The Forest of Foragers had a fortress. Its four round turrets stood, one in each corner, and a flag flapped at half-mast—To show its occupants were away.

Hex strolled towards the door with Chester hopping close behind. When he reached the door, he tried the handle. But the no-good, greedy goblin, Giggleton, had locked it.

"Oh, what a shame," Chester said. "We'll try again another day."

Hex ignored the toad and reached into his pocket, only to find it empty. He'd forgotten he no longer had his magic key. No matter. He knew another way inside.

"This way," he said and gestured for Chester to follow him.

To Hex's relief, at the entrance to the sewers, the metal grill still lay on the grass. Exactly where he and Cathy had left it.

Lifting his cloak from the ground, he looped it around his arm and stepped into the gloom.

Chester peered into the darkness, sniffed, and then gagged.

"Uh-uh. No way." He shook his head. "I'm not going in there. It stinks!" The toad clapped both his hands over his nostrils.

"Stop whining," Hex said. "There is only one entrance into this fortress without my magic key. So, get moving."

"No."

"If you don't do as I say, I'll vaporise you."

"Do it. I'd rather be dead than traipse through sewage."

Surely Hex was being dramatic. He wouldn't really murder him, would he?

"Have it your way?" Hex said and rolled up his sleeves. Dark shadows slithered along the sewer walls. Tiny bolts of lightning flashed above their heads as Hex whispered.

Chester gulped. "Alright, alright. I'll go."

Hex lowered his arms. The lightning ceased, and the dark shadows vanished.

"As I thought," the sorcerer said. "You will go on ahead." Hex nudged Chester forward with the toe of his boot.

Chester sighed loudly. "Follow me."

The mucky water grew deeper until it almost filled the toad's mouth.

At this rate, he'd drown. Chester searched the tunnels for something to float on. Luckily, a log, large enough for Chester to sit on, floated towards him. Hopping onto the log, he paddled through the sewer. Feeling rather smug that, unlike Hex, he was no longer wading through sewage.

The toad sang at the top of his voice... "Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream... Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily... Life is but a dream..." Just to make his point extra clear.

Hex waded behind in silence.

It was only when they reached the entrance to the dungeons, and Chester hopped from his log, did the sorcerer speak.

"Did you enjoy yourself, Chester?"

"Why yes? Despite the smell, I did," Chester said with a huge grin. He felt ever so pleased with his quick thinking. "It was a stroke of luck, my finding a log large enough to hold my weight."

Slowly, Hex leant down and whispered, "Are you sure it was a log?"

Chester's face dropped.

"Exactly," Hex said with a wicked smirk.

The sorcerer walked into the dungeons, his cloak billowing and his boots squeaking on the stone floor.

*

Hex darted up the stairs. Two steps at a time. There was not a moment to lose. The goblin could return at any moment and Giggleton had something Hex wanted.

The landing split at the top of the stairs.

If he turned right, it led to the tower. If he turned left, it would surely lead to Giggleton's private chambers.

Hex turned left.

He checked door after door until he reached the most fancy-pants room in the entire fortress... Giggletons bedroom.

The sorcerer tutted at the glitzy chandelier and tasteless wallpaper. He shook his head at the gaudy bedspread and the many hideous portraits of the goblin displayed on every wall.

"Wow," said Chester as he hopped into the room. "This goblin sure knows how to live." The toad admired every over-the-top detail.

Hex frowned. "You can't be serious?"

"Have you ever been inside the Castle of Jewels?" Chester asked.

"No, of course not."

"It's striking."

"What is?"

"The similarities."

"Hmm..." Hex muttered absentmindedly. He was thinking about more important things. Such as, where that no good, Giggleton, had hidden his crystal ball.

Hex searched the goblin's bedroom. He pulled clothing from drawers and checked under the bed. He ran his hand over the wardrobes and found nothing, not even dust. Frustrated, he left the room and went to the lounge.

And there it was. Proudly displayed on a table in the far corner.

The sorcerer's hands shook as he placed the crystal ball into his sack and slung it over his shoulder.

"Chester," he yelled. "We should go."

"Go? But you've only just arrived," said Giggleton from behind him.