Theanore handed the sea horn as carefully as if she was handing over breakable crystal. Grandpa Thinker took it and took a closer look at it. Such a small thing, ivory white with seashells on it.

How could something that looked like a toy be capable of summoning tsunamis and whirlpools? No matter, he had a curse to break. He took some seawater from his water skin and poured it into the sea horn. Then he brought it to the lips of the still sleeping Nick.

The boy sputtered and woke, but the skeleton hand was still there. It had even grown flesh around it. It was a putrid thing. Green in color with deep gashes on the skin. And where the palm was supposed to be, there was a mouth.

“It seems that this is not a mother’s curse.” Said grandpa Thinker, worried. “This is something much darker in nature.”

Well, Theanore was happy that Nick’s mother hadn’t cursed him, but if it was something darker, could they deal with it?

“Grandpa Thinker, what is it?” Asked Theanore. She had her mirror out. There was something black on Nick’s shoulder. Something that hadn’t been there before.

“A witch is trying to resurrect herself by using young Nick here. It would be best if you give him over to me to look after in Alerion for the time being, Thea. There is no telling if the witch won’t harm someone else in her quest for life.” Said Grandpa Thinker. The mouth in the palm opened, and a cackle came from it.

The mouth had no teeth, and it had rotting gums. Grandpa Thinker tried to remember if any witches with rotting palm mouths had died recently. But he came up blank.

He pulled up a flask with mountain Licht, the most holy place in Alerion, and he poured it on the hand. The skin sizzled and the cackling of the witch turned into a pained scream.

Everyone covered their ears when they heard the scream. It was high-pitched and grating. Nick looked at his, now, wet shoulder and reached out a hand to pat it. He didn’t feel anything.

“What made that sound?” Asked Nick and grandpa Thinker handed him his special glasses. Nick yelled and stumbled backwards when he saw the hand, and he hastily removed the glasses.

“It didn’t die.” Said Nick, and everyone looked at him.

“You know something about this, young man?” Asked grandma Thinker. Her eyes were worried, but she had a spear in her hand, ready to impale the hand should it decide to switch hosts.

“When we still lived in the forest of plenty, there was a witch living in our village. Her name was Clotilde.” Said Nick, and he began to shiver. “All the elves had bad luck because of her, but we didn’t know it was her fault at the time. She told everyone she was a light witch and even sold healing potions that healed people.”

The hand giggled as if this was quite the joke. Nick eyed his shoulder in fear, and grandpa Thinker poured more water on it. The hand let out a string of curses about the spirit of Yule’s mother.

“But Clotilde was found out and burned at the stake. Expect, things became even worse after that. Animals went missing only to be found torn up the next morning. Houses burned from something as little as an ember. People began to leave the village. My mother and I were the last to do so.” Said Nick. Then his expression got angry.

“Do you think Clotilde is responsible for the bad fall that broke my mother’s leg when we reached Mirstone? A fever took her from the infection, and I was left at the orphanage. Do you think it was Clotilde all along?” Asked Nick, grandpa Thinker.

“It is possible, young man. When a witch feeds off bad luck, death is the most nourishing. I suspect Clotilde was but a finger when she was watched to your mother. After her death, she became a hand. And now, she is growing an arm.” Said grandpa Thinker as he watched a bone grow from the decaying flesh of Clotilde’s hand.

“Oh, no…what can we do, grandpa Thinker?” Asked Theanore. She didn’t know how to deal with a bad witch. Should she tell Marferik to burn her up? Wouldn’t it be murder?

“Only Nick can rid the world of Clotilde for good. He must go to mount Licht in Alerion and bathe in the holy springs. He must go alone.” Said grandpa Thinker. The hand snarled and tapped its fingers in a challenging manner. Nick gulped.

“I can’t even go as far as Mirstone when I am teleported. How do I go to mount Licht? There is a sea between Eomis and Alerion, grandpa Thinker. And mount Licht is full of trials.” Said Nick. A pilgrimage like that couldn’t be done with anyone’s help. But how was he to go to the sacred mountain?

“Yes, Niki is just ten. How is he going to go there?” Asked Theanore. She braved the black something on Nick’s shoulder and gripped his hand. He squeezed it back.

“Well, there is another way.” Said grandma Thinker. “But someone will have to be brave enough to do it.”

“You don’t mean? Who would be willing to do such a sacrifice?” Asked grandpa Thinker. Everyone looked at grandma Thinker for an answer.

“If someone else takes the hand and lets it stay on their shoulder.” Said grandma Thinker. “Then they can make the pilgrimage to mount Licht. I daresay this is a job for an adult. Or at least someone who is over 15 years of age.”

Everyone looked at grandpa Thinker, but he looked down, ashamed, and afraid. Then, Crassus stepped forward.

“I’ll do it.” He said with determination, making his features harsher than they have ever been.

“No, father, you can’t!” Said Theanore, a tear streaming down her cheek. She couldn’t lose her father and become half an orphan. He had been the first person she had seen. He was her father.

“Thea, come over here.” Said Crassus, and he opened his arms wide. Theanore ran into them and hugged him like she was afraid he would disappear.

“Thea, I see the blue skies every day with fluffy white clouds. I have been blessed with health and luck. That luck, and Tania stealing you away from Esmer, was the reason I can call myself a father to such a good nymph like you.” Said Crassus, and he tickled Theanore. She giggled and hugged him tighter.

“But I am not just your father, I am the father of everyone here at the grotto who is a child. And there is nothing a father won’t do for his child. So, Thea, I will lure the witch away from your home and ensure the safety of all the children here. And I will be back. I promise.”

And then Crassus let go of her and went and touched Nick’s shoulder. Clotilde’s hand hopped from Nick’s shoulder onto Crassus’ and it cackled once more.