One Witch at a Time by Stacy DeKeyser

Author:Stacy DeKeyser
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

14

They continued up the slope, through a bleak and barren landscape of gray snowfields scattered with slabs of black rock and bent fir trees. The wind blew colder here, with fewer structures to block its path. Rudi pulled his borrowed hat lower on his head and silently thanked Ludwig for his kindness.

And he silently scolded himself for making his own task even harder. What had he gotten himself into just now? When he’d offered to help, he’d imagined the Brixen Witch could give Agatha a bit of practical advice. Suggestions for dealing with second-rate witches, perhaps. But stealing back the summer? Even if such a thing were within the Brixen Witch’s power, would she be willing to help? Rudi had no idea how he would honor the bargain he’d just made with Agatha.

No matter, he told himself. First things first. Return the beans to the Giant’s fortress, and then puzzle out what comes next.

After what seemed like hours, they approached a ridge. At least Rudi thought it must be a ridge, for as they walked, there seemed to be more sky and less ground ahead of them. Though, in truth, it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.

As they drew nearer, the ridge took on a distinct shape. It looked like a structure of some sort, as gray as the mountain, as gray as the sky. But it was not the mountain, and it was not the sky. It was a wall of rough, sharp stone topped with a row of iron spikes. At either end of the wall, the ridge snaked away into the distance like the spine of a great gray beast. With every step the wall loomed higher.

The Giant’s fortress.

Though he hadn’t thought he could feel any colder, the sight of it caused Rudi to shiver. But it also filled him with a steely resolve. Their destination was finally in sight. Time to finish their task so they could go home.

“I don’t like it here,” declared Susanna Louisa, her words nearly blowing away on the gusting wind. “Is this a good idea, Rudi? Can’t we leave the beans and go?” She sniffed deeply and wiped her dripping nose.

Rudi did not answer her. He stood, wiggling his freezing toes inside his boots, and waited until she had finished her silent argument with herself.

Finally, Susanna wiped her nose once more and slipped her soggy mitten into his. “If you say so, Rudi. But I still don’t like it here.”

“This way,” said Agatha.

She led them around the fortress and to the very edge of the ridge. Here the wall of the fortress turned and rose up as if it were a part of the ridge, forming a sheer cliff of stacked stone. Rudi peered around the wall, stretching himself as far as he dared against the onslaught of wind and cloud. They could go no farther unless they climbed the wall itself or stepped off the ridge into the bottomless sky.

Once more Rudi shivered. “Now what?”

“There,” said Agatha, pointing.

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