5
After the trolls had returned to their thinking, Adam and Emily rejoined the pixies. Lupp led them on until they came to a barrier of gorse. On either side, stagnant pools blocked the way. The stench from them reminded Adam of Nabgrasp’s breath. The troop halted. “What now, Lupp?” Adam asked. It seemed to him that there was no way through.
“There’s a way through; there’s a narrow opening that leads into a maze of gorse.”
“A real maze?” Emily asked.
“Ay, Mistress, it’s very difficult to get through.”
“Is it the only way?”
“It is. The Hag turned the gorse into a maze to stop anyone reaching the hot springs. Since they come from deep within the earth, the Hag cannot control them with magic.”
They found an entrance and squeezed painfully into the maze. By standing on tiptoe, Emily, th
