The corpulent form of Constable Levin Jakes ambled into the studio. A sly smile folded over his lips as he spied a freshly baked tray of cupcakes on a table by the side of the stage. "Don't mind if I do."

The greedy constable downed nine of the ten cakes in a matter of moments. He reached for the final confection— a chocolate cupcake with swirling icing— when someone grabbed the other end of the cake at the same time as him.

Retracting his beefy fist, Jakes tried to yank the cake out of the grip of Constable Barton.

"Let go," Jakes grunted fiercely.

Barton blinked at Jakes in surprise; though the smaller of the two, he pulled the cupcake back towards him with equal persistence.

"I said— let go!"

The tug of war continued until Inspector Chelmey came onto the set, bellowing to his assistant. "...Barton! Where are you—Oh." Chelmey glanced from Barton to Jakes. He frowned when he noticed the empty cake tray. "Which of you greedy gluttons ate all of these cakes?! Amelie made those especially for the cast members this morning!"

Jakes pointed an accusing finger at Barton. "I caught this filcher stealing cakes earlier. I was taking this last cake as evidence from the crime scene!"

"That's not true, Sir," Barton told his senior officer "I had this cake first and I saw him finish all the other cakes, Sir."

Chelmey's gaze shifted from Barton to Constable Jakes. His eyes narrowed at the larger man. "Hmmm... Care to explain why there's frosting on your upper lip?"

Chapter Nine

IN THE WITCH'S PALACE

((Descole growled. "If you recall, I ordered that you refer to my character as KING in the fourth chapter."

"Tough knobs," MJ retorted "You'll just have to get used to it."

"Impotent writer— Where is my sword?!"

"...Eep!"))

Now I bet y'all wondering where Clive got off to after slipping undetected out of the Rabbits' burrow. As soon as Mr Rabbit mentioned Anton and that he was expecting the four of them at the Stone Table, Clive had slowly edged his way through the threshold of the tunnel and escaped into the cold night.

That flippant hare had claimed this so called Anton was the "real" King of Larnia— what a load of trite! (He and his wife had obviously been consorting with the local Fauns.) Clive made a mental note to have the pair of them punished for high treason when he became king. As the future ruler he would also acquire an unlimited supply of Metholodite. He began to plough through the snow alongside the frozen river, devising how Emmy, Flora and Luke would soon have no choice but to serve him as much of the divine drink as he demanded.

It was a gruelling task travelling across the desolate ravine with the heavy white drifts that clung to his hair, and his clothes and piled over his shoes. He had discarded that ugly excuse for a coat back at the Rabbits'. Now Clive wished he had considered bringing it— at least it would have insulated him from the chill.

Clive let out a curse as misplaced his footing, slipping on a frozen puddle. After discerning the back of his trousers was wet yet again he stood up and continued to follow the river until finally, in between two hills, he saw the King's palace.

The silver rays of the moon glared down on the gothic castle; casting shadows against the tower spires as they jutted out of the ground like pointed black daggers piercing the night sky. Overall there was a very sinister demeanour about the King's abode. Clive ignored the abrupt feeling of anxiety gnawing at his insides as he strode through the looming iron front gates. His majesty must simply have extravagant tastes in architecture, that's all he mused.

Behind the tall spiked fence was a courtyard filled with silent figures. Clive froze for a moment— believing he had interrupted some sort of private gathering — when he suddenly realized that the figures weren't people at all. They were statues. Clive vaguely remembered the rabbit's statement about the King turning Larnians to metal. Serves the lot of them right Clive thought probably all enemies that tried to overthrow the monarchy.

As Clive crossed the courtyard he noticed the statues came in all shapes and sizes— he saw metal Dwarfs, metal Fauns, Satyrs, Griffins, Centaurs and even a Giant... There were also statues of animals he recognised such as bears, foxes, squirrels and other woodland creatures. Over time snowflakes had accumulated on the frozen figures' bodies and they caught in the moonlight with either expressions of sorrow or fear etched into their argent faces. Clive shivered slightly. In some ways, this eerie place reminded him more of a graveyard than a courtyard.

