Princess and the Pea Chapter 37

Chapter 37:
The next few weeks were busy ones. The witches prepared for war silently, gathering dark forces and chanting their incantations in the Daffodil Acres castle. Helen left her army of toxic slugs to guard over the Ruby Cross castle while she practiced her spells in seclusion. Nobody knew where she was, not even her daughter Linda.
Linda was in her room as usual, lazily lounging on her bed, humming peaceful songs to herself as she rested, completely oblivious to the world around her.
“Come here, Melinda!” Linda snapped her fingers, and an old, exhausted looking maid came up to her, bowing low.
“What do you request, milady?”
Linda rolled her eyes. “My mother is what I request! Where in the world has she been?”
“You do not know, milady? Mistress Helen Crosby is preparing for war.”
“What war?” Linda looked truly confused.
“The war against…The former royalties of the two kingdoms you and your mother have captured.”
Linda sighed nonchalantly. “Oh, that war. Well, let my mother do what she wants. It’ll be all wasted energy at the end.”
“And why do you say that, milady?”
Linda frowned, unhappy to be questioned. “Because I believe you are all overestimating those former royalties. They have lost all their power. They do not pose as any threat to us.”
“If you say so, milady.” Melinda left slowly. She was worried for the young witch. Linda had been dilly-dallying for too long. She should be caring for the witches’ power, if she was to be the future Grand Dark Witch.
And on the other side of the castle, the former royalties and their two new acquaintances were also preparing for war. Vincent had provided them each a weapon. He gave Samson a long, silver sword, Marilynn a fine bow and arrow, Lily a staff, Henry a dagger, Sandra iron knuckles, and William a long, curved blade. Fiona had her spells and potions, so she needed no other weapon.
The group was also rounding up all their possible allies too. They found alliance with the Grand White Witch and her coven. The white witches were pure hearted and kind. They all had flowing white hair, pasty complexions, and pale, snow white robes.
They had introduced themselves to the group one fine morning. At first Samson had been quite appalled and tried to attack them, but they declared their innocence and swore that they were different from the dark witches.
“We’d be delighted to help you,” the Grand White Witch Neleh proclaimed. And so they joined the group against the dark witches.
“Thank you, Neleh,” King William said.
“You’re welcome, William, sir,” Neleh smiled. “But first, you must learn a bit about our coven…”

-Vociferously yours, Vicky.