Open day at the Witches' Home 4/10

“Hey Dulce, how about going to this open day thing over at the Gate, should be a bit of a lark!”

“Yers, rightyho”

The two witches were reading a notice nailed to a tree, just where the path leading from Tornak’s cave met the road which went towards Lurbridge. Arthur the local giant had been carrying visitors to and fro, between the village, the Witches’ Home and his castle all morning.

He was perfectly happy, as all the little people were paying him with food, which he could enlarge magically when it was required and could easily be stored for the winter, when the weather became too bad for visitors to want to visit him.

Esmerelda and Dulcibella went back to their fire spot to collect their brooms and flew across the field to the Home. One of the witches came over the drawbridge to meet them.

“Welcome ladies, please leave your brooms here and then feel free to wander round the Home. If you need a guide, one of the witches on duty can help you. Today all the guides are wearing their Sunday best hats and cloaks so that they can be recognised. Enjoy your visit!”

Esmerelda and Dulcibella walked slowly through the castle courtyard gazing in wonder at the massive stone walls and high battlements.

They continued into the building and roamed along several corridors until at last they saw a sign pointing to ‘The Refectory.’

“Wassa ‘fectory?” asked Dulcibella.

“Dunno,” came the reply, “but there’s only one way to find out ain’t there!”

There was a witch in a pointed hat standing just inside the door as they went in to the room.

“Please come in and make yourselves at home ladies. Cups of tea, cake and biscuits are all free, just go to the serving hatch over there and ask for whatever you’d like to eat or drink.”

Five minutes later, the two witches were sitting at a table loaded with two large mugs of tea and a huge plateful of cakes and biscuits.

“Coo good innit!”

“Yers,” was the reply, mumbled through a mouthful of biscuit crumbs.

“Don’t even have to do the washing up!” said Esme as they left the room and continued their explorations.

They walked along a short corridor and suddenly came out into the sunlight. In front of them they could see a lawn leading down to a river where a small boat was moored at a quayside.

“Hello ladies,” called a familiar voice, “would you like to have a look at my dad’s boat?”

Esme and Dulce looked round. Jennifer Jane was leading a small party of villagers towards the workshop.

“It’s that Jennifer kid and she’s wearing a pointy hat!”

“Yers”

“Might as well have a look seeing as how she offered.” They both walked across the lawn towards Misty Magic.