The Daughters Daring (The Daughters Daring & The Enchanted Forest Book 1) (5 page)

     “Firing!” The gunners yelled.

     The gunners delivered a hail of rocks with amazing precision, hitting the ogre, over and over, in the head, body, and arms. It was an impressive onslaught and the ogre roared in pain. Trying to advance on them, he was tripped up by ropes crisscrossing the cave floor. The ogre king hit the floor hard as more rocks rained down on him. Not even stunned, he stood up, cursed at them. “You haven’t stopped me,” he bellowed, and lumbered from the main cave.

     A group of goblins tried to climb up to the gnome gunners, only to run into Emily. She could easily defend the narrow path, as they couldn't surround her. With her height, strength, and staff, she kicked, pushed, and threw them off the ledge. Randolph grinned his approval. The battle was clearly going their way.

     Just then, a loud shriek echoed through the cave. Goblins cowered in fear and even the gnomes stopped at the sound. From above, a woman in black lowered herself down on what looked like a thick strand of silk cord. Her skin was pale, and as white as the cord she held onto.

“The witch!” Randolph yelled. “Gunners!”

     The witch heard him, and turned her attention on the gnome firing machines. Dark energy flew from her fingers, blasting both of the machines to pieces. Wood, rocks, and gnomes flew in every direction. Emily ducked for cover behind some large rocks.

     More gnomes tried to rush the witch, but she pushed them back with a dark power emanating all around her, knocking them off their feet. From a shadow at the back of the cave, a small, hooded figure ran past the witch. Like lightning, the witch’s hand grasped the figure’s goblin cloak. The cloak slipped free, revealing Elizabeth. She kicked and tried to wiggle free, but the witch had her ensnared with more dark magic.

     With great delight, the witch said, “Gnomes! Cease your attack! I claim this human girl as my prisoner!”

     Emily wasn’t about to abandon her sister to an evil witch. She readied her biggest stone and sailed it toward the witch’s head. The stone flew straight and fast, but was deflected by the invisible barrier.

     Furious, the witch launched a bolt of energy at the rocks, mere feet from Emily’s location, scattering rubble around her.

     “Gnomes!” The witch repeated. “Have you no leader? I demand your surrender at once, unless you wish to see this one killed.”

     Emily would have rushed forward, had not Randolph’s hand held her back. He touched his finger to his lips, urging her to remain quiet.

     “I am here, witch!” Randolph said, while stepping out from the rocks. “Do not harm the girl. I surrender.”

     “Tell me, what do you care for a meddlesome human child?” the witch asked, mockingly.

     “This girl is under my protection.” Randolph said, walking closer. “We gnomes are not seekers of violence. We do not wish harm on any creature.”

     “Why then, little one, have you and your gnomes attacked my workers?”

     “We believe you are conducting evil magic here, dark one, and we have come to put an end to it!” Randolph answered with bold conviction.

“Evil magic?” the witch asked, innocently. “Surely you are joking? My workers have been baking pies as a gift to the king and his people.”

     “The pies are poison!” Elizabeth screamed. The witch put a silence spell on her, but she continued to struggle.

     The witch continued, “I have been troubled with how to deliver my treats to the king. Goblins aren’t known for their baking skills, and no one would want to eat pies delivered by them. So you will be the bearers of my kitchen’s abundance.”

“We would never,” Randolph started indignantly.

“You will,” the witch answered, pointing at Elizabeth while dark energy crackled at her fingertips. “And the king will never know, because you’ll all look so innocent, under my spell. Deliver the desserts to the humans, or I will make this girl a treat of my own!”

     Randolph sighed in defeat. He knew the pies meant trouble, but he could not let the witch hurt the daughter of Duke Daring. The gnomes would have to comply. Under her spell, they had no choice. An opportunity to make things right would come; it had to. He only hoped that the witch would not discover Elizabeth’s identity before his return.

“Very well,” Randolph answered, “we will do what you demand of us.”

Chapter 8

     Emily paced the forest floor. “You can't be planning to help her?" she said.

     “Don’t you see, I have no choice,” Randolph explained with a sigh. “She has your sister. What else can I do?”

