Thirty-Two:
On Day T-Minus-One, coupon fairies returned to the castle with the cloak of the mill ghost.
"...oh, this is too much," said the ghost. "I may be dead, but how dare you steal what is still my property? I swear by all that's holy, I shall possess whoever is foolish enough to wear my cloak..."
"The boy has been challenged by the Minotaur," said Mimbleshaw. "He'll wear your cloak at the confrontation."
"Egads," said the ghost. "Please return to the mill whatever is left of my stolen property after the Minotaur finishes the boy."
"You can't expect me to fight a Minotaur," said Brian. "Why don't you simply send me home?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Human," said Mimbleshaw. "The Minotaur's maze is the most extensive network ever known. He'll simply track you down and find you. You'll only endanger your family and your whole town. Now put this cloak on and change into something formidable."
"How about a rhinoceros?" Brian turned into a rhinoceros. "Call me... Brinoceros. Brinoceros smash puny Minotaur. Er, er, er..."
"No," said Spot. "Zee Minotaur has Mademoiselle Princess. I must accept zee challenge and win her return." Spot pulled the cloak. Brian was again a boy. "Now I am zee warrior defending his kingdom, no?"
"Your Majesty," said Mimbleshaw. "I beg you to reconsider. Your crown is what the Minotaur seeks. He's taken the princess to lure you into his maze. Our best chance is to sacrifice the boy."
"...hey," said Brian.
"Monsieur le Tramplebladder," said Spot. "Lock away such evil schemings into zee fossilized simian-heart. Now that I am ready to receive zee affection of Mademoiselle Princess, what can go wrong?"