The next afternoon, Seto Kaiba wandered the heath just south of Forres, scouting for the witches. He came upon the trail he and Yami Yuugi had taken last time they were here.

*

The witches were out at noon, finishing some last minute spell and helping Serenity practice her casting. "Thrice the brindled cat has – hath – mewed," she chanted.

"Thrice and once the hedgepig whined," Ishizu said.

The raven on Téa's shoulder crowed. "The familiar says it's ready," she said.

"Double, double, toil and trouble," they said. "Fire burn and cauldron bubble."

Téa squeezed Serenity's hand. Serenity began to speak in a quavering voice that gained confidence:

            "Fillet of a fenny snake

            In the cauldron boil and bake

            Eye of newt and toe of frog

            Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

            Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf

            Witch's mummy, maw and gulf,

            Add hitherto a tiger's chaudron

            For the ingredience of our cauldron."

Téa finished: "Cool it with a baboon's blood. Then the charm is firm and good." She bent her head to Serenity. "Good job," she whispered, making Serenity smile.

Ishizu let go and touched the amulet around her neck. "By my necklace – and it hums – something wicked this way comes!"

*

Seto Kaiba roughly followed the same path he had taken with Yami Yuugi. Suddenly he spotted the witches standing by their tree. He blinked. He could have sworn they had not been there a second ago. The king mentally shrugged and brought his horse around.

"You!" he called. "You spoke to me last time. This time, it's my right to interrogate you!"

"Speak," Téa said.

"Demand," said Serenity.

"We'll answer," said Ishizu.

"Then show me," Seto said.

Serenity nodded and waved her hand over the cauldron. "Adder's fork and blindworm's sting, lizard's leg and howlet's wing, stir in the flame."

Téa and Ishizu joined in. "Come high or low, yourself and office deftly show."

A helmeted head rose out of the murky cauldron. Seto recovered from his initial shock and stepped forward. "Now tell me – "

Ishizu held up a hand to halt him. "It knows your thoughts. Be quiet."

The thing inside the helmet spoke. Its voice was a low, hollow roar and its words echoed inside the casque. "Seto Kaiba," it rumbled. Beware the Thane of Fife. Beware Joey Wheeler." It paused to decide, then began fading. "Enough. Dismiss me."

Seto stepped forward. "Whoever you are, thanks for the warning. Now answer me this – "

Ishizu shook her head. "It will not be commanded. Here's another more powerful than the first."

The king watched the cauldron eagerly. So engrossed was he that he started when something appeared. It was a bloody child with face heavily carved. His scalp showed, except for a ponytail near the top of his head. "Kaiba!" it said, its voice a thin treble, but sure. "Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn man of woman born. None of them will harm the king."

Seto laughed as the child descended. "So what was the first apparition for? Now I know Wheeler can't hurt me. His murder will only be a precaution."

Thunder silenced Kaiba. He looked at the surface of the cauldron's contents. From it rose a child. This one wore a crown and had a tree for a scepter. He wore his hair the way Yami Yuugi had, with massive spikes. "Who is this?" Seto asked. "He's dressed like a king."

"Do you wanna hear the prophecy or not, Kaiba?" Téa said. "Shut up and listen."

Seto glared but his irritation did not last long. The boy king spoke: "Be lion-mettled, confident, and proud. Schemes against Kaiba will all come to naught until Dunsinane sits in Birnam Wood's lot."

The king smiled toothily, then laughed maniacally. "Like that'll ever happen. Your prophecies bode well, witches. But tell me one more thing," he urged. "What of Yuugi's children?"

"Seek to know no more," Ishizu said.

"I will be satisfied," Seto said, clenching a fist. "Deny me this, and an eternal curse fall upon you. Let me know!" The cauldron at his feet began to sink momentarily halting his tirade. He looked at the witches, who were now gathered around Ishizu's necklace – she had taken it off. "What? What's going on?"

"Show… show… show…" the witches murmured in turn. Then, loudly, eerily, they summoned: "Show his eyes and grieve his heart! Come like shadows, so depart!"