     Emily threw her hands up in frustration. How could this have happened? The witch had Elizabeth, and would have likely had herself, as well, had Randolph not convinced her to boldly walk out of the cave in her goblin cloak along with his men, who were now loading poison pies onto carts to be delivered to the castle guards, all under the goblins’ watchful eyes. But even now, hidden behind a cluster of trees, she had to keep her voice down to avoid detection.

     If she went with the gnomes and tried to warn the guards, the witch might find out and harm Elizabeth. The thought of staying behind to try freeing Elizabeth also seemed dangerous and difficult. What chance would she have against the witch? Magic blocked any attempt to attack her.

     Elizabeth was always good at coming up with a plan. Emily was better at the physical side of things. A group of goblins she could whack with her staff! But she couldn’t handle this with just her staff. She needed a way to send a warning to the city while finding a way to free Elizabeth. She knew she couldn’t be two places at once; she was going to need help, but who? The gnomes had already tried a direct assault with no luck. She needed something more cunning.

     It was as if Randolph had read Emily’s thoughts. “You can't come with us," he said. “The goblins will be everywhere watching us. If you wait here, I will come back and demand your sister be freed."

     Emily was growing impatient. “I can’t just wait here while you and the other gnomes go commit treason. I will find a way to free Elizabeth myself.”

     “She’s being held by a dangerous witch.”  He hesitated a moment, as if he wanted to give her advice. “Be careful, young Daring.”

     Emily quickly pulled her journal from her pack and tore a page out. Writing on it, she folded it twice and handed it to Randolph. “Give this to my father, if you can,” she said, then watched him go link up with the other gnomes. She made sure to stay in the foliage as a group of goblins followed not far behind the gnomes. Hairy Foot and Stink Eye were there with them.  If they saw her, they’d surely alert the witch.

     Emily turned back into the forest that didn’t seem so enchanted, now. She knew to stay on the paths that crisscrossed through the greenery. One of them had to lead her back into the cave. Somehow, she had to free her sister from a witch protected by a magical shield, and get past goblins and the ogre.

     Her thoughts drifted to the poison pies. If the gnomes were unable to warn the city guards about the sweetberry pies, the whole kingdom could fall to the witch's army. But what army? Emily suddenly realized she’d only seen goblins.  It didn’t make any sense that those little creatures would try to take over the city. There had to be something more to the witch’s plan.  But what?

     “Hello,” a small voice said from right next to her.

     Emily turned but saw nothing.

      Emily asked, “Who’s there, and where are you?”

     “I'm right here,” the voice said, as a tiny person seemed to materialize in front of her. It was a small girl, floating on wings as beautiful as a butterfly's. Light seemed to emanate from within her.

     “Oh my gosh,” Emily said, “You’re a faery!”

     “Yes. I am Azalea of the Northern Wood Faeries. I was trapped by the witch and forced to work for her until your sister freed me.”

     “But now the witch has her and I have to get her out of there! Please can you help me?"

"That's why I'm here," she said. “Follow me and I will help you.”



     The witch’s cave was roomy, although not as large as the cavern beneath it. The walls and ceiling were covered in thick web. In the middle of the room were some tables and chairs, a bookshelf, and a few odd looking devices. Books and notes were strewn about one table while the other was clean and seemed to be meant for magical experiments.

     Elizabeth found herself bound in web, but the silence spell had been removed, so she could speak.  “If I were free, I’d shoot you with my best arrow.”

     “Must you be so combative?” The witch said.

     Elizabeth regarded her captor. She was actually pretty for a witch. Her skin was pale white, her hair raven black. There was something about her eyes though; they seemed empty and dark.

     “You are safe as my prisoner, for now. Do you really wish to anger me?”

     “Blah blah blah,” Elizabeth said mockingly. “It doesn't seem very safe up here, with all this sticky, nasty stuff on your walls! You really should do some cleaning.”

     “Keep annoying me and I will send you back down with the goblins, or perhaps that disgusting ogre would like a new playmate.”

     Elizabeth could just move her feet, but not her legs. She inched along the edge of the room, trying to keep the witch talking while she maneuvered to just the right position. In the corner of the cave she spotted another venting shaft, this one larger than the one in the kitchen, and it was covered with the strange webs instead of a grate. It gave her an idea, but she would have to time it perfectly.

