The Familiars: Secrets of the Crown. Adam Epstein

      In the great spider’s nest.

      Now comes a black crescent sword,

      Cutting through the emerald night.

      At last the waking moth,

      Flies to the rising light.

      Hiding high upon its head,

      Draped in white shimmering gown,

      Lie the keys to the past,

      In the snow leopard’s crown.”

      Skylar and Gilbert both stared at him.

      “I don’t know where that came from,” said Aldwyn, who was just as surprised as they were.

      “Someone must have sung it to you too,” said Gilbert.

      “But who?” asked Aldwyn. “I don’t remember at all.”

      No one on the rooftops of Bridgetower had ever showed him any kind of tenderness, let alone soothed him to sleep with a lullaby. This memory must have been from before. From Maidenmere. Had he heard it from his mother or father?

      “It’s not just a nursery rhyme,” said Skylar. “I think it’s a puzzle, or rather a series of clues. Perhaps if we can decipher them, it will lead us to the Crown of the Snow Leopard.”

      Scribius had transcribed every word that Aldwyn had said so that the entire nursery rhyme was now written down neatly on a piece of parchment. Marianne, Dalton and Sorceress Edna gathered round to study it.

      “Black crescent swords,” scoffed Sorceress Edna. “Dogs barking to the clouds! I think we’d be better off sticking to this great big tree that the Wizard’s Almanac of Fables mentioned.”

      “Hold on,” said Dalton. “What if Skylar’s right? Maybe this nursery rhyme does contain clues. It’s possible the book and the lullaby are talking about the same thing.”

      “Yes,” added Marianne. “We’re looking for a great big tree, aren’t we?” Then, turning to the parchment, “And the nursery rhyme talks about green needle shrouds. That sounds like a pine forest to me. What if this tree is in a pine forest?”

      “And the only pine forests in Vastia,” chimed in Skylar, “are the Yennep Wilds and the Hinterwoods.”

      “Unfortunately neither are inhabited by dogs,” said Dalton.

      “True,” said Skylar. “But the Hinterwoods have dogwood trees!”

      “What did she say?” Marianne asked Dalton.

      “The Hinterwoods, they have dogwood trees,” he repeated.

      “And there’s one whose bark stretches as high as the clouds,” said Marianne. “The mighty dogwood at the centre of the Hinterwoods.”

      The familiars and their loyals looked at each other, a sense of excitement brewing. Aldwyn even felt his whiskers beginning to tingle, the way they always did when a new adventure was about to begin.

      “You’re getting ahead of yourselves, children,” said Sorceress Edna, still sceptical. “This is all just speculation.”

      Suddenly, the door opened and Queen Loranella entered.

      “Your Majesty, we believe we’ve figured out where the tree is,” said Jack excitedly.

      “Jack!” scolded Sorceress Edna. “What did I say?”

      “Our familiars have recalled a nursery rhyme that was told to them,” said Jack. “One that speaks of the Crown of the Snow Leopard.”

      “The first clue leads to the Hinterwoods,” added Marianne.

      “Then our search should begin at once,” said the queen.

      “But it’s not fair!” cried Jack. “We didn’t ask to lose our magic.”

      “I know, Jack,” said the queen. “But I’m afraid this journey is for three, and three alone. The time of the prophecy has arrived.”

      The familiars and their loyals were standing in the grand hall of the New Palace. An early morning breeze was blowing in through the wide-open archway where the stained-glass window had once shimmered majestically before Paksahara destroyed it.

      “Even without our spellcasting, I’m sure we could be of some assistance,” pleaded Jack. “We could gather ingredients, carry extra supplies, stand watch at night.”

      “I’m afraid your presence would only be a bigger burden to the familiars,” said Queen Loranella. “They will have enough to worry about without having to protect you. Besides, there is important work to be done here in Bronzhaven. Not glorious work, but crucial to the safety and well-being of all citizens. We’re going to need to fortify the outer wall and build weaponry. Without magic to fight off Paksahara, we’ll have to rely on sword and shield.”

      This was no consolation to Jack, who crossed his arms in a huff. Dalton was packing Skylar’s satchel with powders and dried herbs, the finest components taken from the queen’s own apothecary. Gilbert sat on the council table as Marianne filled his flower-bud backpack and strapped a sharpened bamboo stick on to the tree frog’s back.

      “It keeps slipping,” said Gilbert.

      The tiny spear had fallen round his ankles. Marianne made some adjustments to the grass band and tried again.

      “Maybe I shouldn’t even bring it,” said Gilbert. “My mother always discouraged me from carrying sharp objects. She said it was for my own safety.”

      Jack, still crestfallen that he wouldn’t be able to join Aldwyn on his adventure, walked over to his familiar. “Here, take this,” he said as he held out his pouch. “It served you well on your last adventure.”

      Aldwyn looked at his loyal’s leather bag and thought back on all that it had been through. There were singe marks from the fire in Kalstaff’s cottage and remnants of yellow sleeping powder still staining its outside. He telekinetically lifted the bag out of Jack’s hand and slipped his head through the pull strings. It had helped Aldwyn survive his first journey across Vastia, and even though Jack would be unable to join him on this next quest, it would be a constant reminder of his loyal’s love.

      “Children, you’ll stay here at the palace,” said Loranella. “Until this wretched curse is lifted, we’ll stick close together.”

      The reality that the familiars and their loyals would be separated again was quickly sinking in. With the animals’ preparations complete, all that was left now was to say farewell. Skylar flew atop Dalton’s shoulder, and the two exchanged a few quiet words out of Aldwyn’s earshot. It was clear there was tenderness between them, even though they never let their emotions bubble up and always kept their reserved demeanours. The same could not be said for Gilbert, who let his love for Marianne erupt like a volcano.

      “I don’t want to go without you!” he blubbered, wrapping his arms and legs round her ankle. “What if something happens to you? What if something happens to me?!”

      “I believe in you, Gilbert,” said Marianne in the gentle, calming voice she used whenever Gilbert was struck with a panic attack. “We’ll be back together before you know it.”

      She peeled his orange fingertips one by one from her calf, and set him down on the ground.

      Jack crouched down before Aldwyn, green eyes meeting green eyes. “Wherever you go, whether in Vastia or Beyond, I’ll be with you.” Aldwyn nuzzled his head up against the boy’s hand and his tail curled happily. “And if you see Paksahara,” added Jack, “punch her in the nose for me.”

      “It is time, familiars,” interrupted Queen Loranella. “If you leave now, you should reach the Hinterwoods by late afternoon. I’ve drawn up an order, marked with the palace seal, stating that you are on a mission from the queen. Every man, woman and child will respect its authority.” She handed Skylar the folded parchment