Drake the Dragonboy by Rebecca Schultz

his wings to help lift him into the cavern. All the flying had really improved his upper body strength. He’d probably even be able to climb the ropes in gym now.
    Once all three were in the cavern, they looked at the path before them. It was evening so the light was dimming and the rocks blocked out more of the light, making it difficult to see. The pathway though was smooth and had been cleared of rocks. It was easy to follow.
    â€œCleared by witches,” Juniper muttered so that only Drake could hear.
    They walked quickly and quietly, Juniper first, followed by Donny and Drake coming up last. They had achieved a steady rhythmic pace and made quite a distance when the air became thick with fog, causing them to slow down. The fog gave the air a chill and meant they could see little further than their feet in front of them. They continued without mentioning it as if there were no point. They couldn’t turn back.
    A sudden cackle cut through the stillness sending Donny flying into the air and Drake tumbling over him. When they both clambered back up, Juniper was standing in front of three women dressed all in black. Their black shrouds framed their lined faces, long noses and frizzy hair.
    â€œWe are the witches of the wasteland,” cackled one witch, her face visibly more lined than the others.
    Donny was shaking like a leaf, while Drake was frozen in one spot, statuesque. Only Juniper seemed to be functioning.
    â€œWe mean you no harm,” she said in a soft voice. “We just want to go home.” The witches’ faces softened as she spoke and then grimaced back into their surly selves as she finished.
    â€œWe’ll let you pass if you solve this riddle,” said the oldest witch.
    â€œAnd if we can’t solve it?” asked Donny, his voice wavering.
    â€œThen we’ll eat you for dinner,” cackled the shortest witch, standing up on her tiptoes to appear more menacing.
    â€œNot all of you,” added the third witch, her voice more singsong than cackle. “We’ll just eat your legs and send you home on broomsticks, legless, as a warning to others not to cross us.”
    â€œYes, just your legs will do. I make a delicious sweet and sour dragonleg stew,” added the old witch. “If you’re polite we’ll ask you to join us.”
    â€œJoin you in eating our own legs?” asked an incredulous Drake, his face screwed up.
    â€œCan you just give us the riddle now?” asked Donny. He was confident he’d be able to solve it.
    â€œStand in a row, facing the back of each other, like this,” said the short witch, pushing them into place. Juniper stood at the front of the line. Donny stood behind her and Drake at the back. “Do not turn around. You can only look at the people in front of you. Now, kneel down.” They each knelt down and she put a hat on each of their heads. Drake standing at the back could see that Donny was wearing a white hat and Juniper was wearing a red hat.
    â€œIf one of you can guess the colour of the hat on your head, we will let you go. But before you answer, you must keep standing in this line. You cannot turn around.”
    â€œWe do have a hint for you,” said the sing song witch. “There are only red hats and white hats. At least one hat is red. At least one hat is white.”
    Drake silently looked at the hats in front of him. How could he possibly know the answer? If they had one of each colour, his could be either colour. He felt sick. They were too close to reaching home to be trapped by these witches. He wasn’t sure that they’d really eat his legs, but he didn’t want to test it. After a minute’s silence Donny spoke up.
    â€œI’m wearing a white hat,” he said, his voice no longer shaking. He sounded sure of himself and Drake felt relieved. You could always count on his dad to solve a puzzle. He couldn’t pull himself up a wall but he could solve any