The party trudged on, exhausted but also reinvigorated. Their path was now clear enough that it was almost visible to the eye. The forest still put up a token resistance, but with Montague to slice through the offending foliage with her saber it was little obstacle.

  There was an odd pushing and pulling to it. They were being led forward while also hindered. They had either misjudged the situation and there were opposing forces at play, or something ahead—likely Esme, or something happening to her—was causing a change.

  The life force ahead grew stronger, and the magic in the forest aligned, drawing them forward.

  Though magically-insensitive Montague had to take Ian and Jamie’s word for it. “Yer sure of this now, lad?”

  “We found you, didn’t we?” Ian answered irritably, kicking at stones in his path.

  “So y’say. Can’t say I recall as such.”

  “Who do you think rescued you?”

  “Can’t recall calling for any rescue. Just had a bit of a snack.”

  “Don’t eat cursed candy in a fairy-infested forest, Montague.”

  The Captain huffed and pulled ahead, slashing her way through vines. They barely seemed to be making an effort to regrow and block their path.

  “Captain, please don’t get separated from us again!” called Jamie, hustling after her, picking up his robe to avoid snagging in the undergrowth.

  “Aye lad.” She softened a bit.

  “You’re lucky you don’t remember it. It was really scary. Ian saved you!”

  Ian was going to protest, perhaps to give Jamie some of the credit, but… well, he had. It was true. It wouldn’t do to lie. Jamie would disapprove, probably.

  The trees fell away so abruptly that Ian almost thought they’d actually fallen over. They found themselves in a clearing, perfectly circular and entirely barren. No vegetation of any kind, only dry, cracked earth. The deforestation itself was a relief (though surely Jamie would disagree) as they no longer had to force their way through.

  “Is that the house we seek?” asked Montague, pointing with her sword.

  “It does look familiar,” Ian answered, stroking his chin, “though the glowing is new. And the levitation.”

  It was an old, very small, dilapidated log cabin covered with moss and fungus that looked like it might collapse in on itself at any moment. Though, given the way it hovered about a foot off the ground, it must have been a little sturdier than Ian would have supposed.

  The eerie, pale greenish glow mostly came from between the shutters on the windows and the from the crack around the door. The power radiating from it was palpable, though. Even Montague seemed to notice this time, putting her left hand on top of her hat to keep it from blowing away.

  Jamie was pale. His eyes were wide, which was something of a standard expression for him, and his mouth open. He also looked like he might vomit. “That’s not normal,” he choked out.

  “Aye lad,” Montague agreed, “we can see that.”

  “It’s not normal magic, either!”

  Ian crouched down and held a hand over the ground. Heat was rising from the cracks in the earth. “Hm.” He moved a ways to the right, looking around the cabin. There were perpendicular lines leading up to the cabin where, if one looked closely, the ground was particularly affected and seemed to be raised slightly. “It’s a magical nexus,” he said, “the cabin is built where two ley lines cross.”

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “It’s no accident,” called a familiar voice, “that my grandfather built here.”

  The door opened, and Esme stood there looking out at them. Well, “stood” wasn’t quite accurate. Her legs were, apparently, no longer long enough for her feet to reach the floor.

  “I feel we’ve been misled,” noted Montague, as Jamie clutched Ian’s sleeve and tried to hide behind him.

  “In any case,” said Ian, shaking Jamie off, “I’d like to collect what we came here for so we can get out of this horrible place.”

  “Oh?” said Esme icily, “But I don’t think you’ve exactly honored our deal.”

  “Th’deal was we give you food and you help us,” answered the Captain.

  “Was that really all I asked for?” Esme muttered, looking distant, “Well… then perhaps I’m disinclined to honor it myself.”

  Ian made a shooing motion. “Step aside, then, and I’ll take it myself.”

  Esme laughed, a cruel, shrill cackle that cut through them; very traditional. “No.”

  Ian shrugged. “Fine. We’ll use force.”

  “At the moment of my apotheosis?”

  “Worst time for it,” Ian agreed, “for you, anyway.” He motioned towards the house. “Whatever ritual you’re doing with the ley nexus obviously isn’t complete. Do you really want us to attack you now, in the middle of it?”

  “Terribly disruptive, I expect,” added Montague in her most casual, conversational tone.

  Esme considered. “Fine,” she said, “take your bauble.” She held up a sparkling green stone.

  Ian approached with a hand outstretched. The stone floated of of Esme’s palm—and shot off into the woods. “Fetch,” she said.

  “Petty,” said Montague, but she and Ian turned to go.

  Jamie hesitated. “Ian!”

  “What?”

  “We have to stop her!”

  “Why?”

  “She said this is her apotheosis. We can’t let her do that!”

  Montague shrugged. “That’s Hero stuff, lad.”

  “I’m a Villain,” said Ian, his eyes burning, “remember?”

  “Oh, too bad,” called Esme, “no Heroes to be found.”

  “Yeah, they’re never around when y’need ’em,” said Montague, with a disinterested shrug.

  “But always there when you don’t,” growled Ian, “Besides, she’s exaggerating. A ley line nexus ritual will empower her, but it’s hardly apotheosis.”

  “I don’t know what that—” started Montague.

  “True!” Esme shouted over her, “but for my grandfather’s preparations.” She breathed deep, and even the trees leaned towards her. “His potion has been absorbing its power for decades.”

  Ian nodded appreciatively. He did approve of a well-thought-out evil plan, and a nice monologue to go with it. “That could do it,” he said. And then resumed looking for where the Emerald Stone had fallen.

  Jamie looked at Ian pleadingly. Ian shrugged.

  Esme was no longer paying attention to any of them, staring off at nothing and muttering to herself. “With this power,” she said dreamily, “I’ll boil the very seas!”

  Montague paused and looked back. “Y’know, Mr. Blackwing, per’aps the lad has raised a point worth considerin’.”

  Ian waved a hand dismissively.

  “And,” Esme continued, oblivious or just uncaring, “the coast will fall under my dominion from Port Sapphire to the farthest north.”

  Ian stopped. “My house,” he said, “is along that coast.”

  Esme’s eyes came into focus and flicked towards him. “My house, now. So much better than this one. Creepy Keep will be my castle.”

  Ian jabbed a finger towards the Wicked witch. “Everyone, we have to stop her!”