The ghost laughed bitterly. "Fight Nyrissa? Child, if I knew how to kill the Nymph Queen, would I still be tra

The ghost laughed bitterly. "Fight Nyrissa? Child, if I knew how to kill the Nymph Queen, would I still be trapped in this godsforsaken crown? I can't take any direct action against her, even at the command of my bearer." He paused, thoughtful. "Though I suppose... her minions see my crown as a mark of station. The Knurly Witch and the Wriggling Man fight over it incessantly. To see it in someone else's hands might fluster them — cause them to make a mistake at a crucial moment." There was another pause, longer this time. At last, in a softer voice, the ghost said, "Or... once you've left this place, you could command me to destroy this crown and set myself free." That made us all pause. We looked at each other, silently weighing our options, and then...