Dragon's Breath (12 page)

"I'll take it!" Eadric declared. "Emma, if I could borrow a few coins—"

"Here," I said, handing him the bag Li'l had given me. "Do you really want to buy a sword without even looking at it?"

Eadric stepped closer and whispered in my ear. "I don't have any choice. When else will I get a magic singing sword? Here you go, my good man," he said, counting out the coins into the merchant's hand.

"I don't know about this," I said as Eadric tucked the scabbard under his arm.

"Let me do the worrying. You've never purchased a sword before."

I laughed and shook my head. "I've never purchased anything without seeing it first, but then I'm not the one who is going to use it!"

Sixteen

W
hen we reached the castle, the first thing I did was ask Li'l about Grassina. She hadn't come back yet, but there wasn't a thing I could do about it except keep looking for the rest of the items. With only one more day left, I was beginning to feel desperate: the two items we still had to acquire seemed the hardest to find. I tried not to think about what would happen if we couldn't find them.

Exhausted, I took my time going downstairs and was surprised by how quiet the castle seemed. Eadric hurried ahead and was already on his way back up with his food before I'd even crossed the kitchen threshold. My mother entered the room while I was looking for a plate. Eyeing my dusty hem, she asked, "Where did you go this time?"

"The magic marketplace," I said without thinking.

"Oh, really?" Her eyes narrowed to glittering silts. "You're practicing magic, aren't you? I knew it was only a matter of time."

I realized my mistake, but it was too late. I'd already said too much. "I've learned a few things," I said, watching her warily.

"I've been telling you for years that you weren't to get involved in magic!" Mother said, her voice getting shrill. "You never can listen, can you? It was for your own good, you know. I was trying to keep you from getting your heart broken. I suppose you're already hoping to be the next Green Witch. Well, it will never happen. You're not smart enough, and you're so clumsy that you'll probably drop the wrong ingredients in your potions. You simply don't have what it takes."

"I've only just started."

"This is a terrible time for you to do this. Our kingdom is at war—because of you, I might add—and Grassina is off to who knows where." Mother sighed. "Your father and I had hoped that the talent would pass you by. The ability to use magic can ruin a woman's life. Is Prince Eadric aware that you're involved in the practice of magic?"

"He knows all about it."

"And is he still serious in his intentions toward you?"

"Yes, Mother, he is. He knew about my interest in magic before he ever mentioned marriage."

"Extraordinary! Few men want to marry a witch, princess or not. I take it that you haven't accepted his offer yet."

"Not yet, no."

"Accept before you do something stupid and scare him off. Men don't wait forever! Now tell me, did you get what Grassina needs?"

"We have two of the things, but we have to find two more."

"Then you'd better get busy. We need her back here concentrating on her work now! Your father has taken his army and started for the border. Our informants tell us that Beltran's army has passed through the Crimson Hills and will reach the border tomorrow night. His wizard rides with him, which is how they made it past the trolls and through the hills so quickly."

"Grassina knows who the wizard is. She doesn't think he'll be a problem."

"To the old Grassina, perhaps, but I'm not sure what she can handle the way she's acting now. Even in the best of times, love and magic don't always mix well, which is something you should remember." Turning abruptly, Mother stalked from the room, leaving me even more worried than before.

I crept up the stairs to join Eadric in Grassina's room, where we sat in front of the fireplace while Li'l peppered us with questions about our excursion. By the time she ran out of questions, I could barely keep my eyes open.

"We'd better get some sleep," Eadric suggested when I yawned. "We're going to have another busy day tomorrow."

"Before we go, I have to tell you that I spoke with my mother. She said that Father is leading his army to the border. Beltran is only a day's march from there, and Mother is worried that Grassina won't get back in time to help. I just wish there was something that I could do."

"You are doing something—you're helping your aunt so
she
can help your father when she does get back. You can't do everything."

"I can't even seem to do this one job right. We still haven't found the dragon's breath or the feather, and time has almost run out."

"I'm sure we'll find them," he said. Suddenly, I heard the swish of straw brushing against stone, and a figure shrouded in black shot through the window on a broom. Halfway into the room, my grandmother hauled in her broom handle, stopping it in midair. She hopped off with a grunt and turned to look around. Frightened by Grandmother's sudden arrival, Li'l scurried across the table and crouched behind the bouquet of crystalline flowers.

Grandmother scowled at us when she didn't see what she wanted right away. "Where's my old trunk?" she demanded.

"Which old trunk?" I asked, thinking there might be more than one.

