Season of the Witch - Chapter 3: The Devil's Playground

Galleth stood by King Henry's side in solemn silence, watching as the monarch's wounds from earlier were being treated by the palace's nursemaids. Following the witch's departure and a thorough search for survivors of the massacre, Queen Marietta was asked by her husband to tend to their now-widowed daughter so that he could speak to Galleth alone. The younger raccoon waited patiently, too afraid to question the wounded king. Galleth was quite certain that the monarch had neither forgiven nor forgotten the poor first impression he made on the royal family, so why King Henry would ask for an audience with him was lost on Galleth.

As King Henry excused the healers as they finished their work, Galleth eyed the doorway they exited through, thinking that guards would burst in to drag him off to the dungeon the moment the king demanded it.

God help me now… he thought worriedly.

The sound of a throat being cleared snapped the thieving raccoon out of his thoughts and returned to reality. Galleth looked back at the King in his bed, his face emotionless like stone.

Then, with a stern voice, the King began, "I suppose you are wondering why I requested your presence here."

"Y-Yes," Galleth cleared his throat of the unintentional squeak in his voice. "Yes, Your Majesty, I am. If anything, I would assume you would want me thrown back into the dungeon so that you have one less thing to worry about following the tragedy that occurred today."

King Henry closed his eyes and let out a sigh before looking back at his guest. "After what has happened today, I feel that the crimes of a no account thieving rogue in my kingdom are the least of my concerns." Galleth said nothing in response, letting the King continue. "But you are not like any common thief if your attempts at protecting my family from the witch are anything to judge by, are you?"

Galleth steeled himself at the interrogative tone in the King's voice. "I like to believe I have more of a conscience than most other thieves who would find themselves in my position earlier."

King Henry lifted his hand to silence him. "It is for that reason I have had you brought in here instead of the dungeon...I have a proposition for you."

"A proposition?"

"That is correct," King Henry nodded in confirmation. "You have seen what has happened tonight; you've witnessed the Devil at work."

"The witch?" Galleth furrowed his brows. "What do you know of her?"

"Many years ago…" King Henry let out a cough before continuing. "She used her dark powers to terrorize this kingdom and it's people. Through no small effort, I managed to capture her, then I sentenced her to be burned at the stake for her crimes against my home. But even as the flames consumed her, she taunted me, claiming that she would someday return. I had hoped her words were merely to unnerve me, but as today has shown, she was not making idle threats."

Galleth carefully sat on the edge of the bed and gave the King his undivided attention. "What made you believe she could cheat death itself?"

"She claimed to have had her own heart removed and hidden away where no one could find it and use it to slay her. She claimed that as long as the heart still beats, she will never meet the embrace of death. I did not wish to believe such words when it appeared we would finally be rid of her, but my Queen was afraid it would somehow be true. In order to placate her, I had the witch's ashes collected and hidden away in the crypts below the castle. We then had priests from the church come in and bless the crypts in hopes that it would be enough to keep the world from being tainted by her evil…Clearly we were wrong."

"And...where is the heart now?"

King Henry's face darkened. "To this day, the heart's location alludes to me. I had ordered a group of my best knights to venture to the Witch's home in hopes of discovering the heart and crushing it. However, sixteen years have gone by, and I have not heard from them since I first sent them away."

Galleth's eyes widened. "Nothing?"

"Not a word," King Henry confirmed. "So, what I offer you, Thief, is this: Head to the Wicker Woods, find the Witch's heart, and crush it."

"M-Me?" Galleth asked, genuinely taken aback by what the king was asking of him. "Why would you ask that of me? I am but a stranger to your kingdom, one who had attempted to steal from the royal family and landed in your princess' bedchambers on the eve of her wedding! Why believe that I am a worthy candidate for a quest of this magnitude?"

"True, your first impression on myself and my family was...unsavory." King Henry acknowledged. "If anything, I should have you hanged for such crimes. However, you also managed to save my family and I before the Witch could slay us like she did to my daughter's groom. For that, I am thankful. I offer you a chance at redeeming yourself to me, Sir Galleth. Crush the Black Witch's heart, and you shall be granted your freedom and a pardon for your crimes in Mistwood thus far. Do we have a deal?"

Galleth paused and pondered his current situation. The more sensible side of him advised him to simply run away from Mistwood and never look back, knowing that anywhere else would be preferable to facing more of the same kind of horror he saw the witch was capable of. But the more noble side of him, his nature as a Cooper that had nothing but contempt for people like the witch who gained enjoyment from harming those who were unable to fight back, told him that as long as the witch was alive, nobody would be safe from her.

Galleth knew what he had to do.

"...Such a quest will be anything but simple if your claims are true, Your Majesty." Galleth remarked resolutely, "I shall require some assistance."

"But of course," King Henry nodded in agreement. "I shall send word to my guards, and-"

"Pardon me, Your Grace…" Sir Galleth cautiously interrupted. "But I believe I already have somebody in mind…"

Outside of Mistwood, a lonely archer hiked along the woods. It was early in the morning, and the fog was just now slowly disappearing from sight. This archer sported a recognizable chipped bucktooth and red attire, his brown bushy sail swayed as he bounced in his steps. He examined the satchel of gold that he had successfully robbed overnight during his escape, a proud grin on his face.

Suddenly, the archer felt himself being abruptly hoisted up into the air, now trapped in a net that dangled him in the trees above.

"ARK! What the bloody hell?! Who made this shite?!"

"Twas I, my old friend…" the owner of the voice sported a grin as he made his presence known, who had emerged from behind a tree. Galleth leaned onto the wooden surface and folded his arms across his chest, smirking at his prey. "Remember me?"

Chip cursed under his breath and gave the armored raccoon a nervous smile. "Galleth! Mate! I'm so...relieved to see you made it out of Mistwood alive! 'Specially after the chaos at the royal wedding yesterday!"

"I'm sure," Galleth replied sarcastically. "Sorry to have done this to you, but I was afraid you would run."

