The comforting silence that beheld them that night was shredded by a distant and icy scream: “Leeearrch!!!” There were several other shrieks and cries just like it, echoing over the village, one creature answering to another.
They were wide awake a few seconds later, and saw Ling and Shi slinging bags over their shoulders and pacing around the shop. “Wake up, kiddies, it’s time to go home!”
Hansel peeked out the window by saw only the light gleam of the stars. “What was that?” he said. “I thought most witches could talk, not scream in the night.”
“They were talking,” Ling replied. “In some parts of Da-Sei I went by the name Leah. Learch is apparently as close as they come in their language.”
“These are the witches you were talking about?” said Victor.
Ling nodded and swung open the door. A cool breeze trailed in. “I call them Desert Hags. They’re like ordinary ghouls but much worse. Welcome to the east side of the wall!”
They moved as a group into the street, their only light was a lantern carried by Ling. The people of the village were awake now and murmuring with fright, and barring their doors and windows.
“So, what’s our plan, exactly?” said Hansel, who was looking over his shoulder and scanning the dark depths of the desert.
Ling spoke quickly and with purpose. “There are three of them and six of us so we’ll split into pairs and lead them into the streets. These creatures are strong but their tricks don’t work on victims they can’t see, so it should be easy to lay traps for them. Go now! And good hunting!”
Ling and Shi were the first to spot their mark; the witch stalked the dark alleys in the guise of a tall woman, sniffing constantly for their scent. Her vicious eye caught onto Shi as he stepped around the corner. The guise disappeared at the foul witch broke into a sprint, pursuing Shi down the length of the alley. A spear shot out from the wall and ran the witch through like a shish-kebab.
Hansel and Gretel relied on simpler methods. The witches were only expecting to find Ling and Shi, so when Gretel sprung out from behind the second one with an axe it was astounded. With a cry, it knocked Gretel down and tried to conjure a flame in its hands, leaving its back turned to Hansel, who hopped from the roof and slew it with haste.
Sam lured the final witch in and used a handful of explosive powder to distract it. This one was less sturdy than the others, and when Victor ran in for the killing blow it threw him aside and fled for the desert. A flying bolt pierced through its ribs, fired from Ling’s light crossbow. It was an exceptional shot considering the fullness of the night.
“A fine kill!” Ling commended Hansel, laying the crossbow over her shoulder. “Victor, you could have done that better. But no time for dilly-dally! The way is clear and we must be off! It’s a long way back to Haswhald!”
They slept in their saddles that night, bobbing about along the endless star-dazzled dunes.
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