He was relieved to see faint light coming from an archway at the end of the yard. As he got closer, Clive noticed a stone stairway blocked by the metal statue of (what he presumed was) a large ogre. The monster had giant feet and broad shoulders with arms that hung loosely at its sides (resembling a bear dragging its paws). It held a great imperilling club.

Clive snorted at the ogre-statue. What a repulsive looking beast! It's no wonder the King turned this one to metal. Before he could swagger past the statue it suddenly came to life, barring the entrance and raising its club ready to strike Clive's head.

"Who go there?" the ogre demanded. Its voice sounded like the rumbling of rocks down a mountainside.

"Wait!" Clive shouted before the guard could hit him "I'm Clive— a human! I met the King in the woods and I was told to come here!"

The ogre lowered his weapon and peered down at Clive. It grinned slyly. "You mean the Queen has been expecting you, eh? My apologies, Son of Adam. Come right this way."

Clive's entire arm was swallowed by the ogre's beefy hand as it hauled him through the threshold and down a long corridor with dimly lit chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. They eventually reached a grand looking throne room.

In the centre of the room at the top of a high dais, the King sat on a black velvet throne being waited upon by his dwarf servant, Raymond.

The ruler of Larnia frowned at the Ogre (or rather, as he heard the creature's heavy footsteps approaching). "What is it, Jakes?"

"I've brought you the Son of Adam, your majesty," Jakes smiled slyly and shoved Clive forward.

"Ah, Clive," the King descended the high podium to acknowledge the adolescent. He didn't even look at Jakes as he dismissed him. "Leave us."

The ogre's smile faltered as if he had been expecting more praise from his master. "But your majesty—"

"I ordered you to leave us, you lumbering buffoon!"

Grumbling to himself, Jakes reassumed his position guarding the entrance downstairs.

"How fares your brother, Clive?" the King inquired in a low voice "And what of your sisters' fate? "Well," Clive began "Luke's never seemed right in the head to me (if you know what I mean) and sometimes Emmy can be a right bi—"

The King suddenly shouted. "Silence!" He seized the collar of Clive's shirt, hoisting him up so Clive had no choice except to look into that uncanny white mask. "Where. Are. Your siblings?" The King's breath was cool against Clive's face.

"Th—They're at the Rabbits' burrow, in the valley just down the river!"

"This is the truth?" The King looked thoughtful for a moment. "...In that case, I suppose you are not completely useless."

Clive scrambled to his feet as the King released him. "Y—Your majesty," he pleaded "May I have some more Metholodite now?"

The King turned to his right hand dwarf. He gestured to Clive with his pointed staff. "Our guest requires refreshments and... fitting accommodations. See to it." Then he barked; "Jakes, get in here!"

The Ogre returned to the room panting and griping. "How many times do you have to make me walk up those stairs?"

"Shut up, Jakes, and release the wolves."

((MJ grinned. "Try imagining Descole dressed as Mr Burns from the Simpsons here!"))

"What's that over there?" Constable Jakes pointed in the distance. He licked the icing off his lips while Chelmey and Barton looked away.

"I don't see any— Wait a minute!" Inspector Chelmey whirled on Jakes, fuming. "The person who ate all of the cupcakes... Is YOU!"

"Did I just hear someone say the professah's line?" Luke bounded onto the set.

"Get back here, you greedy blighter!" The inspector yelled as he chased Jakes out of the studio (which wasn't exactly a difficult task).

Barton squinted. "What is it? I still can't see anything..."

"Keep looking," Luke encouraged "I can hold that for you if you want..." The constable passed the last cupcake to Luke and continued gazing into the distance.

Luke went behind the set and smiled as he took a bite into the cupcake. "Yum, chocolate icing!"