Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [139]
Verrin Schope sat with Lady Peg and Queen Venmarie in the main room by a roaring fire. Paladin and Princess Tipper stared at each other a lot. Since he’d asked her to marry him, the two had become boring. The wedding would be exciting, and immediately after that, the coronation would be fun. But for now, they were a dreary couple and they had hardly noticed her when she said Fenworth was cooking something strange.
No one would be interested in her concern. Still she searched for Librettowit. Perhaps he would know more about brain soup.
She found him in the chapel library. Bealomondore sat with him, looking at huge books of art from different countries.
As soon as the librarian looked at her, Hollee blurted out her reason for coming. “Wizard Fenworth is making brain soup.”
Librettowit took the news in stride. “In celebration, I suppose.”
“Yes. For ousting the Baardackians.”
“Humph! It’s more likely in celebration of finding the right plant.”
“A brain plant?” Hollee hoped she was wrong. “We don’t grow a brain plant in Chiril.”
“We don’t grow one in Amara either. But Fenworth finds this short vegetable that produces a clump of white florets so close together as to be almost solid. You pick off the head and boil it, though some people eat it raw. Fenworth says it looks like a pure brain, one that belongs to someone who doesn’t bother to think that much.”
Bealomondore laughed. “I think brain soup is a significant contribution to a celebration feast. Our countrymen will now have time to cultivate things of the mind instead of physically wrestling with an invading army.” He winked at Hollee. “We can return to a life of ease, nothing more exciting than a new shade of green coming into fashion in time for the winter balls.”
“This country has periods of leisure?” asked Librettowit. “I never would have suspected. But I’m in favor of returning to Amara. Fenworth and I have been gone a long time.”
Hollee made a face.
“What’s wrong?” asked Bealomondore.
“I like it with all of us here in one spot. But you and Paladin are going to negotiate a treaty with Odidoddex. Lady Peg, the queen, and Princess Tipper are going to Ragar to prepare for the wedding and the coronation. My wizard is going back to Amara. There just won’t be any fun anymore.”
Both tumanhofers raised their eyebrows and exchanged a look of incredulity.
“This has been fun?” asked Librettowit.
“Yes, all the bits between battles.”
“Perhaps you can ask Fenworth if you may return with us through the gateway to Amara.”
Hollee nearly passed her own record for consecutive flips.
When she stopped, Librettowit glared at her. “He’ll teach you to cook brain soup, you know.”
“Brain soup will be wonderful.”
“Go off and ask him then.”
Hollee did cartwheels out the door, singing a song she made up as she turned head down, then feet down, then head down, then feet down. It contained the words “grand adventure,” some “too-lee, too-las,” and a chorus of “Fenworth and me.”
Appendix
Things
admitriol
Ointment made from an herb with healing properties.
amaloot
A warm soothing beverage, usually sweet.
Amber Palace
In Ragar, home of the reigning royalty.
Arbaneous Topicalee
Bane Bark pulverized, mixed with a bit of pica, and dried.
astain
A scrubby, tough bush with deep roots.
awdenberry
A sleep-inducing tea is made from the leaves, berries make refreshing juice.
Baardack
Country north of Chiril.
bellringer bird
A forest bird who is named more for his call than his looks.
bentleaf tree
A deciduous tree having long, slender, drooping branches and narrow leaves.
bogswart bark
A plant with pungent bark, found along streams.
bossvetch
A creeping vine with small round green leaves and delicate pink and white cluster blooms.
bramblewood trees
Small trees with gnarly branches and very rough bark.
Cheap Cheep
A diner in Ragar that serves only chicken and eggs and is open only for breakfast and noonmeal.
chukkajoop
A soup made with beets,