"Usually, I'm offered a drink before being tied up…"

Galleth glared up at the dangled squirrel. "If I buy you one later, will you shut up and listen? I require your assistance."

"And why should I help you, or let alone listen?"

Galleth's grin returned. "I was hoping I'd be asked that question. You see, King Henry has sent me out on a quest, and I have been promised a pardon and a sizable monetary reward if I prevail in said quest."

"So?"

"You are still wanted," Galleth reminded. "As we speak, His Majesty's knights are out on the hunt for you to return you to Mistwood and throw you back in the cell you were in when we met. However, I was able to convince the King to grant you the same pardon and riches I have been promised, if you decide to assist me on this mission."

Chip eyed the raccoon in suspicion. "So the King himself will call off his dogs if I help ya, eh? Why should I believe ya? What's stoppin' me from runnin' the moment ya let me down?"

Galleth took out his sword and put it on display. "Do you see how high you are up, my friend? If I were to cut you down, there's a high chance the resulting fall will either kill you or injure you enough that you will never be able to walk or use your bow properly again."

"You wouldn't," challenged Chip.

"I would," Galleth fired back. "Also, the knights are on their way right now. I suggest you make a decision quickly before they arrive and drag you back to the dungeon."

Chip was about to reject the raccoon once more, until the sound of hooves digging into the Earth caught him off guard. With a gulp, Chip quickly looked back down at Galleth.

"Fuck, alright, Mate! I'll help ya! Now cut me loose!"

"Gladly," Galleth swung his sword and made contact with the rope that held up the net, plummeting Chip onto the ground with a hard thud.

"Ow! You bastard, that hurt!"

"I told you," Galleth remarked. "Now quit your whining, and let's go."

A lone figure sat in a damp cave outside of Mistwood, her body shaking as she devoured her newly-caught meal; the carcass of a deer. A satisfied groan escaped from her mouth as she tossed a bone aside, savoring the taste of venison that she had stripped off of said bone. Her ears then stood erect at the sound of a raven's call, and her head turned to see the owner of the call land outside the cave. Like a wild animal, approached with stealth before grabbing the bird.

The raven made sounds of protest as it was seized and brought towards its captor's face. The woman then soothed her prey by stroking its feathered head gently.

"Shh...pretty bird," the woman's green eyes soon heard something else from the distance. She turned and glanced down from the cliff outside of the cave she dwelled in and noticed two figures riding on a singular horse through the woods. Narrowing her eyes, the woman was able to identify one of them as the armored raccoon who dared attacked her during her vengeful murder spree. The other one was an unfamiliar specimen - a brown squirrel in red.

With a hum, the woman's eyes went back onto the raven and continued to stroke its head. "You're going to be my little friend. Go," she threw the raven into the air, watching it fly above her new prey. "Follow them."

"Could ya slow down, Mate?!" Chip complained, not enjoying the two-person horse ride through the woodlands, especially hating the feeling of being bounced up and down as he sat behind Galleth. "Ya haven't even told me what this damn quest is all about!"

"Oh, that," Galleth came to a stop and looked over his shoulder while approaching a nearby stream. "We are going to kill a witch."

Chip gawked at Galleth in horror. "What?! Do ya have shite for brains?! Clearly, you jest!"

"Not at all," Galleth splashed some water onto his face after getting off and kneeling down. It was nice to get a break from riding through these woods. With all the rocks, tree trunks, and bushes, these particular woods weren't as easy for travel. "In fact, I'm quite serious."

"And what proof do you have that such a thing exists in the first place?!" Chip snapped, dismounted from the horse and sat on a nearby boulder.

Galleth glanced up at him, his expression growing stern. "Because I was there, you cowering nitwit. I saw everything: The horror, the blood, the bodies...All because of the same witch we have been ordered to slay. I was fortunate to even be alive after that massacre."

"So, what, we find this supposed witch and kill her? That's all?"

"Not quite," Galleth shook his head. "We have to find her heart, which she removed from her own body, and then we crush it to finally kill her."

At this point, Chip was looking at Galleth like he had grown two heads. Witches he could believe, but the ability to have one's heart removed from their body and still be alive was a completely different story.

"Mate, are ya drunk? Ya sure your brain ain't just full of shite? The dungeon did quite the number on ya, eh?"

Galleth's expression darkened. "I am not making this up! I know, it is hard to believe. I know you may think me mad, but trust me: She is real, and she is dangerous."

"She's a lady," Chip rolled his eyes. "How hard could it be?"

"She is not a lady!" Galleth exclaimed. "She is a monster; a demon from Hell itself! I had never seen anything like it! Believe me, my friend, you will understand...eventually."

Chip raised his finger, ready to argue once more on the matter, when something made his ears twitch, followed by him sniffing the air. Galleth sent him a confused glance. "What is it?"

"Smoke," Chip answered, pointing towards the direction from where the scent was coming from. Galleth followed his gaze, now noticing a thick cloud of smoke rising into the sky from behind some trees several yards away. "Over there."

"It could be her…" Galleth whispered to himself. He then got up and brushed himself off, climbing back onto the horse. He then reached out his hand, offering it to the archer. "Come, let's investigate."

Galleth left their horse tied to a nearby tree while both he and Chip made their way towards the source of the smoke. From atop a nearby hill, the duo could see a nearby village. What made this particular village stand out to them however was the fact that a large crowd of villagers could be seen marching through the roads, carrying torches and pitchforks. Galleth and Chip were able to make out a duo being shoved through the screaming crowd, bags covering their heads, and their hands tied together in thick ropes.

They both watched as the two tied up captives, who appeared to be women based on their bodies, were led to a pole in the center of the village, hay and small logs of wood surrounding it. Chip gulped and turned back to Galleth. "Witches? You mean, you did not jest?"

"I did not," Galleth assured. "However, those are not ours. We only have one single witch to hunt."

"Then…" Chip looked back at the scene in front of them, a mixed feeling of curiosity and fear overwhelming him. "Who are they?"

