Thirty-Two:

On Day T-Minus-One, coupon fairies returned to the castle with the cloak from the mill.

"...oh, this is too much," said the mill 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 will wear your cloak when he confronts the Minotaur," said Mimbleshaw.

"Egads," said the ghost. "After the Minotaur finishes the boy, please return to the mill whatever is left of my stolen property."

"You can't expect me to fight a Minotaur," said Brian. "Why don't you simply send me home?"

"How ridiculous you are, Human," said Mimbleshaw. "The creature's maze is the most extensive network ever known. He will simply track you down and find you. You will only endanger your family and your whole town. Now put on this cloak and change into something formidable."

"How about a rhinoceros?" said Brian. "Call me Brinoceros. Brinoceros smash puny Minotaur. Er, er, er..."

"No," said Spot. "Monsieur le Cow Head has Mademoiselle Princess. I must accept the dare and win her return." Spot pulled off the cloak. Brian was again a boy. "Now I am the warrior defending his kingdom, no?"

"Your Majesty," said Mimbleshaw. "I beg you to reconsider. No Manchego king has ever returned from the creature's maze. Our best chance is to sacrifice the boy."

"...hey," said Brian.

"Monsieur le Tramplebladder," said Spot. "Lose such dire pessimism to the total eclipse of the fossilized simian-heart. Mademoiselle Princess and I shall hold onto each other forever. The pretense to receive her affection will only make everything right. What can possibly go wrong?"