“We took out the arrow and cleaned up the wound, anyway,” said Magrat. “But she won't wake up. Best if she stays here.”
“You sure?” said Granny. “She needs keeping an eye on. I've got a spare bedroom.”
“She shouldn't be moved,” said Magrat, briskly.
“They've put their mark on her,” said Granny. “You sure you know how to deal with it?”
“I do know it's quite a nasty wound,” said Magrat, briskly.
“I ain't exactly thinking about the wound,” said Granny. “She's been touched by them is what I mean. She's-”
“I'm sure I know how to deal with a sick person,” said Magrat. “I'm not totally stupid, you know.”
“She's not to be left alone,” Granny persisted.
“There'll be plenty of people around,” said Verence. “The guests start arriving tomorrow.”
“Being alone isn't the same as not having other people around,” said Granny.
“This is a castle. Granny.”
“Right. Well. We won't keep you, then,” said Granny. “Come, Gytha.”
Nanny Ogg helped herself to an elderly lamb chop from under one of the silver covers, and waved it vaguely at the royal pair.
“Have fun,” she said. “Insofar as that's possible.”
“Gytha!”
“Coming.”
Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They create fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake, and if you want to find snakes look for them behind words that have changed their meaning.
No one ever said elves are nice.
Elves are bad.
“Well, that's it,” said Nanny Ogg, as the witches walked out over the castle's drawbridge. “Well done, Esme.”
“It ain't over,” said Granny Weatherwax.
“You said yourself they can't get through now. No one else round here's going to try any magic at the stones, that's sure enough.”
“Yes, but it'll be circle time for another day or so yet. Anything could happen.”
“That Diamanda girl's out of it, and you've put the wind up the others,” said Nanny Ogg, tossing the lamb bone into the dry moat. “Ain't no one else going to call 'em, I know that.”