That was what they needed to find out. Galleth pushed aside those thoughts telling him to leave this scene and let the villagers deal with their own witch problems. However, something was not quite right here. Galleth had seen a witch's work first hand. If these two were really witches, then they would have as easily broken free from their restraints. He watched their body language: They were struggling; they looked panicked.

"We have to help them," Galleth declared.

"What?! Are ya bloody insane?! What's happenin' down there is none of our business! I say we take our leave and not get any ideas that might involve that mob turnin' their attention on us !"

Galleth shook his head in protest. "They're not witches. I can tell."

"You can tell?" Chip questioned in a mocking tone. "Perfect."

Ignoring the squirrel, Galleth sneaked his way down into the crowd and tried to get a better view of the situation. He watched as two villagers approached the tied up women and removed the bags from their heads. Galleth's eyes went wide with shock when he saw the face of one of the women.

The woman on the left was a chipmunk who wore a moss green dress, and had wavy blonde hair. Galleth immediately recognized her as the waitress from the tavern he visited before leaving for Mistwood. The woman on the right, however, was not able to recognize. She was certainly a raccoon, due to her tail, but her face was obscured by both her overly-messy head of long, dark hair, and her dark purple hood.

Galleth clenched his fists. He knew that the waitress was no witch, and he knew that the mysterious woman by her side was just the same. Galleth had to think of something, and fast, because they were about to be burned alive.

He barely had time to think of a plan, because the torches were getting close to touching the wood below the women's feet. Their panicked screams were enough to make Galleth spring into action. Before he knew what he was doing, Galleth brandished his sword and made a mad dash through the crowd, swinging the blade in hopes of scaring them away.

"Halt!" Galleth ordered. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"They're witches!" a woman shouted from the crowd. "That one over there was whispering into fire! She was communicating with Satan himself! And that one over there," she pointed to the waitress. "Was doing the Devil's work! She was mixing a mysterious substance over a fire, muttering while reading a book!"

"It's called alchemy, you idiots!" The chipmunk fired back aggressively. "I was experimenting with a new recipe!"

"Ya see!" a man exclaimed while pointing a finger. "She admits it!"

Galleth glared at the crowd. "She is but a mere waitress at a tavern! There is no witchcraft!"

"He's in league with them!" another man exclaimed in the crowd. "He's a demon conjured by them! We must burn him too, if we are to truly be safe!"

Galleth tightened his grip on his sword. He did not want to do this, but they left him no choice. Just as Galleth was about to fight, a flaming arrow landed into the earth between him and the villagers. Looking up, Galleth saw Chip standing on a rooftop, another flaming arrow being aimed at the crowd.

"Stop wasting time with these ninnies, Galleth! Free the wenches, and let's be on our way!"

"Another one!" shouted a woman. "And this one shoots fire! We are not safe!"

"Protect our home! Kill them all!"

Galleth, frustrated by how stubborn these villagers were being, decided that enough was enough. As Chip continued to fire flaming arrows to scare off the villagers, Galleth cut the ropes restraining the two women and helped them down.

"Are you alright?" Galleth worriedly asked.

"We're fine," the chipmunk assured. "Now, can we go?!"

Nodding, Galleth took her hand, while the chipmunk took the other woman's hand. They proceeded to run through the village, dodging Chip's fire arrows and shoved villagers aside. As they made a sharp turn, the chipmunk's hand slipped away from the other woman's. She yelped as she fell onto the ground.

Looking over his shoulder, Galleth quickly returned to the fallen woman and knelt down to help her up. He shortly paused in shock when he finally got a good look at her face…

"Princess Alice?!"

She gave him a knowing look. "Run!" she exclaimed, quickly getting up and sprinting away with the chipmunk.

Galleth shook off his confusion and turned, sprinting after them. Chip jumped off of a nearby roof and landed by Galleth's side, not daring to look back until they were back up the hill. When they were finally back at the top, Chip let loose one last arrow, killing an approaching farmer in the process.

"Get on the horse!" Galleth ordered the women. "We'll run beside you!"

"No, we won't need to!" Chip declared, pointing at some runaway horses from the burning village.

Galleth gave a grin to his squirrel companion. "Brilliant, Chip!"

Once an extra horse was secured, the quartet then raced away from the burning village, not daring to look back. They had to keep moving, and there were questions that clearly needed to be answered. Unknowing to them, a raven followed their every movement.

It was a close call, but Galleth and Chip were successful in their escape from the deranged villagers. Their unexpected company sat across from each other at the fire centered in their makeshift campsite, secluded in the wilderness. Galleth and Chip soon returned with freshly caught fish from a nearby river and tied them to sticks mounted over the fire to be cooked. As Chip took a seat next to Princess Alice, Galleth glanced at her while sitting down next to the female chipmunk from the tavern. His attention was soon brought onto her, curiosity visible on his face.

"I recognize you," he spoke, pulling the maiden's gaze away from the dancing flames and onto him. "From the tavern. You were the one who pointed me towards Mistwood, yes?"

The chipmunk eyed him as if confused by his question. When she finally remembered who he was, the young woman gave him a nod. "Yes, I suppose I did. Thank you for rescuing me back there."

Galleth nodded back at the female chipmunk and directed his attention across from them, staring disbelievingly at Princess Alice. "Your highness, Why are you out here? Should you not be back at Mistwood where you are safe?"

Princess Alice glared at the thieving knight. "My father wished for me to stay in the castle, continuing to hide me from the evils of this world. After what happened to my betrothed, I could not sit idly by and allow his death to go unanswered. When I heard what your mission was, I knew what I had to do."

"Which is?"

"I'm going to find that witch's heart and crush it myself!" Chip snorted at this, directing Alice's attention onto him. "Is there something amusing you?!"

"My apologies, Your Grace," Chip smirked. "But methinks you would last as long as a field mouse in a den of vipers should you attempt to do battle with this witch."

