Toby and the Silver Blood Witches by Sally Doherty

Author:Sally Doherty [Doherty, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sally Rudduck
Published: 2021-06-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

From Skylark’s house, Willow, Bumble and Toby continued deeper into Little Witchery. Toby couldn’t stop thinking about the beautiful witch. Every so often he checked her picture was still in his pocket. Now and then, they passed witches who would always incline their heads politely to Willow, apart, that is, from a witch with long flowing hair as black as her cloak.

“Witch Willow,” she said, her lips curling at the edges.

“Witch Ebonia.” Willow’s tone was even, but the tension in the air was palpable.

Goosebumps formed on Toby’s arms. He was glad he was invisible.

“Is it true Skylark has been captured?” said Ebonia.

“Just a rumour. And I trust you’ll keep it to yourself. We don’t want the whole clan to panic unnecessarily.” Willow didn’t break her stride, but Ebonia, with height and leg length to match the Head Witch, kept pace.

“I believe it is time we took action, show Earthens what we are capable of.”

“You know where I stand on that one. Fighting back is not the solution,” replied Willow.

“Then you leave me no choice,” said Ebonia. “I hereby raise a challenge to your leadership.”

Bumble gasped. Willow stopped and turned to face Ebonia. “You have the twenty signatories?”

Ebonia, her startling green eyes never wavering, handed Willow a piece of paper. “I’m calling for a vote tomorrow evening.”

Tight-lipped, Willow scanned the paper; the words ‘In support of Witch Ebonia for Head Witch’ embossed in gold at the top.

“Very well, I will see you there.” Willow walked off without a backward glance.

“Flapping fluttermice!” cried Bumble as soon as Ebonia was out of earshot. “This is terrible. Terrible!”

“What’s she going to do?” asked Toby.

“Do not worry,” said Willow. “Witch Ebonia will not have the majority. Few of the clan believe war is the way forward. Our wyline ancestors already suffered too much at the hands of Earthens.”

“But …” Bumble began.

“I will not hear another word of this,” replied Willow sharply.

Bumble clamped her mouth shut and trailed behind, wringing her hands. Toby chewed the inside of his cheek. Ebonia wanted to go to war against Earthens? What would happen if she beat Willow?

Soon, a gothic-styled building came into view. It was small yet imposing with dark stone and a steeple at each end. The words ‘The Silver Academy for Witchettes’ were inscribed above the entrance. In a yard attached to the building, six young witches balanced on broomsticks. Well, five balanced, the sixth hung upside down swaying from side to side, flustered and red-faced.

“No, no!” The teacher said with an air of impatience. “Eyes up, shoulders down!”

Toby threw the girl a sympathetic look; he knew just how she must be feeling.

They came to a square at the heart of the town. In the centre, water danced in a stone fountain. Spouts twisted and turned, downwards and upwards, defying gravity. The place was empty, save for a couple of older witches sitting on benches and watching the world go by.

“Waiting for the midday meal already,” chuckled Bumble.

Along the right-hand side stood a row of shops: ‘Conifer’s Corner’, ‘The Bobbin’.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.