The Mice and the Bull

Part 5 of "The Scarecrow"

None of us expected the first attack by the witches would occur so soon, but none of us were surprised when it happened.

The news of the coven’s return was kept between the peaceable witches and warlocks, and the mayor and sheriff’s department. The last thing we wanted was a panic. For me, this was quite exciting, not even being a full-fledged sorceress yet, despite everyone’s worries about how dangerous these witches had become.

The only thing we were sure of was that the coven was using ravens as spies. Both good and evil witches use animals as companions and watchers, with ravens being particularly common. To tell who was who, we decided to given our own ravens a rest, and employ a different animal—the unassuming mouse. Madam Faye gave each of us a mouse to use. Daily, we sent them into the forest to observe the old hut Mr. Vonner and I came across in our search for answers just a few days ago.

Things were quiet, and not much was observed, but we didn’t go unnoticed.

This is a town known for strange things, but there’s a difference between whimsy and chaos. My parents, like all other good witches and warlocks in this town, told me to cherish the relationship we had with the nonmagical residents. It was unusual, and those who turned their backs on manipulation, control, and murder to enhance their magic had become much happier. There were things we could learn from each other.

“That’s why this operation is so important,” Madam Farina said, pouring hot tea into a mug in front of me. “Very few places in the world are as harmonious as this with their magical folk.”

“Didn’t you tell me you used to be . . . one of them?” I asked.

“I did.” Farina suddenly looked distant. “I was a promising potion-maker when I was your age, and then I was tasked with the deeds of killing people for specific . . . ingredients. It wasn’t just about potions, though; it was about keeping nonmagical people afraid of us, so we could do what we wanted with them. Unable to bring myself to kill an innocent person, I ran away. I ran for several days and nights, until I came here, to this little town. It was Allard Vonner who took me in and let me rest before helping me become acquainted with the culture here. I haven’t looked back since.”

“I guess that’s why your daughter’s turning hurts so much.”

“It hurts because Evie is my daughter, but, yes, the fact that I ran away from that life is another reason.” Farina looked down at the floor, looking small in her shawl and cloak. “I wish I could go back and fix what went wrong.”

She looked up when someone knocked on the door, and called, “Who is it?”

“Allard, Madam!” came a voice from outside.

I stood up to get the door, giving Mr. Vonner a hug before he came in. “It’s good to see you, sir,” I said.

“And good to see you, too, Elsbetha,” Mr. Vonner replied, tipping his hat. “Madam Farina, how are you this morning?”

“Good, Allard. Have your mice found anything?” Farina asked.

Mr. Vonner paled a little. “A witch was spotted leaving the hut, heading toward the town. I’ve already told Mayor Parke and Sheriff Blakely.”

“Is it Evie?”

“No, it’s someone we’ve never seen before.”

“What are we going to do?” I asked.

“We’re going to stop her before she gets to any populated areas.”

________________________________________

Running through the tall grass surrounding the forest, the three of us drew our wands when we saw a cloaked human shape appear. They had an unmistakable pointy hat, and Mr. Vonner was the first to fire a bolt of lightning from his wand.

The witch was knocked to her feet, but she recovered her bearing before we could get any closer. She was gnarled and horrid-looking from her dark magic corrupting her. Everything about her was ragged and wild. Even her wand was twisted. As she got to her feet, she hollered an incantation, and a great, ghostly bull sprung forth from her wand.

“Get down!” Mr. Vonner shoved me and Farina out of the way as the bull charged. It flew right past us, before making a sharp turn to come back. The three of us stood, running in separate directions.

“I’ll deal with the witch!” Farina said.

“Be careful,” Mr. Vonner replied, “and good luck.” He turned to me. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, sir,” I said. “How do we handle the bull? All we have are mice.”

“Don’t underestimate the mice, Elsbetha, especially when they’re all we have.” Mr. Vonner faced the bull, which was pawing at the ground in preparation for charging at him. A blue spark erupted at the tip of his wand, and a mouse leapt out. It ran toward the bull, distracting it from Mr. Vonner.

“Send another mouse!” he said. “The bull won’t know which to deal with.”

I ran behind the bull as it struggled to headbutt the mouse in front of it. Hand and wand shaking, I sent a second mouse, which promptly jumped onto the bull’s back. The bull swung around madly, confused and unable to decide which mouse to attack.

“Good job!” Mr. Vonner smiled at me. “You’re getting better with casting familiars.”

“Thank you, sir.” I watched the bull struggle with the mice, until he bucked mine off, sending her flying into the grass. Mr. Vonner’s mouse kept leaping back and forth, teasing the bull. My mouse managed to get back to her paws, shaking her head before immediately jumping back in the fight, biting and scratching.

Behind us, Farina was dueling aggressively with the witch who summoned the bull. I’ve never heard my mentor so angry, but I could feel just how personal this whole ordeal was for her. To be betrayed by her own daughter, to fight against the very lifestyle she risked her life to escape, it lit a fire in her, one I haven’t seen in years.

There was a sudden thunderclap, and Mr. Vonner and I lost our footing. The bull suddenly vanished. Standing, Mr. Vonner and I summoned our mice back, and jogged over to where Farina had knocked the witch to the ground with a spell. A bruise had appeared on the witch’s forehead, and she was holding her gnarled hands up.

“Go back to the slimy little hole you crawled out of.” Farina was shaking, and her eyes were filling with tears. I felt urged to go to her, but Mr. Vonner gently touched my shoulder.

“Don’t. It’s not your fight,” he said.

The witch on the ground wheezed. “What? You mean the slimy little hole you crawled out of? The one you left behind? You haven’t changed, Farina. You’re still trying to be a hero. It’s almost admirable, but pathetic all the same. You had such potential, and you threw it away.”

“The non-magical folk of this town aren’t cattle, and I will not stand by while you and the rest of your coven slaughter them. None of us here will.” Farina stood back. “Go. Go back to that hut. Don’t even think about underestimating the people here. You will sorely regret it.”

Staggering a little, the witch stood up. She looked like she was about to say something to Farina, but decided against it, turning to run back into the woods.

Mr. Vonner and I walked over to Farina. “Are you alright, Madam?” Mr. Vonner asked.

“Fine.” Farina lowered her wand. She didn’t turn to face us, and kept staring into the forest. “That won’t be the last we see of her, or anyone else in that coven. They’ll be back.”

“What will we do until then?” I asked.

“Keep preparing. I will talk to the mayor and Sheriff Blakely.” Farina finally looked at me and Mr. Vonner before heading out of the field.