perfect Parsley Potion, Quagmire Pinch, has a misstep and tumbles down a cliff drawing the attention of a group ofgnomes and discovers that in the past their king has killed any and all witches who have stumbled upon his hidden kingdom.
She earns the trust of her newfound friends, who allow her to join them in their gem mine.Trying to help, she offers a reluctant cart-pulling mine rat a treat, causing it to stampede and break a cart wheel.She is seen fixing the wheel by a rather unscrupulous gnome who is spying on her.
When the king finds out she is a witch, she is thrown into the dungeon.While there, she discovers a diary within a wall detailing the imprisonment of another witch the king had imprisoned very long ago and revealing the king is a usurper.She devises a plan and eventually makes a bargain with the false king to feed his vanity and is released.A spell for him goes awry and a war begins. Will the rightful king be able to take his place to rule Gnometopia?
Excerpt
The rain came down hard, pelting the back of a cloaked figure as it trudged through the underbrush trying to keep out of sight of the guards who were searching for a run-away witch. A trumpet sounded. The figure stopped for a moment, its heart pounding so hard it feared the trackers could hear it even though they were moving away. Feeling safe, the figure continued toward home.
After an hour, the figure stopped to rest. Leaning on a boulder, it turned its face toward the rain; the cool drops were a pleasant reward for a successful escape. Just as it rose to proceed, a hand grabbed onto its shoulder and spun it around. In an instant the hood was ripped from its head as a gruff voice yelled, “I have the witch.”
Just as the witch raised her wand, a guard wrenched it away, threw it to the ground and stomped it into the wet leaf litter. It broke with a loud snap. The witch lurched toward the guard, but before she could reach him, a second guard slammed her to the ground with a blow from behind. Slowly, she raised her head to see the first of the guards. His burly unkempt face was smug and sickening. He appeared to have been away from clean water far too long. He leaned closer to her as he said, “You won’t need that wand where you’re going, missy.” His breath was like a rotting animal carcass, most of his teeth were black with decay. The witch gagged as she turned away from him. He commanded the other guards to raise her to her feet. As a last attempt to save herself, she tried to break free. The first guard struck her across the face with the back of his hand, which still held a sword.
Knocked to her knees once more, she glared at the guards who laughed at her. She could feel blood trickling down from the side of her mouth. With her right hand, she reached up and touched the split in her lip. Methodically, she drew her hand away. As she did, she looked first at the blood on her finger, then at the guard. She very slowly closed her mouth, raised her left brow and smiled. The guard laughed.
Then in a mocking tone he continued, “Poor little witch is without her wand to free her from the king’s big, bad men. Too bad, you didn’t keep your place and remain in the service of our new ruler. Now, what are you goin’ to do?” He danced around, making a whimpering noise, pretending to wipe away nonexistent tears and saying, “Poor little witch. Poor little witch.” The other guards laughed and clapped their hands. While the guards entertained themselves, the witch glanced around and there, within arm’s length, was a precious Death Cap mushroom. The guards did not notice as she grabbed it up and crushed it in her hands. She brought her hands to her face and whispered just the right words.
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