"You do not know that!" declared Alice. "I have made it this far and I'm still alive!"

"Only because I prevented her from killing you!" Galleth exclaimed. "What were you thinking, silly girl?! You're only going to get yourself killed if you go through with this foolish mission of yours! How did you even manage to sneak out without anyone recognizing you as the princess?!"

Alice motioned to her raggy dress and frizzled hair. "I stole these from the servant quarters at the castle and dirtied myself up once outside. To everyone else, I am but a common peasant."

"And how did you come about meeting her?" Galleth followed up while motioning to the female chipmunk who sat beside the princess.

"I was mistaken for a witch when caught talking to myself in front of a fire I made," Alice began to explain. "It was starting to get dark and I was quite cold. I was only going over my plan outloud to myself. Little did I know that I would be overheard. Next thing I knew, I was being manhandled and dragged away after hitting my head. When I woke up, I was laying down in a barn and tied up. This maiden was with me, who seemed to be in a similar situation."

Galleth turned back to the female chipmunk. "Who are you?"

"My name is Jonette," she replied. "What she says is the truth: I was also mistaken for a witch. I was not doing anything. All I was doing was trying new recipes that my father and I experimented with. Not food, but elixirs."

"Back there you mentioned something called alchemy. That's nothing like witchcraft?" Chip asked.

"No," explained Jonette, "There is no magic involved. They're meant to be medicines. I wanted to try and weaponize them for my journey."

Galleth frowned in confusion. "Your journey?"

Jonette nodded. "My father left me in charge of the tavern while he went out to travel. He was in search of new ingredients for our meals, but he never returned. I usually never worry for him, but he has never been gone this long."

"How long has he been missing?"

"A fortnight," Jonette informed. "He was supposed to return home a few nights ago and did not. I decided to close the tavern and search for him myself. You know the rest of the story."

"…So, where does that leave us, then?" Chip inquired to Galleth, "Should we allow them to join our quest? I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing what Jonette has to offer with these potions she crafts."

Galleth shook his head. "No, I will not put the lives of these maidens at risk," he turned to Jonette. "Milady, we will help you search for your father. After that, you two may return to your normal lives. As for you…" he pointed to Alice. "You shall be escorted back to the castle, where it is safe."

Alice frowned. "No, I shall not," she stood up. "That murdering hag shall die by my hands!"

"You cannot fight for yourself, Princess!" Galleth challenged as he stood up as well, glaring down at her. "You damn well nearly died! I shall not let you put your life in danger just to satisfy your thirst for revenge! I may be a thief, but a maiden's life is the one thing I shall never take!"

Alice looked like she wanted to argue with Galleth, but instead let out a sigh of frustration. "At least allow me to assist you in searching for Lady Jonette's father." she bargained.

Galleth pondered her request. The last thing he wanted was to run the risk of Alice being put in harm's way - especially since she had almost perished alongside Jonette - but she did have a good point that more help would be useful in this search party. Galleth cursed himself as he gave the princess a hesitant nod, agreeing to her request.

"Very well," Galleth replied. "I shall allow you to help us search for Jonette's father. After that, we shall return you to Mistwood, where it is safe."

Alice, while disappointed, was at least satisfied that the deal she had made with the thieving knight was met on an agreement. She bowed her head to thank him before sitting back down. Galleth turned and looked down at Jonette.

"Do you have any knowledge of where your father may be?"

Jonette nodded. "Before my capture, I was heading West," she pointed towards a small clearing in the woods. "There is a village out that way where my father claimed he was heading for his journey."

"Very well," Chip stretched his arms. "Then we'll head out that way at dawn."

"No," Galleth retorted. "We shall go now."

The trio looked up at him in shock. Chip was especially not amused by the idea of going out there at dusk, just when the moon was slowly starting to lighten the darkness around them.

"Clearly, you jest," Chip argued. "I am certain you would not want to-"

"I do not want to either," Galleth interrupted. "But the sooner we reunite Jonette with her father, the sooner we can kill the witch."

"And what of the princess?" Chip motioned to Alice. "She will need an escort back to Mistwood, would she not?"

Galleth nodded in understanding and looked at Jonette. "Does this village have a castle? Perhaps some fellow royal knights can take the princess home."

"Yes," Jonette assured. "Yes, they have a castle. Nothing as impressive as the ones in neighboring kingdoms, but they definitely have knights."

"Excellent," Galleth praised. "Then we shall go now."

The ride through the woods was unpleasant, but Galleth was determined to reunite Jonette with her missing father. As much as Chip hated to admit it, the thieving raccoon made an excellent point: The sooner they find her father, the sooner they can kill this supposed witch. Alice and Jonette trailed alongside the two thieves on horseback, both feeling unnerved by their surroundings.

Galleth looked over his shoulder. "How much further, do you suspect?"

"I do not know," Jonette admitted. "I have never ventured out this far. All I know is that this village is out West."

"How wonderful," Chip muttered. "The witch does not know how to navigate."

Jonette glared at the squirrel. "I am not a witch, though I wish I was so that I can hex you!"

"Shall I fetch you a broom to compliment your threats?" smirked Chip.

Jonette growled in annoyance. "Such an annoying thing, you are."

Alice could not help but giggle at the exchange. Their banter reminded her of Prince James and herself when they were younger, playing in the courtyard of the castle and always jesting when they were not required to tend to their royal duties. The memory of James filled Alice's heart with sorrow, but it was these bitter-sweet memories that helped Alice concentrate on the task at hand. Even though her adventure would end once Jonette was reunited with her father, Alice was still determined to see the end of the Black Witch. All she could hope now was that Galleth would keep his word and finish what her father started sixteen years ago.

"Do you miss him?"

Alice turned her attention to a sympathetic-looking Galleth in confusion, at which he continued, "Prince James must have been someone you truly cared for. Otherwise, you would not be out here risking life and limb for the opportunity to get at the witch."

