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a pickle. But remember, guys like that can get you killed, so make sure he keeps his mouth shut and his eyes open.
    â€œI’ll be here when you get back.” He curled up on a pillow as if to go to sleep.
    â€œYou mean you will not go with me?” asked the queen.
    â€œAbsolutely not!” he declared. “That forest is dangerous. I was only able to escape before because I had learned enough magic to do so. It is going to take you many days before you even get to the forest. So of course, I’m staying here. As far as I’m concerned, one trip through the Forest of Red Moon is enough for a lifetime, or even nine.
    â€œBesides, if I am able to pull off this ‘cursed mirror’ spell for you, it’s going to wipe me out. I’m just a cat, so I’m small. Performing any kind of real magic takes a toll on the user. I’ve been unconscious for days after performing relatively minor incantations. Something this big will likely put me out for a week or more. If you want the mirrors cursed, then I will be staying here.”
    Druciah agreed. “Okay, cat. You can stay behind. But before you get too comfortable, you need to know that by tonight I expect every mirror in the kingdom to be turning people into cats.
    â€œIn fact,” she said, “why not start with this one here? It will be a test to see how much you learned from that Witch. No use setting off on a long journey unless I know the end prize is obtainable.”
    Caterwaul’s whiskers twitched as he silently mouthed an incantation. The queen squinted to try to see what it was he said, but was unable to transpose the cat’s lip movements. It was obvious, though, that the spell was siphoning away his energy.
    The queen turned the surface of the mirror toward the door and called for one of her guards. As soon as he came within sight of the mirror, he saw his reflection and instantly transformed into a small gray cat.
    â€œExcellent,” she laughed elatedly and clapped her hands. “I guess that means I’m off to see the Witch.” She obscured the mirror with a silken red cover.
    â€œWhen I get back, you can release the spell, but let’s have a little fun for a while.” As she left the room, she was practically skipping, the way little girls sometimes do. She called back to Caterwaul, “Remember to do something with all the palace mirrors before you cast your spell. I don’t want to come home to a castle full of cats.”
    Caterwaul could hear her wild laughter echoing through the castle halls.

5

    The Parliament of Possums
    W ith the ferocity of a flash flood, the queen and her guards set off along the road to the Red Moon Forest to seek out the Witch who lived there. All in all, there were seven in her entourage. The queen rode in her carriage with her driver while four of her most capable underlings rode on horses out in front. Bringing up the rear was the always-wary secret police commander, Warwick Vane Bezel III. Just setting out on this journey was quite an undertaking. It was exhausting for the aging queen, who had not left the castle for years.
    The trip was made even more difficult by the fact that as they traveled, there was no one around to offer them hospitality. They rode through several villages and hamlets, and not one person came out to greet them or offer them any assistance. No innkeeper offered them lodging, and no stable boys emerged to feed their horses. It was as if word had spread that the hated queen was on the road, and everybody had run away in fear.
    The public’s reaction wasn’t really that surprising, since the queen almost never left Cathoon Castle. The fact that she was out among them now, and that the hated Warwick Vane Bezel III was with her too, made the people of her kingdom feel uneasy. Having the head of any secret police force in tow rarely makes for adoring citizens.
    But this lack of fanfare was little matter to Druciah and her