Page 25 of Monster Lover

“Bad idea,” Ghul Lykos said.

“You’re the tiebreaker, Daemona,” Harlin said.

She looked at each of them and could see the reasoning behind their arguments. She didn’t want to walk anymore. Her feet were sore and tired. But she couldn’t help but think of the witches that had attacked them at Tish’s. Their lightning bolts and other strange magics were formidable and dangerous. Could they even hope to prevail in an attack on the witches’ home territory? How many might there be in those few huts up ahead?

“Either choice seems risky,” she stalled, still mulling it over in her mind. “But if they knew we were here and were going to attack, wouldn’t they have done it already?”

Harlin nodded as a grin split his face. She decided that he was handsome when he wasn’t telling her what to do all the time.

“I think we should attack—take the fight to them for a change.”

“The longer we try to spy on them,” said Ghul Lykos, “the sooner they will know we are here and we will be caught in a trap.”

“Then let’s hurry,” argued Harlin.

Ghul Lykos bit down viciously on a piece of jerky and chewed it like he was still arguing with Harlin.

Harlin smirked. “We stay close but low and try to see how many there are. We take out the most powerful ones with our bows first. Daemona, you port in close and tie them up if you can, but if not, be vicious.”

She nodded.

They crawled through the underbrush on their bellies, careful to not make the reeds bob too much at their passing.

The witch weald huts were formed in a semicircle about a central courtyard of swept dirt while a smoldering fire was situated in the middle, a great black cauldron hung on wrought iron posts over the blaze.

At least three witches were chattering amongst themselves near the fire. A tiny one was waddling about gathering firewood, while an especially crooked-looking old crone shouted at her to hurry.

“I’ve never seen one so small before,” whispered Ghul Lykos.

“It is odd, maybe a dwarf witch,” agreed Harlin.

“Anything is possible,” said Ghul Lykos.

“What do we do?” asked Daemona.

Harlin scanned the weald again and pointed at the three witches sitting together. “We’ll distract them with a fire—we’ll burn down one of the huts. Then divide and conquer.”

“What if more witches see the smoke?”

“In this fog? Not a chance.”

Ghul Lykos argued, “Attacking them like this is taking a big chance. I hope you are right.”

“Scared?” taunted Daemona.

“I’d be a fool not to be cautious.”

“So I’m a fool?”

“You said it, not me,” Ghul Lykos whispered back and shot her a toothy grin.

“Quiet, you two.”

Harlin looked to Daemona, who said, “I’m sick of being on the receiving end here. Let’s do it.”

“All right, we’ll get those three last. Let’s take care of the old crone and the little one first. How should we start that fire?”

“I’ll do it,” said Daemona. “I’ll port behind those trees until I’m to the hut. Then I’ll look inside, grab the old one, and tie her up.”

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