For the first time, Chester was speechless. Rune Hall was one of the most spectacular houses he'd ever seen. And despite being abandoned, the landscape gardens remained immaculate, as if enchanted.

"This way." Lilybeth marched through the rose garden, past the pond, and across the lawn. Chester struggled to keep up with her brisk pace. For the last few months, he'd hopped, not walked, and shoes took some getting used to.

A few steps behind Chester, Terrance cradled Sebastian in his arms. "There, there. It wasn't so bad," he whispered, trying to soothe the startled prince. Sebastian clucked and rustled his feathers in response.

"Why can't he speak?" Chester asked Lilybeth, breathlessly. Thankfully, he'd never lost his ability to talk.

Lilybeth glanced sideways at the portly goblin. "If Prince Sebastian has nothing nice to say, then he will say nothing."

"Oh." Chester shrugged. Sebastian was always nice to him.

As they approached the house, Chester pulled the magic skeleton key from his jacket pocket. It glinted in the morning sun and was no doubt worth a king's ransom. Chester began to daydream...

Maybe Hex will forget about the key. And maybe I'll trade it for a tropical island, or a palace with servants and a moat.

"Chester!" Lilybeth snapped. "Open the door!"

Chester jumped as his fantasy evaporated. "Yes, of course." He pushed the key into the lock and when the door swung open, he stepped into the entrance hall. In the corner, a grandfather clock ticked. Above his head, a crystal chandelier twinkled, and his shiny shoes squeaked on the polished floor.

"Wow!" Chester's jaw dropped.

"Chester, close your mouth and follow me," Lilybeth said.

Chester's mouth snapped shut and he did as he was told.

Terrance stroked Sebastian as his gaze darted from the fine artwork to the posh vases to the many doors. "How can Hex afford such a grand home?"

"By scheming and stealing, that's how. This is Hex's alchemy room." At the end of the hall, Lilybeth waited for Chester to unlock the door.

Chester stepped into the room first. Inside, rows of glass bottles on wooden shelves collected dust and spiderwebs. Lilybeth swept past him as though she had been here before.
Chester, being a short fellow, could only reach the third shelf. Not wishing to draw attention to the fact, he busied himself with reading the label on a green bottle with a cork stopper.

Hex's Remedy for Bad Neighbours

Perfect for noisy goblins, barking dogs, and annoying snails.

One drop and poof, no more problems.

Only Hex could create such a cruel potion. It would fetch a fortune at a goblin auction. Chester grinned and slipped the bottle into his left pocket.

Terrance stepped beside him, still holding Prince Sebastian. "Any luck?" he asked, placing the cockerel on the floor.

"Not yet." Chester's attention was elsewhere. Now, what was he supposed to look for?

"Hex has arranged his spells alphabetically. Look for spells beginning with b."

Of course, b for binding.
Chester strolled past the shelves until a jar of pink ointment caught his eye. He almost squealed with excitement when he read the label.

Hex's Bald No More!

Perfect for thinning and receding hair.

Apply the balm twice a day for a month to cure baldness.

Chester scratched the top of his shiny head and, checking no one would notice, he slipped the spell into his right pocket.

"I've found it." Lilybeth clutched the precious potion to her chest.

"I have a question," Terrance said as he chased Prince Sebastian around a dusty wooden table. He lunged at the chicken and missed. "If Hex can create a chain from thin air, why does he need a binding potion?" On his second lunge, Terrance caught Sebastian and tucked him under his arm.

Chester suddenly remembered what Hex had told him. "Prince Horace's maze created Shadow from smoke and illusions. As you cannot put a chain on smoke, only a binding spell will tether Shadow to Hex, preventing him from escaping. It's all very technical."

Lilybeth wrinkled her nose. "It's all very disturbing. And it's time we left," she said, leaving the room. "We must find the children."