Free A Prince among Frogs by E. D. Baker Page A

know how to find the old witches’ island. I was hoping you could tell me where it is.”
    “I don’t know, either. My parents have gone there a few times, but they’ve never taken me with them. Is there anyone else you can think of who might know?”
    “Great-Grandmother, but she’s away with Great-Grandfather. There are probably some older witches in the retirement community who know, but I hate to waste time going door-to-door asking for directions.”
    “We might have to do that,” said Francis, “unless … Does your mother still have the old carpet that used to belong to my mother? You know the one I mean—they used it the first time they flew to that island looking for Great-Grandmother.”
    Millie nodded. “It’s in the back of her closet. At least it was when I went in looking for the basket with my old baby things. Mother saved all my clothes for when I have a baby, but she’s using them for Felix now.”
    “You can use the carpet to find the island,” said Francis. “Just tell it to take you to where it took your parents.”
    “That was a long time ago, Francis. My parents weren’t even married then.”
    “Magic carpets never forget,” said Francis. “I think it has to do with the way they’re woven.”
    “It’s worth a try,” said Audun.
    “I’ll help you get the carpet started, then I’ll see if I can locate a spell that would help me find a particular frog in a marsh full of frogs. But I think you’re right; our best chance to find Felix is if your mother comes back.”

    Emma’s storage room was nothing like Millie’s. True, they were both small and dark, but Millie usually tossed things into her room, then had to hunt around for them later. Her mother was much more organized and kept her storage room so neat that it was easy to find things. Millie located the rolled-up carpet leaning against the wall in the back of the room, a thick coating of dust dulling the vibrant colors on the outside. She could have sworn it shivered when her fingers brushed against it, almost as if it couldn’t wait to go flying.
    The carpet was heavier than the one her mother had given her, and it proved to be much bigger once Audun and Francis wrestled it through the door and unrolled it. The scarlet, gold, navy blue, dark green, and cream were brighter than Millie remembered. She had ridden on the carpet with her mother when she was younger, but Emma had used it only rarely.
    The old carpet would seat four people easily. Two heavy cords were attached to the carpet next to where the people riding in the front would sit. Grassina had put them there the first time Emma and Eadric had ridden on the carpet without her, but Millie had no idea how to use them.
    “It’s awfully big,” said Audun, scratching his chin as he studied the magic carpet. “Will it fit through the window?”
    Millie nodded. “When I rode on it with my mother, the window widened to let us through. Have a seat,” she said as she stepped onto the carpet and sat down cross-legged.
    “You don’t happen to remember what your mother used to say to get this carpet to move, do you?” asked Francis as Audun joined Millie.
    “Not really,” said Millie. “She hasn’t used it in a long time.”
    Francis shrugged. “It probably doesn’t matter much. The older magic carpets are kind of funny that way. It’s more the magic and the intent behind it than what you actually say. I know something I can use that should work. Are you all set?” When Millie and Audun both agreed, he raised his hand in a dramatic gesture and said,
Take them to the island
That her parents went to see
When looking for the witches
Who had gone through trickery.
    The magic carpet shivered just as it had in the storage room, only this time Millie could feel it through her whole body. When it rose from the floor, the movement was so smooth that she might not have noticed if her eyes hadn’t been open. Audun took her hand as the carpet rose higher, and she turned