"Don't be a ninny!" said Olivene. "The trunk I gave that whelp Grassina."

"It's in the storage room." I pointed at the door and would have opened it for her, but she stomped across the carpet, flung the door open and disappeared inside.

"What's that all about?" Eadric asked.

"I don't know," I said, "but I think I'd better find out." Motioning for Eadric to stay where he was, I followed my grandmother through the door and found her crouched on the floor beside the trunk, clinking the jars together. "What are you looking for?" I asked, trying to see around her hunched shoulders.

"Here it is," she crowed, holding up the bundle of werewolf whiskers. "Best thing for tracking over distances less than fifty miles. Werewolves have an excellent sense of smell. That old charlatan Olefat doesn't stand a chance now!" Climbing to her feet, she slapped the lid shut with a bang. I cringed, not sure what would happen if the jars were to break.

"Now, what about you?" asked my grandmother, leaning close to stare into my eyes. "Have you been practicing your magic?"

I took a step back. "Yes, I have. I think it's improving, too."

"Good!" she barked. "Keep it up. It's the most important thing a girl your age can do." Shoving past me, Grandmother stomped back into the main room. "So where's Grassina, that worthless daughter of mine? I have to set that feeble-brained nitwit straight about a few things."

I shrugged. "I don't know."

' "
'I don't know',"
she said, mocking me in a shrill falsetto. "Well, somebody has to know, and if I don't hear in one minute ... Wait, let me guess. She's out looking for that brainless bumpkin Halpert, isn't she? But it won't do her a bit of good. Even if she finds him, I'm not going to turn him back. In fact, I think I'll wait right here, and when she gets home, I'll—"

"You'll do no such thing," said a deep male voice. I shivered as the temperature of the room dropped.

Eadric's face turned pale as he stared at the blue glow taking shape by the door. "Is that a ghost?" he asked, his voice a faint whisper.

"That's my grandfather, King Aldrid," I said. I was surprised to see him outside the dungeon.

"Haven't you plagued these poor children enough, Olivene?" Grandfather asked, looking a little more soild. "I could hear you down in the dungeon. You have no right to be here, pestering Emma and her friends."

"And who's going to make me leave?" Grandmother asked.

"I will, if I must." Although we could still see through him, Grandfather seemed to grow larger and more threatening.

"You can't do anything to me, you weak old fool! I have more power in my little toe than you'll ever have, ghost or not!"

"Perhaps," said Grandfather, "but I know more about you than you know about yourself. For as long as you lived in this castle, I kept track of everything you did, even after I died. If you don't leave immediately, I'll tell everyone your secret recipe for witches' brew, the potent kind you use for your most powerful spells."

"You wouldn't dare!" shrieked my grandmother, flinging up her arm as if to ward him off. "Do you know how many years it took me to come up with that formula?"

"Seven, I believe, so you'd better get out of here before I give it all away. Lizard lips and nose of—"

"All right, I'm going! But Grassina will regret the day she turns Harlin back into a human. That girl should have learned to listen to her mother!"

"His name is Haywood," said my grandfather as Grandmother stuck out her hand and snatched her broom from the air when it flew to her.

"It could be Huckleberry for all I care," Grandmother screamed, hopping onto her broom. With a shriek of rage, she shot through the window and was gone.

"Thank you for coming by, Grandfather," I said.

"My pleasure, Emma. If there is any way I can help, be sure to ask. I'm not stuck in that old dungeon like some of the ghosts. Now go get some rest, my dear. You look like you could fall asleep standing up."

Indeed, my head had scarcely touched my pillow before I was asleep. Even so, I woke earlier than usual and dressed in a hurry, anxious to get on our way. It was Friday, and we had only one day left to find the dragon's breath and the feather.

When I reached Grassina's rooms, Eadric was taking his new sword out of its scabbard for the first time. This sword didn't sound at all like the others.

Why was I made into a sword?
Why not a pen for writing?
I much prefer the written word.
I
do
not like the fighting.

Fighting hurts both friends and foes,
Brings us naught but heartfelt woes.
If I could, I'd stop it now.
Never fight again, somehow.

Eadric grimaced. I could only imagine how disappointed he felt on hearing the sword's song. "Whatever you do," he said to me from between gritted teeth, "don't say I told you so."

"I don't really need to, do I?" I said. "It's supposed to be a named sword. Why don't you ask it for its name?"

Eadric snorted. "Talk to it? It's a sword, not a person!"

"It's an enchanted sword. You could try, at least," I said.

"I will!" said Li'l, hopping up and down. "Sword, tell us your name!"

