SOLVED. Kids fantasy: Witch-type villain, controls the 'map' on a table, journey. [s]

[Levi]

I'm looking for a book about a group of children who are on a journey (possibly running away) and there is a sort-of witch hunting them? She has a table which shows the world as a map, and at one point she leaves a fingerprint on the table, which forms a maze the characters have to get through. There were hounds chasing them through a valley at one point.
I don't know what the resolution was as I never finished reading it. The cover was sort of beige on the copy I had. Read around 2008-2009.

[Plch]

I have a foggy memory of the book but you reminded me of The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea, this edition's cover is brownish/beige https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

An Ancient Manuscript...

When ten-year-old Pidge finds the crumbling pages of an old manuscript in a second-hand bookshop in Galway, he unwittingly releases the serpent Olc-Glas--and the forces of good and evil gather to do battle. The Morrigan, Goddess of Death and Destruction, has set her evil heart on gaining Olc-Glas and adding its poison to her own, thereby casting her shadow over the world.

A Lost Stone...

To thwart The Morrigan, Pidge and his little sister Brigit are sent by The Dagda, Lord of Great Knowledge, on a quest to find a stone that has been lost for countless years--th only means of destroying the serpent.

A Perilous Adventure...

Pidge and Brigit's journey begins in Ireland...their destination is unknown. All true creatures help where they can, but ultimately, it is up to steadfast Pidge and courageous Brigit to find their own way. And always at their heels are the terrible hellhounds--the hounds of The Morrigan....A classic tale that has been unavailable in paperback for almost ten years, The Hounds of the Morrigan is a book to treasure and to keep alongside the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Philip Pullman.A splendid fantasy . . . rich and satisfying

[Plch]

BTW: I think I remember the map where the goddess can see the heroes' trip and influence it.

[Levi]

That sounds like the one! Thank you!

[Plch]

You are welcome!
(now you can move the thread to solved)

[Levi]

Would've done earlier but I'm not sure how to on mobile!

[Plch]

ops, I don't know either! let's hope a moderator will see this.

[Plch]

I see it's in the right place now, sorry and enjoy he book, it's not bad at all :)

[Rosa]

The Hounds of the Mórrígan for the link. I'm glad you found it. Now I want to read it too.