CHAPTER 7

Slickwell watched as Sofia turned the corner out of sight. He wanted to determine what his new granted power was, and he'd start small.

By the gorge, close to the tree stump, a squirrel was collecting some nuts. Slickwell rushed the small animal and quickly cornered it. Instinctively, the squirrel sprang right at him to bite him- but it bounced off an invisible barrier leaving Slickwell unharmed. Bruised and confused, the squirrel quickly darted away without his food.

Slickwell then went around the bend to where his black stallion was tied up. Grimtrix was waiting for him on his own horse. They rode a short distance until they saw a large male deer in a clearing. Dismounting, Slickwell charged the deer, who again reacted instinctively, and tried to gore him with its antlers. But once again, the deer bounced off the invisible barrier and ran away leaving Slickwell unharmed.

"It's just as we had hoped, Grimtrix! That pin made Sofia 100% vulnerable while she wore it. By freeing her from it, the amulet had granted me the power of invincibility! "

"Yes, my friend! And now to take over Enchancia!"

So saying, Slickwell and Grimtrix rode their horses at a gallop toward the castle!

/

Sofia and Clover heard the galloping hoof beats on the path, and quickly darted for safe cover. They had witnessed Slickwell's encounter with the deer and she knew that she had to warn her Dad. But with Slickwell and Grimtrix galloping onward, she realized also that she would be far too late. Slickwell was going to usurp the Throne of Enchancia with the help of her amulet, Grimtrix would also help, and she could do nothing about it!

Sofia sat sorrowfully just off the road and started to cry.

"What have I done, Clover? I have brought ruin on my family and my kingdom!"

Clover knew Sofia couldn't understand him if he tried to talk to her, so he just tried to soothe her by cuddling with her.

But Sofia soon became aware of a kind hand on her shoulder. She glanced up and it was the stranger in the floppy hat and long trench coat! When he turned the brim of his hat up, Sofia was startled!

"Mr. CEDRIC! You were the stranger who saved me in the village?"

"Yes, Sofia. It was me. But there is something more important than my attire that is bothering you. Please tell me what it is? We can discuss my attire later."

"Oh, Mr. Cedric! Slickwell tricked me out of my amulet! He made me take it off, put it on a tree stump, and affix a pin so I could get Clover back!"

"I see. What did the pin do to you?"

"I could not move! I could talk and breathe, but could not move! Then I saw him charge at a deer while wearing my amulet, and the deer just bounced off him like he was surrounded by rubber!"

"The amulet granted him the power of invincibility, it seems."

"Oh, what can we do? The guards can't stop him. And Grimtrix is in league with him!"

"Grimtrix obviously doesn't feel the need for magic to speed their trek to the castle, or they wouldn't be riding horses. They should be there by now. Let me see how things are going in the Throne Room."

And Cedric conjured up a vision. Sofia and he saw that Grimtrix had transported the Royal Family and guards to the dungeon, and Slickwell was sitting on the Throne!

"We're too late!" cried Sofia.

"No, Sofia. Grimtrix must know that I am not at the castle now, so he must have set a trap to catch me, and also one to catch you as well. But we can turn the tables on the two black hearted villains!"

And with that, and a wave of his magic wand, Sofia, Cedric and Clover vanished!