Light shimmered on the sword's blade, but it remained silent.

"Don't bother, Li'l," I said. "I think Eadric has to do it. The sword has been his since the moment he drew it from its scabbard."

"If it means you'll leave me alone ... Sword, what's your name?"

Light flashed on the blade as it began to sing.

My name is Ferdinand,
But you can call me Ferdy.
I've been told I sing too much,
I am a little wordy.

"My sword's name is
Ferdy?
What kind of name is that for a sword?"

"I think it's a nice name," said Li'l. "It's kind of friendly."

"A sword's name shouldn't be friendly! It should be elegant and powerful, a strong name for a strong weapon!"

Li'l ruffled her wings. "But that's just it. I don't think he wants to be a weapon."

"That's great! I'm about to face dragons with a sword that doesn't want to be a sword."

"Face dragons?" asked Li'l.

"We have to get the dragon's breath, remember?" I said. "Since we can't ask Grassina for suggestions, we have to look in the one place where we know we'll find dragons. We saw one in the enchanted forest when we were frogs, and from the signs they left it looked like there were probably more. Does Grassina have a vial that we could use to collect the dragon's breath? It would help if we could do it while the dragon is asleep, so we're going to need some sleeping potion, too. "

"I might have something you can use. Oh, dear. Grassina isn't going to like this at all." Li'l was still muttering to herself as she fluttered into my aunt's storage room.

"Before we go, we should put the magic beans in the silver chest," I said, holding out my hand to Eadric. "Do you have them with you?"

"Of course," he said, dipping into his belt pouch. "They tasted strange, though."

I couldn't believe my ears. "You ate them?"

"Just the insides. We only need the husk, remember?"

"But they're magic beans. You have no idea what they can do!"

Eadric's face flushed and he looked away. "Actually, I do. They gave me a stomachache right after I ate them, but that went away when the gas started. It's kind of embarrassing to talk about."

"When will you learn that there are some things you can't eat?"

"I'll be fine once I get over this little problem. You worry too much."

"One of us has to, because you don't worry enough!"

Seventeen

Eadric's horse, Bright Country, was happy to carry us to the enchanted forest. A handsome steed, he had grace and speed worthy of a prince. His mane and tail flew like silver banners as we galloped along the dirt road that led from the castle to the village, turning toward the ancient trees as soon as we could.

Although it was midmorning when we entered the forest, it looked like dusk under the leafy canopy. The trees grew so close together that little sunlight reached the ground. We had passed through the forest only days before, but we had been frogs then and largely ignored by the magic creatures. It was different now, and we could both feel it. This time, the forest was just as aware of us as we were of it.

While Bright Country picked his way over tangled roots, I looked around, half expecting to see the beckoning hand of a nymph, the watchful eye of a satyr or the twinkle of fairy lights. Instead I saw the roots of two trees hunching above the ground, dragging the trees closer together as their branches bent and made way for each other. The only sound was a prolonged rustle and the creak of shifting limbs.

"Did you see that?" Eadric whispered, his lips so close that his breath tickled my ear.

"The trees really did move, didn't they? Look," I said, pointing to my left. "Those trees are doing it, too."

Two enormous trees lurched across the ground, leaving a space too narrow for a horse to pass. The moving trunks had thick, green-tinged bark, whiplike branches and leaves shaped like the palm of a hand. I couldn't recall ever seeing such trees before. While we watched, other trees began to shift, blocking our way into the forest. I turned to look behind me. The only way still open was a path leading back to the road.

Pulling on the reins, Eadric reached down to pat his horse's neck. "We'd better stop here. I don't think Brighty can take us any farther."

"Yes, I can," said Bright Country. "I'll find a way around—"

"And the trees will move again," interrupted Eadric. "Sorry, Brighty, but you need to go home. It's probably for the best anyway. I have to travel through the forest without attracting attention, and you're too big for that. We're looking for dragons, but they aren't the only beasts that live in this forest. It's even more dangerous here than we thought, so Emma should go, too. Brighty, I want you to take her—"

"What do you mean, take me? I'm going with you, and you can't stop me!" Wiggling out of Eadric's arms, I slid off Bright Country's back and stumbled, landing on my knees. Eadric followed, slipping to the ground with the nimbleness of long practice, while I scrambled to my feet and glared at him. "You need me and my magic to help you get that dragon's breath."

"Emma, I'm not taking you with me. I don't want to see you get hurt. I've been thinking about the dragons, and when I do find one, I don't want you anywhere around. I've fought dragons before, and you haven't. I know how dangerous it is."

