Chester's secret tunnel did indeed lead to the nastiest, dingiest, smelliest part of an otherwise splendid home.

"Oh, I forgot how smelly it is down here," Chester said, tugging his handkerchief from his pocket to cover his nose and mouth.

"I haven't," Shadow replied with a sniff. He remembered only too well the smell of damp soil and festering mould.

Hex stopped at the entrance to the dungeons. "Chester, Shadow, you can come with me. Terrance and the chicken will stay here. Lilybeth can please herself."

"But, Hex, if we don't come with you, how will Prince Sebastian complete his selfless act?" Terrance asked, cradling the chicken and gently rocking him.

"That is not my concern. The prince is of no use to me now. He'll slow me down and I've wasted enough time."

Terrance turned to Lilybeth and opened his mouth to speak.

"No! Don't ask," Lilybeth snapped. "Sebastian stays as he is."

Terrance kicked the dirt floor in frustration and slumped to the ground with his back pressed against the tunnel wall.

"Are you coming with us?" Chester asked the fairy godmother.

After a pause, Lilybeth said, "I need to rest after teleporting to Rune Hall. I'm not as young as I used to be."

"No, you are not," Hex said snarkily. And with a sweep of his cloak, he marched into the dark dungeon.

With no choice, Shadow followed, but Chester dithered by the door, his stomach fluttering with nerves. Once he entered the castle, he may never escape. Prince Horace had banished him. To return was utter madness. To stay behind was complete cowardice. Determined to prove he had changed for the better, Chester tucked his handkerchief back into his pocket and bravely stepped inside the castle.

*

Cathy and Jake flew through corridor after corridor, checking door after door. Both were petrified they'd run into Prince Horace. Whenever they heard guards approaching, they ducked into doorways or hid behind the curtains. So far, they'd made it down two flights of stairs without being detected. They were about to dart down a third when the distant sound of boots on flagstones froze them where they stood.

"Back up," Cathy whispered, shoving Jake in the direction they had come. On their left, was a door. "In here." Cathy yanked the door open and pushed Jake inside before quickly closing it. Brooms and mops, buckets and feather dusters filled the small dusty cupboard and in the dark, Cathy waited for the owner of the boots to pass by.

"Have they gone?" Jake whispered, nudging Cathy with his bony elbow.

"Shush. I can't hear." Cathy pressed her ear against the door.

Squeak... Squeak... Squeak.

The heavy footsteps halted, casting shadows under the door. Cathy shuffled back, knocking into a metal bucket with a loud clang. Her pulse raced... oh no... oh no... what have I done?

To her horror, she heard the doorknob turn, and the door flew open, the sudden light blinding her.

"Hello, pet. How are you?" Hex said, his cloak billowing behind him.

Cathy stared up at the sorcerer, hardly believing her eyes. "Hex, you're here! You're really here!"