Grika clung precariously to the branch as a small horde of goblins slowly advanced on him from below. They gathered around the tree trunk, throwing rocks at him. A few were climbing up the jigsaw puzzle of branches, figuring out how to get to him without falling.

He had nowhere else to go. No other trees were close enough to jump to. All he could do was wait here, avoid the rocks, and hope Ollie showed up to save him.

He wasn’t holding out much hope.

“Go higher!” one goblin egged on another. “Higher, ya bogger! If that little runt can do it, so can you!”

“Shut yer hole! I’m tryin’ to climb, here.”

“Funny little goblin!” a third cried out, pointing excitedly at the top of the tree.

Grika took another look around. One other tree was nearby, but he’d have to run to the end of this branch, which thinned out considerably, then jump a good three feet to the next one. He didn’t like his odds of making that jump. But if the goblins below got any closer with the rocks, he might not have a choice.

“Someone boost me up!” One of the goblins trying to make the climb stretched his arm out, grasping for a branch just out of its reach. “I can almost get it!”

Grika slid back another inch, all the room he had left. He flinched as a rock bounced off the trunk behind him. Way too close for comfort. His eyes flicked up at the other tree again. Maybe he could make it. Maybe luck was on his side…

A flash of light lit up the forest, coming from the base of the tree. The goblins fell back, blinded and shrieking.

Grika covered his eyes with his hand. He tensed. He’d seen that trick before.

Fire erupted from the ground, forming a circle around the goblins. The goblins screeched and shouted. A few clung to the tree trunk, trying to climb away. Another fire blast erupted midway up the trunk, sending two goblins crashing to the ground.

A few charged through the wall of fire, refusing to be trapped. They disappeared into the darkness beyond, flames sticking to their arms or legs, squealing like stuck pigs as they fled. The remaining three goblins bunched together, clutching each other, their fearful cries filling the forest. The fire crept inward, shrinking the circle, and forcing them to press together around the tree trunk.

Another flash lit up the forest, and Grika looked down to see one of the goblins collapse into the dirt.

Desperate, he looked at the other tree. He should try and jump. It might be his only chance.

One goblin made a run for it, charging through the wall of flame. It crashed to the ground, rolling around as the fire burned its head and back. Once the flames were extinguished, it ran away, howling in pain.

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The last goblin pressed itself against the tree trunk, whimpering at its impending death. Another flash of light came, and it collapsed to the ground, stunned into submission.

The fire subsided, and the forest became silent. Grika waited at the top of the tree, unmoving.

An orb of light winked into existence nearby. It slowly floated over to the base of the tree, lighting up the surrounding area. A woman came into view, following the orb. She wore a dark hoodie, with the hood partially up over her head, dark hair spilling out the side. She leaned over, examining the unconscious goblins. Grika held his breath. Maybe she didn’t know he was up here.

She looked up. Right at him.

“Hello, there.”

He recognized that voice. He may not always be good with faces, but he didn’t forget a voice.

“Remember me?” she asked.

It was Lynne, or whatever her name was now. Grika didn’t respond.

“I remember you.” She waved at him to come down from the tree. “You don’t have to worry about me. I can catch you up there or down here. Makes no difference to me. But I have more than enough on my plate down here, so I think an appetizer like you is fairly safe.”

Grika resented the notion that he was an appetizer. Or any kind of food. But he slowly climbed down anyway. He reached the lowest branch, hung from it, then dropped to the ground. He pretended to brush the sap off his pants as Lynne examined the goblins lying on the ground.

“So,” she glanced over at him, “how is your master?”

“She’s dead.”

Lynne smiled. “I don’t mean that one.”

Grika scowled at her then wiped his hands. “If you don’t need me, I’ll be on my way.”

Lynne turned to face him. “Just one moment.”

“Sorry,” Grika backed away. “Gotta be somewhere.”

“Deiwach symud.”

He turned to run, but his body froze in place. He could still see, hear, and think, but he couldn’t move or escape. Lynne took a step closer.

“Ydych yn awr yn perthimi. Byddach yn palygu ewyllys.”

Grika struggled with all his might. He knew this spell. He remembered it intimately, and he abhorred it. He’d rather be burned alive like the other goblins. Used as magic powder, or something similarly disgusting. Anything but this.

“Betha binag yr wyf yn gorchomyn, byddach yn ufarhau.”

Not with her.

“Fod yn rhaes.”

Grika could move again. He took a step backwards, testing his boundaries.

“Stop,” Lynne said.

He stopped. Not because he wanted to. Because he had to.

“Come here.”

He turned and walked back over to the woman, her magic compelling him to do nothing save for what she commanded.

“Just as I thought. If you were really bound to Oliver, then this little spell wouldn’t have worked, now would it?”

“No,” Grika tried to fight the compulsion, but he couldn’t. He had to obey her commands, and that meant answering her questions. “It wouldn’t.”

“I suppose I’m the only one who knows about this?”

“Yes. You’re the only one.”

“Good.” She crouched down in front of him. “You work for me now. You will be my eyes and ears. When I find you next, you will tell me everything I want to know. Understood?”

“Yes.”

“And until you see me again, you will remember none of this. Understood?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” A sultry smile formed on her lips. “One last thing before you go. Where is Jed?”

“I don’t know.”

Her smile faded. “Hmmm. Pity. Oh well, I suppose I’ll have to find him on my own. I’d tell you to say hi to Oliver for me, but you’ll forget all about this in a few moments. But, I am thinking about him.” She bent over the comatose goblins, her interest in him gone. “Run along back to your master.”

Grika turned and ran from the witch, his memories of her already fading.