Free The Daughters Daring (The Daughters Daring & The Enchanted Forest Book 1) by Steven J. Thompson Page B

she went to work on what was left with an arrowhead she kept tucked in one of her pockets.
         “Emily,” she whispered. “Emily! Wake up!”
         Emily stirred. “I'm awake. What's happening?”
         “She reached into your bag, and now this,” Elizabeth said, “What did you do?”
         As they watched the witch started to change form. Her body grew while her face crumpled in and sprouted black hairs. Her human arms and legs shrank into her body as eight new, spiny legs sprouted out of her sides. As the dark energy flowed from the witch into the bag, she was changing into a giant spider!
         Elizabeth finished cutting herself free and started on Emily. It wouldn't be long before the witch finished her transformation and Elizabeth worried that dealing with the spider-witch would be much worse.
         “Elizabeth,” Emily said, “the faeries told me the witch’s ring was the source of her power! Periwinkle must have snatched it from her!”
         “But why is she changing into a giant spider!?”
         “I don’t know, where’s Periwinkle now?”
         The girls looked at the bag together, which was now actively moving and the spider-witch’s eight spiny legs were coming dangerously close to trampling it! Suddenly, the bag opened and a familiar little face appeared.
         “Periwinkle!” Emily shouted. “Get out of there!”
         The little gnome climbed out of the pack, sad to be leaving Emily’s snacks behind, but now holding the magic ring which looked huge in his small hands. The spider-witch was too close for comfort and he made a dash for the hole in the wall that Emily had entered through earlier.
         The spider-witch had finished changing. She was completely spider now, with big black eyes and enormous fangs. She saw the gnome running away with her ring, and started chasing him.
         “Run, Periwinkle,” Emily screamed. “Run!”
         Periwinkle ran for the opening but the spider-witch was faster. She slammed a spiny black leg down in front of him, cutting him off from his escape. He turned to run the other way but she blocked him there, as well. He was trapped beneath her. She looked down at him, her fangs protruding, ready to attack. She would have her ring back, and the gnome would be a tasty snack.
         Whoosh! An arrow shot through the air, hitting the spider witch in one of her many eyeballs!
         “Get away from him, you witch!” Elizabeth shouted defiantly, her bow already nocked with the next arrow.
         The spider witch shrieked with pain and anger. Without the ring, her magic shield was gone, leaving her vulnerable to the young archer’s arrows. She spun around, her body crashing into the cave wall, causing it to collapse over the exit hole. Emily and Elizabeth both fired upon her and she retreated into the darkness.
         “She won't be gone long,” Emily said. “We've got to get out of here!”
         Elizabeth pointed across the room. “The other entrance, where she brought me in; it leads down into the main cave, but it's our only chance!”
         “Are you all right?” Emily asked Periwinkle, grabbing up her backpack as he climbed back inside.
    “Well, since you asked,” he started, "I very much do not appreciate being jostled and thrown about, and I certainly do not like being almost eaten by a giant spider! Furthermore...”
         The little gnome kept talking but Emily closed the backpack and threw it over her shoulder. She could hear him complaining still, although muffled now.
    “Ready?” Elizabeth asked.
    “Let's go!” Emily answered.
         The sisters proceeded warily. Their safety was not yet guaranteed. Finding the opening in the cave floor leading down into the main chamber was not difficult.  However, most of the goblins were still in it. Though their work was done, they were aimlessly waiting for new orders.
         The sisters heard a crash back in the