The Bag of Bones The Second Tale from the Five Kingdoms

by French, Vivian; Collins, Ross

• ISBN13: 9780763642556
• ISBN10: 076364255X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-07-28
• Publisher: Candlewick

Summary

When the quill writes GO GO GO frantically on the wall, and the House of the Ancient Crones heaves Gracie Gillypot outside onto the path, it can mean only one thing: there's Trouble in the Five Kingdoms. This time it's in the form of a beady-eyed, green-tongued witch named Truda Hangnail, who with her banished Deep Magic has vowed to succeed Queen Bluebell on the throne. Now that her horrible spell has shrunk the good witches of Wadington to the size of, well, rats, can anything stop her? Will the strengths, smarts, and charms of a spunky trueheart, a sweet-natured orphan, a scruffy prince, a substantial troll, and two squabbling bats be enough to foil her insidious plot?

Author Biography

Vivian French has written dozens of acclaimed books for children, including THE ROBE OF SKULLS, the first book in the Tales from the Five Kingdoms series; as well as A PRESENT FOR MOM; GROWING FROGS; I LOVE YOU GRANDPA; T. REX, and THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS. She lives in Scotland.

Excerpts

Chapter One "Wheeeeee!" The small bat did a double backip, then a twist, and landed neatly on the branch below. "Did you see me, Uncle Marlon? Did you SEE me?" Alf squeaked. "Shh!" The older bat apped a warning wing. "Button up, kiddo. We've got company." He stared into the night. "Hmph. It's those dames from Wadingburn." The small bat's eyes widened. "The witches? Oh, Uncle Marlon! Can we stay 'n' watch? Will they do scary spells?" "They're no big deal, kiddo." The older bat settled back on his branch. "Deep Magic's not allowed in the Five Kingdoms. This lot are Shallow, through and through. Couldn't magic a bird off a branch. But keep mum, all the same. You don't want to end up in a pot. Your ma'll kill me if I bring you back half-boiled." The small bat shivered, half in fear, half with plea sure. "Okeydokey, Uncle M." And he froze into still ness as he watched the line of women, varying in shape and size but all dressed in black, making their way into the clearing at the top of Wadingburn Hill. Limping at the end of the line was the small, skinny fgure of a girl, her head bent tenderly over the bundle in her arms. As the witches hurried here and there, collecting frewood and setting up the old and dented black caul dron, she slipped away and settled herself at the foot of the tree where the two bats hung motionless. Softly she began to croon to the bundled-up object she was holding, rocking it gently to and fro. "Loobly Higgins!" said a terrible voice. "What on EARTH do you think you're doing?" Loobly jumped. "N-n-n-nothing, Auntie," she quavered. The Grand High Witch of Wadingburn took a step closer. "Did my eyes deceive me, or were you KISSING that rat?" Loobly shook her head so hard that her long, stringy hair broke loose from its ribbon and fell over her thin little face. "Wasn't kissing it," she whispered. "Not kissing. Just telling sorry. Sorry it be picklifed." The Grand High Witch sighed in exasperation. "It'll be no use now. No use at all. How many times do I have to tell you to leave my ingredients alone?" "Sorry, Auntie Levangeline. Loobly hear you. Loobly very sorry." Loobly pushed the hair out of her eyes and looked up hopefully. "If no use, can Loobly keep he?" "Certainly NOT!" The witch was on the point of snatching the rat away when she was distracted by the sound of cackling laughter. Instantly forgetting Loobly, she turned to see her fie fellow witches gather ing around the cauldron that was now bubbling gently in the center of the clearing. At once the Grand High Witch drew herself to her full height and strode for ward to greet them. "Dear Mrs. Cringe! I'm so glad you're with us tonight! And Mrs. Vibble and Mrs. Prag as well. Fabulous! And darling Ms. Scurrilous is here too! And Mrs. . . ." The Grand High Witch faltered for a moment. What was the name of the hunched old witch on the far side of the fire? Even with the flames now burning brightly under the cauldron, it was too dark to see her face. It certainly wasn't Mrs. Gabbage, and Ms. Pettigroan had sent a bat earlier that evening with polite apologies. Mrs. Cringe shufed up, looking distinctly guilty, and the Grand High Witch's heart sank. Even worse, her little toe had begun to throb, which was a far more reliable warning of impending trouble. She had always been wary of Mrs. Cringe, not least because she was known to have relations outside the Five Kingdoms who were suspected of indulging in Deep Magic of the nastiest kind. "Ahem," Mrs. Cringe addressed the Grand High Witch, whose toe was becaming increas