Ishizu threw her necklace into the air, where it hung. Seto watched, baffled until it emitted an all-encompassing light. He looked away and guarded his eyes, but hands forced him to look, and he heard Téa say, "Your prophecy, Kaiba!"

"Augh!" Seto exclaimed gruffly. "It can't be!"

There was a line of eight, each with Yami Yuugi's likeness, each crowned and sceptored, saved for the last, who wore a double crown and held a glass. He looked into the glass, but it led to infinity, to king after king in his murdered friend's image.

Seto stepped back and bumped into someone. He turned and saw Yami Yuugi, arms crossed before him. Yami beckoned, and one of the kings handed over his scepter. He brought the golden rod up as to strike and the end transformed into a balde. Seto stepped back – or tried; his feet would not move. He closed his eyes, brought his hand up to block, and waited for the death blow –

That never came. Seto sensed another flash of light and opened his eyes. Whatever held the necklace in the air let go. Ishizu caught it. The instant the metal hit her hand, light surrounded the witches and when Seto could see again, they were gone. He looked around wildly. "Where'd they go?" he muttered.

There was the sound of a horse, spooking his own. Seto quickly calmed it and rebuked the approaching thane. "Tristan! Watch it!" He got on his horse. "Did you see the Weïrd sisters?"

"No…" Tristan drew it out warily.

"They didn't come by?" Seto said. When Tristan shook his head, he sighed. "Hyah!" he said as he spurred his horse. "How did you find me?" he asked.

Tristan started his horse as well. "I told your wife I needed to tell you something."

Seto scowled. "And it couldn't wait?"

"I said it was a personal matter."

"What is it?"

"Joey's gone to England."

Tristan watched Seto stiffen. "Hardly a personal matter," the king said.

"It seemed to warrant the attention of three men at your castle gate."

"That's our business, not yours." Seto glared at Tristan. "Now, do you have anything important to tell me or did you just trick my wife into allowing you to herald me with news of that missing mutt Wheeler?"

"That's all, my liege," Tristan said with a hint of a taunt.

"Then leave me," Seto said, and Tristan obeyed.

Seto let off a mad laugh when the thane was out of hearing. "Time, you anticipate me!" he exclaimed. "You hardly give me time to plan my next move before you give me exactly what I want!" He lowered his voice. "I'll take advantage of this to wipe out that mutt's line forever."

He urged his horse faster: "Hyah! Hyah!"

*****

Perhaps a week after the party, Tristan was riding again. On the way back home, he stopped at a lord's hold to rest for the night.

"What do you think of Kaiba's 'official' version of the latest events, then?" the lord said to make small talk the next morning.

"They're stories," Tristan said. "Either that or some coincidence. Let's see – have do they go? Oh yes: Bakura and Noah bribed two guys to axe their dad and ran away so they wouldn't get caught. Then Kaiba gets out of control and kills those two guys so now they can't talk. And apparently, little Yuugi killed his dad, who was pretty close to Kaiba. Then he snapped at the dinner in his new castle."

The thane shrugged. "Considering his uncle and friend were murdered, he's doing quite well, don't you think?" he said snidely. "Wonder what he'd do if he got a hold of those murderers."

"I know Bakura's in England," the lord said. "Joseph's gone there to ask for help from him and Siward. And apparently, Kaiba's heard about this, so he's trying to rally for a war."

"Did he command Joey to come back?" Tristan asked.

"Yeah, but Joey said he wouldn't go," the lord said. "That really ticked Kaiba off."

Tristan took a bite out off the meat before him. "I hope Joey took the hint and is moving even faster now that Kaiba knows. This place has been going to hell since he took over, what with the taxes and organized farming."

The lord nodded.

Tristan ate his plate – a piece of bread – and gave a satiated sigh. "Thanks, that was good." He stood. "Whenever you come around to my place, I'll shower you with food."

"I'm glad you're pleased," the lord said. "Your horse is outside. Your hold awaits."

"I've changed my mind – I'm going to Fife!" Tristan yelled as he mounted his horse and had it rear up as in some kind of charge before leaving.