The rules of combat 2/10

Jennifer Jane was enjoying herself doing her homework. She was reading a copy of 'The Manual of Witchcraft Vol.1. Apprenticeship’. Now that her parents knew that she was an apprentice witch, Abigail had lent her a copy from the Witches' Home library so that she could study at home. She was reading the chapter explaining the 'Rules of Engagement covering a dispute between two Witches'.

There were lots of long words and whole sentences without any punctuation, which made it very difficult to understand. She eventually gave up and asked her father if he could explain it to her. He read the chapter through carefully and thought for a moment.

"I'm an engineer, not a lawyer," he said at last, "but I think what they're trying to say, is that two witches who have an argument can agree on the conditions for a competition of magic between them. After the result is known, no other witch can alter the outcome unless there is a ruling from the full council of the Grand Order of Wizardry. Crumbs don't you have to learn a lot of complicated stuff!"

"I think I'd better go and check it with Abigail if you don't mind," said Jennifer Jane and she set off along the garden toward the woods.

She was just approaching the wishing clearing when she heard a 'pop' round the next bend in the path. She hid behind the nearest bush and looked round it carefully. To her surprise she could see a 'door' rather like the one that Esmerelda and Dulcibella had made recently and just coming through it was a rather nasty looking old lady.

Jennifer Jane assumed she must be a witch because she had created the door but she didn't look at all like the nice people who lived in the Witches' Home. The old lady came into the clearing and wiggled her fingers at the door. The frame stayed but the crackling stopped.

"Now then," she said to herself, "nice little old fruit seller usually works a treat!"

She elaborated a finger twiddle with some sweeping gestures and changed into a sweet faced, rather stooped little old lady with a shawl over head, carrying a basket full of lovely red apples.

Jennifer Jane smothered a giggle, the witch now looked just like the bad fairy in a pantomime who was going to try and poison the princess.

She stood up and walked round the corner into the clearing.