Stomp thought at first that the unicorns would use Twig’s magical connection to de-power the moving statue, or maybe they’d zap it themselves. But when the door swung open and Stomp edged sideways to assess the danger, she saw red.

It was a statue of a minotaur. An unlikely-proportioned, ill-balanced, insulting caricature of what a real bull should be. Its horns curved the wrong way and its eyes were on the front of its head, instead of on the sides to give it a proper field of vision. It carried a club. A club. Like some uncoordinated cave troll.

Stomp bellowed in rage and charged past the unicorns, straight toward the offensive thing. It raised its club with predictable slowness — made of the same gray stone as the rest of it — and brought it down where Stomp’s head should have been. But she dodged, darting in close, and wrapped both hands around a horn. With a vicious kick to its knee, she used her bodyweight to send the top-heavy monstrosity crashing to the floor.

Cracks appeared and a few smaller pieces snapped off, but the statue just glowed a bit and kept moving. Stomp scrambled to her feet and kicked it in the face. Her human boots were no match for hooves, though she made do, removing the ugly nose with a crunch.

It swung the club at her, making her leap backwards against the wall. Before the statue could get to its feet or Stomp could start to worry, a blast of white light came from the direction of the unicorns, making it freeze in place.

Stomp didn’t question it. She brought her foot down on the outstretched arm, breaking off arm and club together. They shattered properly when they hit the floor.

With another shout of fury, Stomp set about reducing the statue to rubble. It was now simply inert rock in a badly balanced shape, easily broken by human boots if there was somebody really willing behind them. Stomp was willing.

She finally backed away, breathing hard and skidding slightly on the pebbles. She remembered somewhat belatedly that other people were watching. A look behind her showed staring faces with a range of expressions.

=Well, that’s one way to do it,= the lead unicorn said.

“Feel better?” asked Razorscale.

Stomp drew herself upright and nodded once. “Are there any more of those?” she asked, her voice mostly calm.

Razorscale looked at the unicorn, who said =No. But we should be going.=

Then began a predictable squabble over which of the other human magicians to chase after next. The list from the spell book included names and species, but not locations. Though with the unicorns’ traveling magic, distance wouldn’t be much of a factor. Danger level seemed to be the highest concern.

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“I think we’re agreed that we should leave the dragon for last,” Razorscale said.

=Pixies are irritatingly quick in a confrontation,= the lead unicorn said, ignoring him. =And harpies can fly too. We’ve already started work on the minotaur. That leaves the centaur as best choice.=

Razorscale argued for the harpy instead, though Stomp suspected that he was just being contrary. Finally he conceded the point with “Oh, it hardly matters anyway. Let’s get on with it.”

Apparently the unicorns back in the ballroom were hard at work spying on thoughts to learn where the magicians lived, since they had this location ready when asked. With dismissive words about the lack of secondary wards on this house, the lead unicorn ordered Stomp and the others to gather close.

Stomp had barely reached Windmane’s side when another glow sphere flicked into place around them, and the world blew sideways.

A different sprawling mansion appeared, its many windows reflecting lamplight like judgmental eyes. As the magic faded away, Stomp took in the number of statues scattered through the garden areas. She stepped closer to Windmane.

“This ward is open to guests,” Razorscale declared. “What an idea. Let me do the talking.”

He set off for the distant front door with the unicorns on either side of him, who looked just as likely to butt in and talk first. Stomp made sure Twig and Beak were there on the other side of Windmane’s carpet, with Silver riding as a pet again, and the group hustled after.

The unicorns did let Razorscale talk, to Stomp’s surprise. Though they also loomed menacingly behind him, glaring at the human servant who answered the door. It was possible that there were two conversations happening at once, which was why the servant looked so scared. Stomp would have been scared too if threatening words appeared in her head while tooth-baring individuals stared her down.

But the fear tactics didn’t help; the servant swore up and down that the master was away. Other humans peered around corners from inside the house. Stomp assumed that the unicorns were checking all of their thoughts for confirmation.

“Where is he?” Razorscale demanded.

“Preparing for the coronation contest,” the servant said, trying to appear calm.

“Fine. Where?”

“We were not given that information. You are welcome to make an appointment to speak with him afterward, though be aware that his schedule is likely to be very full.”

=You think he’s going to win,= the unicorn said.

“Well yes, of course,” the servant said. “The master and his circle are among the most talented in the land.”

“Sure they are,” Razorscale drawled. “When is this contest, again?”

“The day after tomorrow. The ceremonies begin at noon, though early entertainment starts mid-morning. If you don’t have a seat reserved, you’ll want to get in when the doors open.”

Stomp didn’t hear Razorscale’s response to that. Windmane had lowered the flying carpet to turn a panicked expression toward her.

The centaur whispered, “Is a coronation contest what I think it is? Are these people going to be in charge of the entire kingdom?”

“I hope not,” Stomp said.

Twig crowded close. “That sounds bad.”

Beak agreed. “Yeah, it’s bad.”

Windmane’s eyes were wide. “How are we going to catch them if they’re in charge of everything?”

=They will not be,= the unicorn’s voice cut through the chatter.

Stomp turned to see the front door shutting, and the fearsome threesome facing her way.

“What are we going to do?” Windmane asked.

=First we’re going to gather up that idiot minotaur,= the unicorn said. =Then we’ll make sure the five of them are never in charge of anything again.=

The travel bubble lit the air, and whisked them away before Stomp could ask how.