room and collapsed onto the bench, dropping the basket on the floor beside her. “Every muscle in my body hurts,” she said, slumping against the wall. “My bones, too. I’m too old for this.”
“See,” said Oculura, “she’s used up her extra energy.”
Azuria shook her head. “That wasn’t extra energy. I’ve used up every bit of energy I would have had this week and next. I don’t think I’ll be able to move again until spring.”
“I’m still going strong,” Dyspepsia announced. “When I finish sweeping, I’m going to …” She took a step and staggered. Reaching out her hand, she grabbed hold of the edge of the table for support. “I guess that’s it for me. The end sure does come fast.”
“I don’t understand,” said Oculura. “You both drank more tea than I did, but I still have loads of energy. Who would like a nice plate of … Oh, I see what you mean. It sort of hits you all of a sudden.” Putting her hand to her head, she swayed on her feet until Millie helped her to a seat beside Azuria.
“Don’t ever make that tea again,” said Dyspepsia. “I haven’t been this tired since those villagers chased me out of town back when I was young and spry.”
Oculura nodded. “Sounds good to me. But at least we got a lot accomplished.”
“And I got a good night’s sleep,” Dyspepsia admitted. “That’s pretty rare these days.”
So,” Oculura said, glancing at Millie, “what was it you wanted to see us about?”
“Felix is gone,” Millie said. “Someone kidnapped him during the storm.”
The three witches looked shocked. “Oh no!” Azuria gasped. “That sweet little baby!”
“Who would do such a thing?” demanded Oculura.
“A no-good scoundrel who should be tied in a sack and tossed in a river,” Dyspepsia said. “That’s what I wanted to do to the last man who jilted me. I might still have the sack, if you want me to look for it.”
“First things first, Dyspepsia,” said Azuria. “We have to find dear little Felix and catch the horrid scoundrel before we can use your sack. Now, what can you tell us about the kidnapping?” she asked, turning to Millie.
“Audun and I were gone when it happened. We were taking care of a problem with manticores, and when we got home we learned that someone had distracted Felix’s nursemaid and taken him from his crib. Zoë and Li’l said they saw a strange light in the baby’s room and that a blast of air knocked them unconscious when they stopped to look. Mother and Great-Aunt Grassina are away, and so is my great-grandmother. Francis doesn’t have the right kind of magic, so we are hoping you can help us find Felix.”
“Of course we’ll help!” said Oculura. “You’re practically family! Would you mind getting my jar of eyeballs off that shelf? I’m too tired to move right now.”
Millie ran to get the jar and set it on the table in front of Oculura. After taking a pair of milky white eyes from the jar, the old woman bent over the table and popped out her bright blue ones. With the new eyes in her sockets, she stared off into space, seemingly looking at nothing.
“Those are her seer’s eyes,” Dyspepsia whispered to Audun. “She can use them to see into the future or the past. They aren’t pretty, but they get the job done.”
Oculura sighed and reached for the jar. “Except for now. They aren’t working. All I can see are clouds and rain. That storm seems to have blocked everything.”
“Fetch me my scrying bowl, Millie,” said Dyspepsia. “It’s the shiny silver bowl on the top shelf. That’s it. Now bring it here. Oh, and get me a dipper of water; I don’t need much. Now step back and let me look.” The elderly witch passed her wrinkled hand over the bowl, then leaned forward until it looked as though she was about to dip her face in it. Millie couldn’t see what she was looking at, but it wasn’t long before Dyspepsia sat back with a grunt. “It’s as Oculura said—all I can see are
“See,” said Oculura, “she’s used up her extra energy.”
Azuria shook her head. “That wasn’t extra energy. I’ve used up every bit of energy I would have had this week and next. I don’t think I’ll be able to move again until spring.”
“I’m still going strong,” Dyspepsia announced. “When I finish sweeping, I’m going to …” She took a step and staggered. Reaching out her hand, she grabbed hold of the edge of the table for support. “I guess that’s it for me. The end sure does come fast.”
“I don’t understand,” said Oculura. “You both drank more tea than I did, but I still have loads of energy. Who would like a nice plate of … Oh, I see what you mean. It sort of hits you all of a sudden.” Putting her hand to her head, she swayed on her feet until Millie helped her to a seat beside Azuria.
“Don’t ever make that tea again,” said Dyspepsia. “I haven’t been this tired since those villagers chased me out of town back when I was young and spry.”
Oculura nodded. “Sounds good to me. But at least we got a lot accomplished.”
“And I got a good night’s sleep,” Dyspepsia admitted. “That’s pretty rare these days.”
So,” Oculura said, glancing at Millie, “what was it you wanted to see us about?”
“Felix is gone,” Millie said. “Someone kidnapped him during the storm.”
The three witches looked shocked. “Oh no!” Azuria gasped. “That sweet little baby!”
“Who would do such a thing?” demanded Oculura.
“A no-good scoundrel who should be tied in a sack and tossed in a river,” Dyspepsia said. “That’s what I wanted to do to the last man who jilted me. I might still have the sack, if you want me to look for it.”
“First things first, Dyspepsia,” said Azuria. “We have to find dear little Felix and catch the horrid scoundrel before we can use your sack. Now, what can you tell us about the kidnapping?” she asked, turning to Millie.
“Audun and I were gone when it happened. We were taking care of a problem with manticores, and when we got home we learned that someone had distracted Felix’s nursemaid and taken him from his crib. Zoë and Li’l said they saw a strange light in the baby’s room and that a blast of air knocked them unconscious when they stopped to look. Mother and Great-Aunt Grassina are away, and so is my great-grandmother. Francis doesn’t have the right kind of magic, so we are hoping you can help us find Felix.”
“Of course we’ll help!” said Oculura. “You’re practically family! Would you mind getting my jar of eyeballs off that shelf? I’m too tired to move right now.”
Millie ran to get the jar and set it on the table in front of Oculura. After taking a pair of milky white eyes from the jar, the old woman bent over the table and popped out her bright blue ones. With the new eyes in her sockets, she stared off into space, seemingly looking at nothing.
“Those are her seer’s eyes,” Dyspepsia whispered to Audun. “She can use them to see into the future or the past. They aren’t pretty, but they get the job done.”
Oculura sighed and reached for the jar. “Except for now. They aren’t working. All I can see are clouds and rain. That storm seems to have blocked everything.”
“Fetch me my scrying bowl, Millie,” said Dyspepsia. “It’s the shiny silver bowl on the top shelf. That’s it. Now bring it here. Oh, and get me a dipper of water; I don’t need much. Now step back and let me look.” The elderly witch passed her wrinkled hand over the bowl, then leaned forward until it looked as though she was about to dip her face in it. Millie couldn’t see what she was looking at, but it wasn’t long before Dyspepsia sat back with a grunt. “It’s as Oculura said—all I can see are
Similar Books
