The Tales from the Five Kingdoms
The Bag of Bones

Chapter one

'Wheeeeee!' The small bat did a double back flip, a twist, and landed neatly on the branch below.

'Did you see me, Uncle Marlon? Did you SEE me?' he squeaked.

'Sh!' The older bat flapped a warning wing. 'Button up, kiddo. We've got company.' He stared into the night. 'H'mph. It's those dames from Wadingburn ...'

The small bat's eyes widened. 'The WITCHES? Oh - Uncle Marlon! Can we stay 'n watch? Will they do scary spells?'

'They’re no big deal, kiddo.' The older bat settled back on his branch. 'Deep Magic's not allowed in the Five Kingdoms. This lot are Shallow, through and through. Couldn't magic a bird off a branch. But keep schtum, all the same. You don't want to end up in a pot. Your ma'll kill me if I bring you back half boiled.'

The small bat shivered, half in fear, half with pleasure. 'Okey dokey, Uncle M.' And he froze into stillness as he watched the line of women, varying in shape and size, but all dressed in black, making their way into the clearing at the top of Wadingburn Hill. Limping at the end of the line was the small skinny figure of a girl, her head bent tenderly over the bundle in her arms. As the witches hurried here and there collecting firewood and setting up the old and dented black cauldron she slipped away, and settled herself at the foot of the tree where the two bats hung motionless. Softly she began to croon to the bundled up object she was holding, and to rock it gently to and fro ...

'Loobly Higgins!' said a terrible voice. 'What on EARTH do you think you're doing?'

Loobly jumped. 'N.... n.... n.... nothing, Auntie...' she quavered.

The Grand Witch of Wadingburn took a step closer. 'Did my eyes deceive me, or were you KISSING that rat?'

Loobly shook her head so hard her long stringy hair broke loose from its ribbon and fell over her peaky little face. 'Wasn't kissing it,' she whispered. 'Not kissing. Just telling sorry. Sorry it be picklified.'