"But we're not here to fight dragons!"

"That doesn't mean it won't happen."

"I understand that, but look," I said, reaching into my pouch. "Li'l found this sleeping potion." I shook the small vial of blue liquid that Li'l had given me. "And she gave me a bottle to collect the dragon's breath. You don't have to worry. I'll stay out of the way if there's any fighting involved, but I'm going to do my best to see that you don't have to fight anyone. Killing a dragon isn't going to get us its breath, although magic might. I know my magic isn't perfect, but it's all we've got. I don't want to lose you any more than you want to lose me."

Eadric grinned. "Then how about that kiss you owe me?"

"What kiss? I don't owe you any kiss!"

"Sure you do. We're engaged to be engaged, aren't we? As far as I'm concerned, you always owe me a kiss."

Eadric's lips had barely brushed mine when hot horse breath wuffled my hair. "Should I take her back or not, Your Highness?"

"I guess she's staying with me, Brighty. You'll have to go back to the castle by yourself."

We watched until Bright Country had turned onto the path and passed the more threatening trees. With his head hanging lower than his hocks, the horse was a picture of dejection. "He'll be fine," I said, squeezing Eadric's hand.

Once his horse was out of sight, Eadric and I wriggled between trunks and climbed over roots, running when the trees began to move again. When we finally came to a more natural section of the forest that seemed to be firmly rooted, I relaxed. A flickering shadow made me hurry to catch up with Eadric.

Eadric kept his hand on Ferdy's hilt. I knew that he didn't dare take the sword out of its scabbard until he needed it, as the enchanted weapon would sing and draw more unwanted attention. "Look for a dragon sign," said Eadric. "Scorched bark, leaves brown and curled from intense heat, claw marks ... things like that."

As I looked, I tried to think of possible spells I could say, quick and easy ones that would work against any attacker, but it was hard to concentrate on spells while searching for dragon signs in the near dark. I was studying a suspicious patch on a tree when I heard Eadric say, "What do we have here?" Suddenly, he took two steps forward and jumped into a trench I hadn't even noticed. Nearly ten feet across, the trench appeared to be about three feet deep. "Stay there!" he said, holding up his hand when I gathered my skirts to follow.

I peered into the trench, trying to see what might have created it. Fairly uniform in width, it extended as far as I could see in both directions, but I could find no sign of its origins. "What is it?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, but I think it might be—"

We heard the sound of approaching footsteps at the same time. Even from a distance they made the ground shake. "Giants!" we said in unison, understanding now what had made the trench.

The shaking made the trees shiver and dislodged clods of dirt from the trench's sides, showering Eadric as I reached down to help him out. He grasped my hand and I leaned the other way, falling onto my back when he jumped. Scooping me up, Eadric began to run. I struggled to get down, but he refused to let go.

"You can't run as fast as I can, not dressed in a long skirt," he said, puffing in my ear as he carried me deeper into the forest. I was wearing my old green gown and kirtle, lighter in weight than some I owned, but the fabric was still enough to hamper my legs.

We crouched behind a broad tree trunk and covered our ears. The ground throbbed beneath us, and we had to fight to keep our balance. Peering between the trunks, we saw enormous shadowy figures passing single file through the trench. Although we couldn't see much more than their legs and feet, it was enough to tell us that any one of the giants could have flattened us both without noticing.

We stayed where we were, our muscles cramping, until the last giant finally moved on and the ground stopped shaking. Although my parents' castle was only a few miles away, I'd never known of the presence of so many giants in the enchanted forest. I dreaded to think of what else we might encounter.

A few yards past the giants' trench, I saw a scorched tree. The bark was blackened, as was the ground around it. Eadric found another a short distance away. The burned trunk was still warm; the dragon was probably nearby. We were trying to determine which direction the dragon had gone when we heard a voice screaming for help.

"The dragon's caught someone!" I said.

With his hand on Ferdy's Hit, Eadric dashed between the trees, leaping over downed trunks, while I followed as quickly as I could. The sound of Eadric's footsteps led me on until they stopped suddenly and I heard a muffled oath.

"What is it?" I said, hurrying to catch up.

"Don't come any closer!" shouted Eadric.

I didn't stop entirely, just slowed my pace while I studied the trees ahead. I was surprised to find Eadric suspended in midstride, one arm raised in front of his face.

"What's wrong?" I asked, and then I saw it. An enormous web gllstened between two trees, ensnaring anything that tried to pass. Taller than my grandmother's cottage and broader than three of my father's most imposing knights standing with arms outspread, the web was hard to see unless a breeze moved it and the light hit it just right.

