He looked around madly at the guards by the stairs.
The guard captain went pale.
'I, uh, again? I mean, I don't think . . .' he began.
'Do it now!'
The captain raised his crossbow nervously. The point of the bolt wove figures-of-eight in front of his eyes.
'I said do it!'
The bow twanged.
There was a thud.
Saturday looked down at the feathers buried in his chest, and then grinned and raised his cane.
The captain looked up with the certain terror of death in his face. He dropped his bow and turned to run, and managed two steps before he toppled forward.
'No,' said a voice behind the Prince. 'This is how you kill a dead man.'
Lily Weatherwax stepped forward, her face white with fury.
'You don't belong here any more,' she hissed. 'You're not part of the story.'
She raised a hand.
Behind her, the ghost images suddenly focused on her, so that she became more iridescent. Silver fire leapt across the room.
Baron Saturday thrust out his cane. The magic struck, and coursed down him to earth, leaving little silver trails that crackled for a while and then winked out.
'No, ma'am,' he said, 'there ain't no way to kill a dead man.'
The three witches watched from the doorway.
'I felt that,' said Nanny. 'It should have blown him to bits!'
'Blown what to bits?' said Granny. 'The swamp? The river? The world? He's all of them! Ooh, she's a clever one, that Mrs Gogol!'
'What?' said Magrat. 'What do you mean, all of them?'
Lily backed away. She raised her hand again and sent another fireball towards the Baron. It hit his hat and burst off it like a firework.
'Stupid, stupid!' muttered Granny. 'She's seen it doesn't work and she's still trying it!'
'I thought you weren't on her side,' said Magrat.
'I ain't! But I don't like to see people being stupid. That kind of stuff's no use, Magrat Garlick, even you can . . . oh, no, surely not again . . .'
The Baron laughed as a third attempt earthed itself harmlessly. Then he raised his cane. Two courtiers tumbled forward.
Lily Weatherwax, still backing away, came up against the foot of the main staircase.
The Baron strolled forward.
'You want to try anything else, lady?' he said.
Lily raised both hands.