"Yes," Alice nodded, donning a sad smile as she looked up at the sky, reminiscing the times she had spent with her betrothed. "James and I grew up together. We never got along at first, but over time...we learned to care for another. I loved him - still do, in fact."

"Forgive me," Galleth frowned. "I could never understand what that must feel like, to lose someone you have known and cared for since childhood."

"I should be with him now," Alice continued. "Alone, just the two of us. We would be starting our new lives together as husband and wife. Instead I am out here on a wild goose chase. I am full of sadness and anger. I want that witch dead."

"Prince James and all who fell by the witch's hand shall be avenged, Princess. You have my word."

Alice smiled at Galleth's words. It was comforting knowing that someone like him would risk their life all to help her. Alice's eyes soon landed on the road ahead, face donning a look of concern. Galleth, confused by her expression, turned to look forward and came to a halt. Jonette and Chip donned similar expressions as they stopped by Galleth's side, taking in the grim sight in front of them.

In front of the group at the end of the path was the entrance to a carnival, one that looked deserted and rotten, vines and broken wood surrounding the large sign that arched over the path. Chip gulped and looked over at Jonette.

"Please tell us that your father is not somewhere in there."

"I do not know," Jonette replied. "Someone might have seen him pass. We should look and see."

"Are ya blind?!" Chip exclaimed. "We may as well begin to make nooses for our necks if we choose to go in there!"

"Perhaps he is right," gulped Alice. "We should probably continue and look for the-" the sound of a branch snapping startled the princess and whipped her head around. "What was that?"

"Probably a deer," Galleth declared. "I agree with Jonette. Perhaps we should take a look just to be-"

Before Galleth could finish, a figure burst from the bushes beside them and knocked Galleth off his mount, startling everyone. There was little time to react to what was going on before one-by-one, everyone's vision went black. The last thing they all remembered before falling into unconsciousness was the sound of an eerie giggle.

Galleth groaned as he began to wake up, the smell of smoke and filling his nostrils as he slowly became conscious. When his vision was finally restored, Galleth realized that he was in a cage, hay surrounding him on the burned ground.

"Another cage? Where am I now?!"

Observing his surroundings, Galleth noticed that he was in an old circus tent. He made out another figure in a cage across from him, which was a ragdoll cat in a blue-and-red jester costume, who looked at Galleth with curiosity.

"You're awake? How wonderful!"

"Who are you? Where am I?!" Galleth asked as he got up and approached the cage's bars. "What is going on here?"

"Hopkin's the name," spoke the feline jester. "As for where, you're in hell. As for what is going on...your soon-to-be-execution."

Galleth glared at him. "Did you put me in here? And what about my companions?"

Hopkin let out a laugh. "Mate, if I had anything to do with you being in that cage, then I wouldn't be inside one of my own."

"How did you get in there?"

"Questions, so many questions…" groaned Hopkin. "Why don'tcha try to escape and live to see another day instead of being such a nag?"

"If it's that easy to escape, then why are you still locked up?"

Hopkin glared at Galleth. "What did I just say?"

Galleth let out an irritated sigh and rolled his eyes. It seemed that once again, he would need to free himself from a prison he had no desire to stay in. There had to be a way out of the cage. Galleth looked around, hoping to find something sharp enough to pick the lock, but nothing was in sight. Then he noticed a decently sized rock laying outside of his cage to the right from where he stood. The raccoon wasted no time and approached the rock, grunting as he knelt and reached as far as he could.

Hopkin watched as Galleth struggled reaching for the rock with a deadpan expression. There was no way this raccoon was going to attempt what he thought he was. Even if he could reach the rock, it didn't look slim enough to fit through the bars. He also doubted the rock would even be sturdy enough to break the lockpick on the raccoon's cage. Hopkin was so busy with his own thoughts that he didn't notice Galleth succeeding in his plan and freeing himself. The jester looked up at the knight in disbelief as he approached the opposite cage and smashed his own lockpick open.

"What?" Galleth smirked at Hopkin's bewilderment. "You doubted me?"

"Yes," Hopkin answered truthfully as he got up and walked out of his cage. "Now, as much as I thank you, I advise that we leave before he returns."

Galleth frowned. "I'm not leaving without my companions," he held out a hand to stop the jester from leaving. "We are to accompany a maiden to find her father in a nearby village, where a princess shall then find passage back home. Just who is it that you are afraid of over discovering our escape?"

"It's not important," Hopkin glared up at Galleth. "Just flee while you still can. Your companions are probably already dead."

"Not until you-"

Hopkin interrupted Galleth by slapping his hand over his mouth, using his other hand to lead him away from the center of the room. Ducking behind a stack of barrels, Galleth began to question what Hopkin was doing until the faint sound of bells began to ring through his ears. Turning towards the tent's entrance, Galleth's eyes widened in alarm at the figure who entered.

It was a spindly-looking jester much like Hopkin, except this jester's costume colors were reversed in their placements. He was also a ragdoll cat, except his face was much paler and his eyes were different colors, with one of them red and the other black. His teeth were long and sharp, displaying a horrifying grin. Dragging behind him was a blood-soaked axe. The bells on his hat jingled with each step he took.

The jester approached the now two empty cages and let out an ear-piercing screech of anger before swinging his axe, slicing them like grass before Galleth's very own eyes. The raccoon's face paled and he grew sick while watching their visitor turn away and exited, his joints snapping as if he'd overworked his own body.

Once the coast was clear, Hopkin turned to Galleth and frowned. "That's why we need to leave."

"Who or what in the name of Hell was that?!"

"...The Jester," Hopkin explained. "At least, that's what I call him."

Galleth starred out towards the tent. "What does everyone else call him?"

"Jackin, my...my brother."

Galleth's eyes widened and he turned back to Hopkin incredulously. "What?!"

