“And in return,” continued the Kingwitch, “you will releasssse me from this iron prison… And then you and I, Wish, will settle this once and for all in a single spellfight…”

It was always going to come down to this. The Kingwitch led the Witches, and while he was safe inside the ball of iron, he couldn’t lead them to victory. But if he could persuade Wish to release him and challenge Wish to a spellfight, why, then he might get his talons on the Magic-that-works-on-iron…

Because they had all seen, back in Pook’s Hill, how bad Wish was at spellfights.

But it was almost as if Wish and Xar were hypnotized by the voice of the Kingwitch as he rolled toward them… And then Xar began to walk toward the Kingwitch of his own accord.

Little Squeezjoos, who had been tucked, worryingly rigid and still in Xar’s pocket since they had left the healing comfort of Perdita, now lifted his head and began to move. He bit off the buttons that secured the pocket, and he flew out toward the Kingwitch.

“I iss feelings a little funny again…” said poor little Squeezjoos uncertainly, flying toward the Kingwitch upside down. “Oh! It’s the Chiwgink! Hello, Chiwgink!”

“Come back, Xar!” cried Bodkin, grabbing hold of the edge of Xar’s waistcoat, and dragging him back. “Xar! What are you doing?”

But Xar was half eaten by the Witch Magic already, and he did not seem to hear what Bodkin was saying.

“Xar, come to me… and Wissssh…” whispered the Kingwitch. “Wissssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… Give me your Magic… Give me your Magic… GIVE ME YOUR MAGIC…”

Louder still chanted the Kingwitch in the ball of iron, louder and louder, until the chant became an unbearable screech and the ball of iron was moving faster, faster.

“GIVE ME YOUR MAGIC!!!!”

“DON’T LISTEN!” bellowed Bodkin, leaping in front of Xar and Wish, and he held up the Enchanted Sword, which blazed for one moment with a light so blindingly bright that Xar’s hypnotized eyes refocused, and he came to his senses.

“RUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!” shouted Bodkin.

OUT of the cavern the children ran, terrified, as the ball of iron rolled after them.

UP the tunnels of the Nuckalavee’s cave.

ONTO the beach, where the log boat was waiting for them.

But above their heads, as they ran across the sand, there was a whirr of soft wings, and two swifts flew around and around.

“My father!” yelled Xar.

The swifts circled once more and then hovered in front of the children for a second before their wings turned into the long trails of sleeves, and Sychorax and Encanzo landed lightly on the beach in front of them.

They looked absolutely hopping mad.

Great thunderclouds were rolling off the top of Encanzo’s head. Sychorax was white with fury.

“Oh dear, my mother as well…” Wish sighed.