While Sofia and Sandra were collecting the different flowers following their talk with Rose, Dorrie had found a large cauldron in the Mystic Meadows kitchen.
A few minutes later, Sofia, Amber, James, Lucinda, Dorrie, Candice, Sandra, and Zanven gathered in the kitchen with the ingredients. Sofia and Sandra threw the flowers into the cauldron, then stepped back and let everyone put what they found in there as well.
Amber smiled as she poured two bottles of Sweet Skunk musk into the cauldron. "I hope you don't mind, sir, but I asked for an extra bottle of Sweet Skunk musk for my perfume," she told Zanven as she put a third bottle in her purse. Zanven smiled and told her that Aleena also loved the smell of Sweet Skunk, and she was always running out, since she constantly used it on herself as perfume too.
Lucinda put some powdered unicorn horn, as well as Sweet Skunk fur in the cauldron next. "As I think I've taught you, or you learned in Royal Prep, unicorn horn has great healing properties," she explained. "And Amber and I were lucky that the lady we visited has a pet Sweet Skunk, so she always has these ingredients on hand."
James and Candice each poured a bottle of butterbeer and pumpkin juice in the mixture next. As she poured a second bottle of pumpkin juice in, Candice smirked over at James, who was pouring in a second bottle of butterbeer. "You wouldn't believe the trouble I had keeping James from stealing tastes of these! I finally had to find him extra bottles so I could get the required amounts for this potion!"
"Actually, I think I can believe it!" Amber gave her brother a mock glare; the last time they were in a potions class in Royal Prep, James had drunk their only bottle of pumpkin juice before they even started brewing something.
"Hey, you have to make sure the ingredients are fresh!" Sandra joked; she'd been known to snitch tastes of those herself.
"Says the person who almost came back with no float fruit!" Sofia teased her as she and Sandra chopped up some float fruits and added them to the mixture.
"Do you have any idea how many great recipes there are that call for float fruit?" Sandra countered.
"But at least we were able to get the cave moss tea with no problems," Sofia added.
"Just be glad I'm not a tea drinker, Sof," Sandra smirked.
Zanven rolled his eyes good-naturedly at all the friendly bantering going on. It was good that everyone was keeping their sense of humor in this tense situation. When the potion started to simmer, he told them that he'd keep an eye on it, since it would take the rest of the day to brew, and he'd bring it to them when it was ready, and to keep a lookout for his Patronus, which would be his signal for them.
Everyone agreed to watch for it, and told Zanven that they'd probably be at Enchancia Castle, and if not, to meet him at Orillia Castle. Sandra offered to send her own Patronus to him and tell him where they were.
On the way back to Enchancia Castle, Dorrie heard Sandra singing a song under her breath. "I know that song! My mom learned that from King Roland, and she, Candice, and I sometimes sing it as we work around the castle," she said as she recognized it.
"Well, if you want to join in, feel free, and that goes for everyone here," Sandra said as she started the song again.
If it should please you, I have come to play
A glad or a sad tune, I wrote along the way
And a few good songs about the old highway
I been around so long, Lord, I guess, I'm here to stay
Dorrie smiled as she joined her, So I'm itching to please you with a topical song
And a few golden oldies and a little hoedown
And I think I know how to make you feel
We're one and the same now like a big flywheel
Sofia smiled as she joined in, I have seen the best of all those things you can't explain
Wanderlust, I did not trust but I never did complain
Recognizing another song that he had often sung with his mother, James smiled as he joined in, So if it should please you, put away those blues
Just settle on back now, I'll do my licks for you
It's my own way and that's the way it goes
You're a real good reason for a real good show
Candice's smile was just as wide as she joined them, I have seen the best of all those things you don't forget
Wanderlust, I did not trust and I ain't been done in yet
Amber smiled as she recognized another of her mother's favorite songs, and joined in too, So if you got the dead end of the dealing shoe
This is your last chance, man, we belong to you
It's my own way and that's the way I feel
We're one and the same now like a big flywheel
Lucinda's smile was as wide as everyone's as she took the next verse, So if it should please you, I have come to play
A glad or a sad tune, I wrote along the way
And a few good songs about the old highway
I been around so long, Lord, I guess, I'm here to stay
Everyone finished the song together, We're one and the same now, let's take it away
We're gonna take it real easy, let's take it away
We're gonna take it real easy, take it away
Roland smiled as he heard them. "Well, I take it your mission was successful?" he said as they landed in the courtyard.