     The witch was busy with something on the book table. Perhaps she was preparing another spell, Elizabeth thought. Better to keep her distracted from whatever she was doing.

     “So,” Elizabeth started, “let me see if I have this right. You're sending a bunch of pies filled with sleeping potion to the kingdom so that when the guards are asleep you can take over?”

     “Something like that, yes,” the witch answered. “How did you know about the sleeping potion?"

     “What else would you use valerian root for?” Elizabeth answered, not wanting to give away the gnomes.

     “You're very clever for such a young girl," the witch said, coming closer. “Too smart for a peasant's daughter. What is your name?”

     “Elizabeth,” she answered, trying to sink back into the shadows. The vent was directly behind her now.

     “And what is your father's name, Elizabeth?” The witch asked somewhat annoyed.

     “My father? Oh, he's nobody.

     “Say, how are you going to take control of the castle and the kingdom with those goblins? I mean, what happens when the guards wake up? Won't they just shoo the pesky goblins back out the gates?”

     “If you must know,” the witch started.

     “Oh come on,” Elizabeth butted in. “Just admit I found the flaw in your grand plan. You'll be queen of the kingdom for what, four, maybe five hours?”

     “As I was saying.” The witch was clearly agitated, now, and it was beginning to show on her face.

     “Oh blah blah blah,” Elizabeth interrupted. “There you go again. What could you possibly have that will help you take the kingdom?”

     The witch's eyes lit up like fiery orbs, energy crackling in her hands as she aimed them at Elizabeth.

     “I have ogres!” The witch screamed as she hurled a ball of energy directly at Elizabeth Daring.



     Emily followed the faery through the forest, this time being more careful of the grabber vines and other enchanted tricks. They were following a different path than before, one that seemed to twist around behind the cave entrance. The farther they went, the forest seemed to grow darker, the trees more gnarly and twisted. A chill passed through Emily and she shuddered as something slithered into the brush next to them. Emily tightened her grip on her staff.

“It's not all flowers and lights here, is it?” Emily asked.

     “No,” Azalea answered, “I'm afraid there are dark places in this forest, Emily Daring. Not very friendly for young girls, or faeries for that matter.”

     They could hear a commotion in the forest ahead of them.

     “We need to move quietly, now,” Azalea said. “There is a foul smell in the air.”

     Azalea lead Emily off the path and into the thicker brush, giving up ease of travel for concealment. The weeds were thick and seemed to forcefully wrap themselves around Emily's ankles. The faery could fly, but even the tree branches seemed to work against her, tiring her as she went.

     They proceeded through the forest, but stopped when they heard pig-like snorting up ahead. Azalea put a finger to her lips and motioned Emily to be silent. Emily dropped to her hands and knees and crawled forward slowly through the brush. She found a large thicket she could crawl into and peered out into the forest.

     She could see makeshift campsites in a small clearing ahead. They were messy, with bedding of old straw or weeds and moss. At first she didn't see anyone, then a creature walked into view. It was tall and broad shouldered. Its skin had a pale green hue and its nose was more of a snout. Having seen their king earlier, Emily knew this was another ogre.

     And there were more of them.

     Beyond the first one, she saw a gathering area with actual tents and tables stacked with weapons. There had to be at least a hundred ogres, and she was sure there were more nearby. Some were putting weapons onto carts while others were busy strapping on armor. It was a small army, and if there were any more like it, they would pose a serious threat to the kingdom. Emily crawled back to Azalea, making sure to move quietly.

     “Azalea,” she whispered, “this is bad. There is an army of ogres up here!”

     “You're right, it is bad,” Azalea answered. “They mean to make war on the kingdom of men!”

     “We have to send a warning,” Emily said, “but I can't leave Elizabeth with the witch. You need to go to the city and warn them.”

     “The affairs of humans are not my domain, Emily Daring,” Azalea said. “But you and your sister are very brave, and we owe you a debt. I will lead you to the entrance of the witch's lair, then I’ll go for help.”

     “Thank you,” Emily said, feeling some relief.

     “Don't thank me yet,” Azalea replied. “The witch is both evil and dangerous, and now you will be facing her alone."

     “I won't be alone,” Emily answered. “I'll have my sister!”

     “I fear that won't be enough,” answered Azalea, “but the witch does have a weakness.”