"My twin brother," Hopkin explained forlorny. "He and I are in an act together. One day, we were passing through Mistwood and on our way to our next stop. We stopped and made camp outside the kingdom. Jackin and I were dancing with our mates when he announced that he needed to urinate. He went off into the woods, but he was gone for a long time. I went out to look for him, only to find him standing there, almost as if he were in a daze. When he came to, he assured me everything was alright. I was wrong. As we were about to finish our show here, Jackin went mad - he began butchering everyone at the circus and only kept a small amount of us alive. I suspect he planned to kill or eat us later, for during his rampage, I caught him chewing on a young maiden's neck. It was as if we'd gone into Hell."

Galleth felt saddened by Hopkin's tale. He understood the pain of losing a family member, but most of all, he had a suspicion. If they truly stopped by Mistwood, then there could only be one explanation for these horrors that his brother unleashed.

"I believe I know who is to blame for your brother behaving like this, Hopkin," Galleth began with a frown, much to the feline's confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"My compatriots and I have recently begun a quest to hunt an insidious spellcaster known as the Black Witch. I have seen firsthand the dark power she wields when she led a massacre in Mistwood on the day of the royal wedding. If you and your circus were truly in Mistwood recently, then I fear that her witchcraft is the source of his infliction."

Hopkin grimaced. "Surely you know how to help him, yes? You said you have seen this witch's magic at work."

"I have," Galleth confirmed. "However, I cannot say I know how to free your brother from her control. For now, all that I ask is that you assist me in finding my companions so that we may go."

"Why should I aid you if you do not know how to save my brother?"

"Because Jonette, one of my traveling companions, happens to have a talent for alchemy. She may have a way to break him free of the witch's grasp."

"Do you really believe healing salves will break him out of this curse?"

Galleth shook his head. "I am not certain, but she might be able to try. Please, will you help me?"

Hopkin paused as he began to weigh his options. Either help this stranger in exchange for a chance to free his sibling or flee and leave his brother to suffer. Both were dangerous. Hopkin let out a sigh as he nodded to Galleth. Two heads were better than one, he supposed.

Once the unlikely duo made sure the coast was clear, the duo decided to begin their search for Galleth's missing traveling companions. The raccoon's face scrunched in revulsion as the foul stench of corpses filled the circus grounds and his sinuses. He looked around and observed the burnt tents and circus booths, the puddles of blood and gore that lingered around almost every corner. The mere sight of it all made Galleth's stomach turn.

Dear God...am I in Hell? Galleth thought.

"Alright," the sound of Hopkin's voice distracted Galleth, his attention now focused on the feline jester. "You said you have an alchemist in your little party. Who else?"

"Chip, an archer. There is also Alice, the Princess of Mistwood."

"Princess?! What the bloody hell are ya- nevermind." Hopkin let out an irritated sigh. He had a feeling he would find out eventually. "Alright, I'll go find the alchemist and your archer friend. Find this princess and meet us back here."

"Right," Galleth proceeded to make his move. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Thank you, Hopkin. We'll save your brother."

Hopkin frowned. "I'll hold ya to it. Oh, and if you see or hear him...run. Run and hide."

"Sir Galleth Cooper runs from no danger," Galleth grinned before taking off. "In the name of the Coopers, I shall slay this wicked curse upon him!"

Hopkin watched with a dumbfounded expression as the raccoon disappeared from sight.

"Jackass."

XXXXXXXXXX

As Galleth made his way through the nightmarish circus in hopes of finding any clue as to where Princess Alice could be, his ears caught the sound of what had to be the last thing he would ever expect to hear in a place such as this: a woman's laughter.

Brows furrowed in confusion as to why anyone would by laughing in a place like this, he was able to follow the laughter back to a nearby tent. Making sure nobody saw him as he approached it, Galleth silently entered the tent and was met with a sight he was sure he was going to look back upon with a smile.

The interior of the tent was decorated as if it were the torture dungeon of a palace, with multiple torture tools and devices lying around waiting to be used on unfortunate victims. But what caught Galleth's attention was the source of the unusual laughter. There, far across from him was Princess Alice strapped down to a wooden table with metal cuffs binding her wrists and ankles and keeping her from moving. More notably, there were four wheels on the table positioned at the sides and the bottom of the table that had feathers attached to their rims, and as the wheels spun, the feathers glided across the soles, sides, and armpits of the unfortunate princess, who was unable to stop the constant flow of giggles that left her mouth due to what she was being subjected to.

"BWAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Plehehehehehehese! Hahahahahaha! Stohohohohohohop!" Alice begged through her laughter, struggling in her restraints as tears of mirth dripped down her cheeks. "IT TIHIHIHIHIHITHIHIHCKLES! I'M GOING TO PEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Galleth could not help but find the predicament the princess was in rather amusing. Aside from thievery, he always found a certain thrill from inflicting ticklish misfortune whenever the opportunity presented itself to him. That was why he always got excited whenever he was passing through a village on his travels and saw that a hapless maiden had been sentenced to be locked in the stocks for all the world to see.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he approached the table where the princess was being restrained and made himself known.

"Hmm, quite the pickle you've gotten yourself into, your highness," he remarked with a taunting smirk, "do you still think you made the right choice in fleeing Mistwood on this mission of yours?"

"GAHAHAHAHAHALEHEHEHETH?!" Alice howled, "LEHEHEHEHEHEHEHET ME OUHOHOHOHOHOHOHOT OF HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHERE!"

Noticing a key on a nearby table, Galleth grabbed onto it with the hook of his lance and used it to unlock the restraints keeping Alice down. This allowed the princess to push herself up into a sitting position before letting Galleth help her to her feet.

"Are you alright, your grace?"

"Hehehe, much better, thank you," she responded, letting out a few last giggles before composing herself. "Whoever it was that created this place must have a truly sadistic sense of humor."

"I wouldn't expect much else considering the one responsible for this madhouse is a jester the witch cursed with her magic," Galleth frowned. "I happened to meet the poor fellow's brother."

"Brother?" Alice asked with surprise. "There's someone else here with us? What of the others?"