"Yes, sir, we found all the ingredients we need for the potion, and it's brewing as we speak…or should I say sing," Dorrie replied.
"That's right, Your Majesty. Zanven said he's going to personally bring it to us when it's ready," Sandra agreed as they dismounted their horses. She then looked like she recalled something. "Oh, James, before I forget, did you learn the three phrases?"
"What three phrases?" James asked as the knights came over.
"The three phrases every squire, male or female, needs to know," Sandra replied. "One: 'Cover for me.' You use that one if you have too many things to do at the same time and your knight needs something done quickly. If that happens, find another person and ask him to help you out." James smiled and Sandra continued, "Two: 'Oh, good idea, Sir…' you'll use Sir Finnegan; I use Sir Avery, and I'll also be using Sir Maxwell." Roland and the knights were laughing to themselves as they listened to the conversation. Sandra grinned as she finished, "Three: 'It was like that when I got here!'"
"I think James already knows that one!" Roland grinned over at James. "Remember the chandelier you knocked over with the flying harness?"
Flashback
"Time to go for a ride!" James cheered as he looped the rope around the knight and lifted the suit of armor off the ground. "Whoa!"
The armor bumped into a chandelier. "Oops!" James gasped as it fell to the ground.
He saw Roland and two guards running up. "It was like that when I got here!" he blurted out.
End flashback
"You wouldn't really do anything like that, would you?" Lucinda asked.
"Of course they wouldn't," Sir Maxwell smiled at Sandra. "Would you, milady?"
"Good idea, Sir Maxwell," Sandra replied with a smile.
"Don't you start that either, Little Prince," Sir Finnegan warned, but the smile on his face softened his stern tone.
"Good idea, Sir Finnegan," James grinned.
Everyone groaned at the jokes, then went off to find Ezekiel. Sandra took out the map her father had given her, and when they approached Orillia Castle, they saw movement in the nearby forest.
"Mischief managed!" Sandra whispered quickly, then after she hid the map from sight, she cast her own Patronus, a cat. As it streaked off to find Zanven, they were approached by someone wearing a hooded cloak.
"Swords and wands away now. All of you will come with me," the figure ordered.
The group was led to a large cave. "Lord Gray is waiting for you. Enter…" another hooded figure ordered.
"I wonder…" Sandra mused. She raised her voice. "Let me go in first and make sure it's safe for everyone."
"Very well," the figure replied.
Sandra gasped. "You'd let a poor defenseless girl go in that dark cave with who knows what lurking in the shadows?! What kind of person are you?!"
"I…I…" the figure stammered as some of the knights, including Sir Maxwell and Sir Finnegan, tsk-tsked him. He straightened up and pushed Sandra toward the knights. "I'm sorry; what was I thinking? You stay here, little lady, and I'll make sure the cave is safe."
The figure walked into the cave, and everyone heard shouts and sounds of fighting, as well as a yell of "Crucio!"
The group saw someone appear, and he had the first person, who was groaning in pain, by the shoulder. "Are you out of your mind?!" the new person demanded as he threw him to the ground and whipped off his own hood. "My sister used that same stupid joke when she and I were doing squire duty together! I didn't think it was funny that time either!"
"Zeke?" Sandra looked up. She got a good look at him, seeing his pale skin, red eyes, and long pale hands and fingers. "What did you do to yourself?"
"Just made myself look more powerful as I take over Orillia," Ezekiel smirked, his red eyes glowing wickedly.
"Very funny, Zeke, now where are Mom, Dad, and Zoe?" Sandra asked as she gripped her dagger in one hand, and her wand in the other.
Ezekiel smirked. "Oh, they're…around…"
Sandra looked around at her friends and the knights, clearly not liking what she was hearing. Everyone nodded in agreement. They had to find the Orillian royal family quickly, and see how they could stop Ezekiel.
Author's Notes
Thanks to Niagara14301 for helping with some details in this chapter.
If It Should Please You by Gordon Lightfoot is not mine.
Sandra's conversation with the cave guard was taken from an episode of Animaniacs.
Butterbeer, pumpkin juice, and Crucio are from Harry Potter.
Sweet Skunks were mentioned in Buttercup Amber.
Cave moss tea was first mentioned in The Fliegle Has Landed.
Sandra's conversation with James about the things squires should know is taken from an episode of The Simpsons.
Roland's flashback about James and the chandelier is from Sidekick Cleo.