How to Stop a Witch by Bill Allen Read Free Book Online Page A

go.”
    Greg tried to smile. “Yeah, that helps.”
    “What does Brandon say Greg’s supposed to do?” Kristin asked.
    “Yes, Father,” Priscilla said, stepping between the two of them. “What did he say?”
    “Witch Hazel has managed to reconstruct the Amulet of Tehrer,” Mordred told them both. “And she’s been wasting no time. Already she’s using it to control Ruuan.”
    “We know,” said Kristin.
    Greg quickly explained about their encounter with the witch along the trail.
    “Oh my,” King Peter said. “It’s good Hazel has not yet figured out how to use the amulet to its full capacity. Once she does . . . well, I’m afraid Ruuan will do anything she asks.”
    “This is terrible,” said Greg. “Where’s Nathan? He’ll know what to do.”
    Mordred grunted, but said nothing.
    King Peter frowned. “We don’t know. He left here soon after you did, right after he helped fulfill the last prophecy.”
    “Probably out researching the Dark Arts,” said Mordred with disgust. “It does not surprise me he’s not here during our time of need.”
    “That’s not fair,” said Greg. “Nathan would do anything for this kingdom. If he is trying to learn about Dark Magic, I’m sure he has his reasons.”
    “Yes, because he can’t decide whether his loyalties rest here or with his old friend Hazel.”
    Greg was so mad he wanted to hit Mordred, but he wanted even more to live out his final days as a boy rather than as a newt. Still, he found it impossible to hold his tongue. “I seem to remember you were the one making deals with Hazel when I was here before.”
    “Yeah,” Kristin jumped in, “and her name sure brought a smile to your face earlier.”
    “I do like her,” Mordred said, indicating Kristin with a nod. “She’s got spunk. Just like Hazel did when she was your age.”
    “There’s that smile again,” accused Kristin.
    “Who has the questionable motives now, Mordred?” said Greg.
    The magician’s smile dissolved away. He stared at Greg with such intensity, Greg nearly slipped beneath King Peter’s table.
    “Er . . . Mister Mordred.”
    “I made a deal with Hazel,” Mordred explained, “because years ago Nathan told me she would trade four pieces of Ruuan’s amulet for the key piece of the Amulet of Tehrer. Only, Hazel didn’t have all the pieces to trade, so I did what needed to be done. I saw to it she got them. Consequently the prophecy was fulfilled, and all turned out well for the kingdom.”
    “Except now Hazel’s got the whole Amulet of Tehrer,” said Priscilla, “and she’s going to use it to destroy us.”
    “Not according to Simon,” said Mordred. “The boy, here, is going to help us.”
    “What can I do?” Greg asked.
    “Well, for starters, I had hoped you might have the Amulet of Ruuan.”
    “Me? Why would I have it?”
    “You were the only logical choice to watch over it. Hazel would be looking for it here on Myrth, and even if she suspected it was safe on another world, she would have no way to find it. She doesn’t have Lucky Day’s talent to help her home in on its location.”
    Lucky smiled behind a complexion nearly as red as his hair.
    “And you didn’t understand how to use it,” Mordred added in a tone that suggested Greg barely knew how to use a fork. “Nor would you be able to expand your knowledge without returning to Myrth. No, more than likely Nathan kept the amulet for himself, and he is the most dangerous person to have it. Without it, he is one of the most powerful magicians on Myrth. With it, well . . . ”
    He left the sentence unfinished, but Greg knew what he was implying. “You don’t have to worry about Nathan.”
    “If only that were true. An artifact like that can have a tremendous pull on a man of power, especially one who has repeatedly shown an interest in the Dark Arts.”
    “Nathan is not evil,” Priscilla insisted, crossing her arms over her chest in the same manner Kristin had been using ever since the