Galleth, with his sword in one hand and the maiden's in the other, cautiously led them outside. "The chap's name is Hopkin. He is assisting us with finding Chip and Jonette."

Alice stopped in her tracks while observing her surroundings. Galleth stopped as well, curious by the female's actions.

"I think we found her ourselves." Alice informed, pointing to where she was looking.

Galleth followed the Princess' gaze and was horrified. If Alice's torment was amusing, then this was anything but. A trench was carved into the earth inside a nearby tent, where the screams of their chipmunk companion could be heard. The duo quickly fled to investigate, mortified by what they saw. Jonette was clawing at the sunken earth, attempting to escape with no avail as she was forced to stand barefoot on hot coals.

"Galleth!" Jonette cried out, fat tears streaming down her face. "HELP ME!"

Wasting no time, Galleth quickly took his Cooper lance and lowered the hooked end down towards his female companion, who quickly took hold of the thieving tool and climbed up while Galleth and Alice helped pull her up.

Alice took Jonette's hand and brought her back to the surface, comforting the crying maiden.

"Thank you! Oh, thank you both!" Jonette sobbed. "What fresh hell is this place?!"

"It's okay!" Alice consoled, gently laying her friend down on a nearby hay pile. She inspected the chipmunk's feet and her face grimaced. "She needs help," Alice looked back at Jonette. "Do you have anything for the burns in your bag?"

"I do not have my bag!" cried Jonette. "I do not know where it is!"

Alice looked up at Galleth, who stood in solemn silence. "We need to find it!"

"No!" choked Jonette, surprising the two raccoons. "Forget the goddamn bag!" Jonette exclaimed. "Let's just get the hell out of here first!"

Galleth gave her a stern look. "We are not just leaving! Not when we still need to find and save Chip from whatever torment he is being put through in this place!"

"I've had…worse." lied Jonette. "Just find Chip quickly and so we may leave. Now."

Alice looked back up at Galleth with a knowing expression. "Go. I will assist Jonette any way I can while you help Hopkin find Chip. We shall head to the main tent and regroup when Jonette feels like she's ready."

As much as Galleth wanted to protest, he hesitantly nodded and made his way out of the tent. He hoped to find Chip and Hopkin soon, because he was not keen on more suffering. What Jonette had said stuck to him.

"What fresh hell is this?!"

Galleth felt like he was running in circles. He had searched every inch of the circus with no sign of his archer companion. The thieving raccoon was starting to get worried. However, it wasn't until the sound of rattling chains hitting Galleth's ears that caught his attention. Despite the new sound, Galleth was still hesitant. What if it was Jackin on the prowl again? When Gellth peaked around the corner, his jaw tightened and his expression soured.

There Hopkin was, dragging a chained-up Chip through the dirt and ash of the circus grounds. Hopkin looked anxious, whereas Chip looked scared; confused. His voice was muffled by the rag tied around his head, making him unable to scream or make any other noise.

Deciding he did not like what was occurring in front of him, Galleth made his presence known. "What the hell are you doing?!"

Hopkin nearly jumped at the raccoon's voice. He quickly turned and pointed a dagger towards him.

"Stay back!" he barked. "Forget what you saw and run away while you still can!"

"Not until you answer my question!" growled Galleth. "What the hell is the meaning of this?! I thought you were helping me and my friends escape from here!"

"It's simple," Hopkin answered. "A life for a life. The Black Witch has gotten word of what you are trying to do, so she came to me herself through my brother. If I sacrifice you and your band of misfits now, then she will release him from her control."

Galleth sighed at this. "You're a damn fool, and I am not just talking about your costume," he said while waving at the jester costume Hopkin was wearing, much to the feline's offense. "Do you not see that she is lying through her teeth?! You would kill an innocent man by taking an evil woman's word?!"

"Innocent?!" Hopkin gasped out a chuckle. "And I thought my jokes were bad. All I see are thieves – ALL of you! You, who broke into a kingdom in search of petty riches, as he did!" he motioned to Chip, who helplessly watched the bickering. "A whore, who claims not to be a witch herself! And to top it all off, a princess who disobeyed her parents' wishes, and who should have NEVER been born!"

Galleth was put off by that. "What do you mean?"

"It does not matter!" Hopkin exclaimed. "I suggest you do not keep pretending to be the hero here. The thief dies, then you'll soon follow after. And then…and then my brother will be free, and we can leave together like old times."

"You go through with any of this, and it will make you no better than the Black Witch yourself!"

Hopkin's jaw clenched, his shaking hand holding the dagger raised higher. Galleth felt the need to fight was upon him, and he was right. Before the duo knew it, a long hand stretched out from the darkened entrance of the big top tent next to them, grabbed hold of the chained rope that was in Hopkin's hand, and yanked the muffled screaming Chip into the darkness.

Galleth's eyes widened. "NO!" he bellowed.

Hopkin leaped towards Galleth, intending to kill, but Galleth was fast. He countered Hopkin's attack and knocked him out before racing inside the tent, daring to face the monster that took his companion.

Galleth came to a halt as he saw the sight in front of him. There Jackin was, his long gangly limbs cracking with each move he made. He twisted his head in a complete turn as he raised Chip above his head, slowly lowering him into his gaping mouth.

"Demon!" Galleth roared. "Unhand my friend and face me instead, you repulsive abomination!"

Jackin's head snapped towards Galleth, his lips forming a demented smile. He tossed Chip to the side and stood up straight, grabbing the large blood-soaked axe that laid against one of the poles supporting the tent, then slowly approached Galleth, who gripped onto his lance and sword. The raccoon's heart began to beat rapidly as beads of sweat dripped down his face.

"You seem to have a very poor understanding of what is going on here, friend," Jackin spoke in a disturbingly raspy voice with a toothy grin, "unless, of course, you are simply suicidal."

Galleth clenched his jaw, his grip tightening. "I understand clearly. You are being controlled by a woman who sold her soul, and your brother made a bad choice."