A bedraggled raven flapped feebly at the top of the web, its beady eyes fixed on me. "Fly while you still can!" it said in its raspy voice.

Eadric had been caught in the end closest to me, his left arm held in place as if to ward off a blow. Only a few feet away, a flying squirrel hung suspended, its limbs spread wide for flight. Shivering uncontrollably, it made pitiful mewling sounds. The biggest surprise, however, was the creature trapped at the other end of the web. It was a young dragon no bigger than a large dog. A pretty shade of blue, it was covered in overlapping scales and had a raised ridge running from the back of its head to the tip of its long tail. The two wings sprouting between the dragon's shoulder blades beat the air behind it but were too entangled to free the dragon from the web.

"Stay where you are," Eadric told me. With the whisper of metal against metal, he pulled Ferdy from his scabbard. The sword immediately began to sing.

Why was I made into a sword?
Why not a—

"Be quiet!" Eadric said, shaking his sword. "We don't need to tell the whole forest where we are."

As if we haven't already,
I thought.

Ferdy took the hint. He stopped singing abruptly and began to hum. It was slightiy off-key, but at least it wasn't as loud. "Mmm hmm hmm hmmm hmm hmm ..."

Reaching back with his humming sword, Eadric swung at the web, easily slicing through the strands. Another stroke and his left arm was free, although tattered bits of spider silk still clung to his sleeve. Eadric stepped back and hacked at the web, freeing the squirrel and the raven before moving on to the little dragon.

The dragon shrieked when it saw him coming with his sword upraised. Puffing up its chest, it opened its mouth and tried to blast Eadric with its flame, but the creature was young and didn't have the strength it would have as an adult. Its feeble trickle of heated smoke dispersed in the air, carried away by a light breeze.

While watching Eadric cut the rest of the web from around the struggling dragon, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head and gasped. It was a huge black spider, its back as high as my shoulders, its legs longer than a big man's reach.

"Look out!" I screamed as the spider darted forward, its mouthparts clashing.

Eadric whirled around. With an angry shout, he hurled himself at the creature, hacking and stabbing as the spider danced back, avoiding his blade.

"Thief! Scoundrel!" screamed the spider. "Just wait till I catch you! I'll wrap you in silk, bite off your head, then suck the juices from your body!" The spider darted forward, swinging a hairy leg and knocking Eadric to the ground. Grunting, Eadric rolled to his feet with Ferdy aimed and ready.

Humming louder and louder, Ferdy broke into song as Eadric chopped at the living nightmare.

Take that, you nasty monster.
Take that, you beastly beast.
You shall not hurt my master,
Nor add him to your feast.

The spider had a long reach and greater strength. Keeping its multiple eyes fixed on Eadric, it quivered in anticipation. As if the sword were an extension of his arm, Eadric slashed at the spider, vaulting over one reaching leg, cleaving another in two.

The spider shrieked, staring at the stump of its severed limb. "Forget what I said!" it shrilled. "I'll suck out the juices before I cut off your head! I want you to feel my mandibles piercing your flesh and your life slipping away."

Freed from the web by Eadric's efforts, the little dragon took advantage of the commotion to scurry into the forest, running with the awkward gait of a puppy. I watched it go, which was a mistake, since I should have been watching the battle. Suddenly, the spider was forcing Eadric in my direction.

Eadric had already cut off two of the spider's legs. When he hacked off a third, the spider slowed but kept coming at him with an uneven step. Swept aside by Ferdy, the third leg flew at me like a spear, shuddering into the ground beside me. I shrieked and tried to run, tripping when my feet became tangled in my skirts. Flailing with my arms, I fell headfirst into a patch of puffball mushrooms, crushing them so that dustlike spores rose in a cloud around me.

Taken by surprise, the tickling was more than I could handle. "Ah ... ah ... ah-choo!" I sneezed, and in an instant, I was a frog again. Too horrified to move, I was still sprawled on the forest floor when Eadric barreled into me. He was a frog, too, of course, but even worse, he no longer had Ferdy.

"What have you done? I've lost Ferdy! I needed that sword to defend us!"

"I couldn't help it!" I wailed. "I didn't sneeze on purpose!"

While the spider looked around in confusion, we hopped under a large fern, hoping that the monster would pass us by. A dry twig snapped. Suddenly, the fern quivered and was gone, yanked out of the ground. "Ah-ha!" said the spider, looming above us, its multiple eyes gleaming with malice. "I thought I saw you go in there!"