Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 4

Otswana rubbed her thumb against the bright blue and brown stone embedded in her channeling ring and silently chanted the spell as she shot a flash of magic at Sir Frinz. She quickly rolled to dodge his iron sword. Sir Frinz ducked his body to avoid the blast of magic, but his close proximity prevented the spell from fully missing his right shoulder, which immediately numbed.

Dodging another blast from Otti, Sir Frinz traded his sword to his left hand and struck at her middle.

Otswana kicked at the incoming strike. In a blur of movement, Otswana followed through with the kick and spun around for another attack as she started another incantation.

Sir Frinz hissed at the sudden pain in his left wrist. The practice sword flew out of his grip. He froze at her threatening hands just inches from his face.

"I yield," the swordsman breathed out.

"That was less than twelve seconds that time, Grandfather," Wyag announced from the eastern stone wall of the sparring square.

Otswana backed up and lowered her arms. She shook out the tingling feeling in her hands as she always did when she held in the magic. Otti gave the knight a huge grin and signed to him. A new feat for me; one for the book.

"I'm not surprised," Sir Frinz said as he turned his limp shoulder to his young pupil. "You are quite an expert in your magic. Charlek has trained you well."

Otswana rubbed the stone again as she placed both her hands on the knight's numb arm and chanted a soothing spell to rid it of the paralyzing magic.

"Otti can cast countless spells now," Wyag boasted with a bit of an exaggeration.

"Can she now?" Frinz gave Otti a mischievous smile and a wink.

"I saw her enchant the seamstress to keep dropping her fabrics last eve after she cut Otti with the sheers," Wyag said.

"Yes, I was informed of the incident just this morning," Frinz peered down at Otti's bandaged arm. "Fortunately, there was no poison found on the sheers. It was a mere mishap, I'm sure."

My bloody bandage wasn't in the waste barrel after we dismissed her. I should have burned it. Otswana signed to no one in particular as she recalled the events of the previous night.

"You should have also made her trip, I say," Wyag said.

"That is enough of your 'say', young man. Time to return to your studies. I assume Charlek is expecting you in the library with his other pupils, is he not?" Sir Frinz scolded the boy.

"Very well," Wyag grumbled as he turned about and hopped off the wall, disappearing out of sight.

"Shall we work on your offensive strikes? I noticed you faltered on your footwork and you hesitated when sparring earlier today. You need to perfect your timing. You don't want to fight on the defense as much as you already allow," Sir Frinz prompted.

Otti nodded her head in acquiescence. She was really thirsty and wished for a longer rest. However, Sir Frinz was correct. Otswana did need more practice on her timing. Moreover, the sooner she completed today's training, the sooner she could work on her investigation.

The seamstress slipped away with her blood last eve. Before it could be used against her, Otti was determined to discover what the queen was scheming. The sky was clear today. There would be a waning moon to give some light. This would be advantageous for Otti's traveling in disguise to the Loboria castle. She had already decided on the form she would take.

In various disguises, Otti had snuck into the castle on numerous occasions. The purpose behind these secret excursions were to familiarize herself with the layout of the four-story edifice and to see how she might gain access to the New Dungeon. No matter how often she tried, the witch's blocking spell would not let in any unfamiliar magic. Otti would risk too much if she revealed herself. She could only surmise how quickly the witch casts her enchantments.