Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [111]
Fenworth spoke. “She’s asking why we don’t swim.”
“What should I tell her?”
“The truth.”
“I could swim, Miss Gus, but Wizard Fenworth doesn’t like to get his feet wet.”
Again the ground and everything else shook. Ripples danced across the lake.
Fenworth sighed and sat down right where he had stood on the grassy bank.
“She knows I’m a bog wizard and thinks it hilarious that I don’t like damp feet. I think it’s natural when one lives in a soggy place that one would be extra sensitive to the uncomfortable state of being damp. There’s nothing absurd about that. Stands to reason if you’ve lived all your life a bit wet most of the time, you’d appreciate dryness more than the average person.”
“Why is she mad at you, sir?”
“She thinks I am at fault for coming here and taking her Prince Jayrus away. Life isn’t as much fun in the valley with him gone.”
Hollee stepped closer to the huge dragon. Gus dipped her head, and Hollee jumped back.
“Miss Gus, Wizard Fenworth did indeed come to ask the dragonkeeper to provide transportation for a very important quest. Prince Jayrus decided to go on that quest, and it was a good thing he did. Do you know he helped save the world? Did you know that he battled dozens of villains? He slew the wicked, he championed the weak, he outsmarted the evil minions of a powerful and wicked slave trader. If he had not vanquished the fiendish foes, all of Chiril would have fallen under a depraved despot.”
Fenworth muttered from where he sat. “He did have some help, you know.”
“Even now, Paladin, your Prince Jayrus, battles an invasion by the iniquitous ruler of Baardack.”
To Gus, Fenworth said, “Iniquitous means ‘bad,’ as in King Odidoddex does things that result in injustice. Like taking farmers’ produce or unfairly taxing the citizens.”
Gus’s head swung around so that she stared off toward the island. Fenworth stood.
“She’s agreed to take us, but she doesn’t have a saddle. We’ll be all right. Just don’t say anything to make her laugh. We’d jiggle right off.”
Fenworth strode over to Gus, stroked the side of her neck and flattered her with words expounding her beautiful colors. She lay down so that the wizard and Hollee could climb aboard. Gus stood, extended her wings, and with a few steps launched into the air.
Hollee leaned against Fenworth’s back and held tight to his wizard robe. She did like to fly. Facing a dragon with its wise eyes and sharp teeth sent shivers down her spine. Standing on the scaly top of one with the wind fluffing up her wild hair did not even raise one goose bump.
They landed on the island in the only place large enough for Gus to set down. Hollee jumped off. Wizard Fenworth hefted one leg over to line up with the other and slid down.
“Thank you very much.” He tipped his hat to Gus. “It was a delightful ride, and I will give your message to Prince Jayrus. I understand your irritation, and all is forgiven.”
The dragon spread her wings and took off.
Hollee shouted, “Thank you, good-bye, good-bye!”
“This way,” said Fenworth, and she followed him into the undergrowth of a small wood. Only a few paces into the stand of trees, Fenworth entered a dark cave. Warm air dampened Hollee’s skin. Fenworth muttered about moisture, humidity, mold, mildew, mugginess, dankness, and clamminess.
As they traveled farther into the recesses of the island, the path sloped steeply. Someone had positioned lightrocks along the walls. The stone walk shimmered with a wet coating, but there were no slippery spots.
They turned a corner, and the floor leveled. Ahead, Hollee saw a different light from the blue glow of lightrocks.
“Do you suppose that’s his cave?” she asked Fenworth.
A voice came from in front of them. “It is most certainly his, and you have awakened him.”
“Sorry, Sir Sage,” Hollee called out.
“Ah, the voice of a kimen. And one I don’t know. Welcome, child.”
“I am traveling with Wizard Fenworth, an ancient wizard from Amara, on the other side of the world.”
“He is welcome as well. Perhaps he has Arbaneous Topicalee in one of