"And what are you going to do now? Kill me?" mocked the towering jester.

"If I must," Galleth challenged. "It seems it's too late for you, so that only leaves the alternative."

Hearing this, Jackin let out a cackle. "Then, my little vermin, try to make this entertaining for me, will you?"

"By the time I'm finished with you, you will NOT be entertained."

Jackin roared as Galleth took the first leap, slicing one of his legs and sprinting past the possessed feline. "What, fleeing just as the fight is beginning?" Jackin taunted. "Keep running, little mouse. I like a good hunt!"

Galleth looked over his shoulder while running from his enemy. He was barely surprised by how fast Jackin was given the dark influence that Black Witch had on him. Galleth knew that he had to be smart while facing this enemy. Jackin was not a normal opponent. Something seemed off, and it wasn't simply because of black magic.

While running, Galleth was able to find the still-ensnared Chip. He knew that the archer would be useful in this predicament, but getting him free would be impossible with Jackin hot on his tail. A plan quickly formed into Galleth's head as he used his lance to grab Chip by the collar of his shirt and drag him along as he ran.

"Apologies for the quick grab and go, friend, but I require your assistance!"

Chip – still tied up and mouth covered – let out a muffled scream in response while watching Jackin catching up to them, struggling to break free of his binds and save his skin. The monstrous harlequin raised his axe in preparation of slicing the squirrel in half. Galleth made a sharp turn, dragging Chip along with him before just as Jackin buried the blade of his weapon into the ground. The raccoon quickly scooped up some dirt from the burnt ground and waited for Jackin to get close enough before throwing it in his face and blinding him.

With Jackin distracted, Galleth got Chip and himself to a safe enough distance to untie and ungag the squirrel. "Ready to help?"

"WITH WHAT?!" Chip exclaimed. "You think dirt is going to stop him?!"

"See if you can find anything you can use as a weapon; I'll distract him for as long as I can!"

Deciding not to protest, Chip bit his tongue and ran to do as he was asked. After all this time, Chip had found it useless to argue with the raccoon thief. Galleth sprinted towards Jackin and attacked, resulting in his opponent receiving some minor injuries. Jackin paid his wounds no mind as he finally got his vision back to attack once more.

Galleth did the best he could to keep up with the cursed jester that wielded such a dangerous weapon, but his luck would eventually run out. Jackin finally managed to get the upper hand and knocked Galleth to the ground with the flat side of his axe. Galleth grunted as Jackin's feet rested on both the raccoon's arms, his heels digging into the earth below as he tried to use his upper body strength.

Jackin was amused by the thief's struggle; how he wiggled like a defenseless worm at his feet. With a dark chuckle, Jackin gripped the long handle of his axe tightly and raised it over his head. With bloodlust filling his dark eyes, the harlequin was intent to kill. That was, until an arrow pierced his upper back, resulting in him to drop the weapon behind him and let out a pained roar.

Galleth, surprised, looked to see Chip standing on the top of some wooden benches, lowering his bow and glared at his target. "Took you long enough!"

"Blow it out your arse!" retorted Chip before aiming again at Jackin. "Show's over!"

Galleth – with Jackin's weight finally off of him – quickly got up and grabbed his sword. While Chip continuously fired arrows at the harlequin before them, Galleth sliced Jackin's legs enough to where he fell down to his knees. Galleth stabbed his foe in the chest, then with all his might, Galleth quickly removed his sword and cleaved Jackin's head from his own body.

As the jester's head rolled off to the side, the rest of his body fell to the ground while Chip jumped down from the benches to approach his comrade. Then, much to the raccoon and squirrel's alarm, the body and head of the decapitated jester became engulfed in an eerie green flame before dispersing. The body of Jackin was now more corpse-like in appearance, along with very little blood to be seen.

"What…what the hell just happened?" Chip inquired, clearly unnerved and confused about what just happened to their foe.

"I…I am uncertain," confessed Galleth. He knelt next to the body and inspected it. He had a feeling something was amiss about Jackin's corpse. Something in Galleth's mind clicked and he looked back up at Chip, alarmed.

Chip felt uneasy. "What?"

"He's been dead this whole time," Galleth informed. "This is the work of necromancy."

Chip's face paled. "This witch…it was her? She can just…do that?"

"It would appear so," Galleth's expression was grim. "It would seem she was using him like a puppet, trying to have his brother kill us as some kind of sacrifice to prevent us from getting in her way."

"So, by beheading him the way you just did…you broke the hold she had over him?"

Galleth nodded. "I believe so. That would explain why his body returned to normal after I decapitated him, the black magic that warped his body went away."

"So, what now?"

"Now, we leave this place." Galleth said, putting away his sword. "We have to continue on our quest and head to the next village over."

Chip nodded before adopting a look of solemn concern. "And Hopkin? What of him?"

"We tell him what had happened here," Galleth replied sullenly at the thought of the feline's reaction. "He deserves to know the truth."

From a distance, perched on a nearby tree branch, a raven watched as Galleth and Chip exit the tent. The duo was met with Alice and Jonette, who both sat on a log near the tent with the still unconscious Hopkin. The raven let out a call before flying off the branch, traveling to the woods.

Seated on a boulder by a flowing stream, the Black Witch sat in silence. Her once shut eyes calmly opened as if she sensed a familiar presence. She held out her arm and allowed the raven to land.

"How unfortunate," she spoke quietly. "I should have known a fool imbued with my magic would not be enough to stop these pests. No matter…"

The Black Witch's lips formed a small smile, her eyes darkened. "I'll simply have to deal with them myself."

A/N:

I'm baaack~

I know it's been a long while. Wanted to solely focus on finishing my degree, and then I got a job and had to relocate to Florida. I'm going to get back into writing a lot more now that I have a cleaner schedule. I do plan on going back to school in the fall, so it may be busy for me again. I'll try and keep a somewhat consistent schedule for updates, so that fics aren't being forgotten.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and what's to come in the future!

~Nixter97~