[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
"Believe it or not, Ned, he was probably cold sober," said Colin, who was not, and was very weary besides.
"Anyway," said Ned, "this fisherman says the last he seen of the wizard 'e was headin' out to sea."
"He did say he was going to see the princess," Maggie said.
"Yes, ma'am, and he'll have a bit of a trip in that little boat of his. But them giant swans the lad here told us of will be makin' their own wind, and it's too calm for the Bane to make much headway, so we lost him, as I said."
"No matter," said Lord Rowan. "Now that we know how to break his spells we can supply everyone, including Princess Pegeen, with liberal amounts of salt. I doubt he'll stand much chance of being nominated on his personal integrity alone. Especially not after I lodge my complaint with the council."
"You know," said Maggie, "I'm not so sure this country and our magic folk are deteriorating at all. Your ancestors Rowan the Rampaging and Rowan the Reckless would never have thought to lodge a complaint with the council over a wizard-induced misunderstanding.''
Rowan laughed. "No, more likely they'd have slaughtered every available wizard and gypsy in the land." He hugged Amberwine, who sat at his side sipping tea from a pottery cup. "Not to mention the lady."
"We're lucky you came when you did," Colin said.
"Well-yes. It would have been better if I'd come with you at once, but I'm still Rowan enough that I listened to my pride for awhile before I set out to follow you. I'd decided by the time I met Zorah that I was no fit king, or even much of a hero, if I let my sister-in-law do all the rescuing in the family. And when Zorah told me the mess you'd got into . . ." He glared across the table at Xenobia and Davey.
"How did you know where we were, though?" Maggie asked.
"Zorah said you were off to find the Sorcerer of Dragon Bay. since she'd extracted Colin's promise to get that scamp's heart."
He indicated Davey, who studied the food he was carefully - masticating twenty chews to the mouthful, "And the last day, your Aunt Sybil's budgie bird come bringing us a message that you're up t' the sorcerer's place and something was amiss."
"We was about to leave port when 'is lor'ship come askin' for you, lad," said Neddy. "We didn't like leavin' you, after you'd saved the ship and all, but when we went back to the rock, you was gone. So as I say, we was just lucky he come when 'e did."
"Whew," said Maggie. "You were lucky!"
"I have some unfinished business," said Rowan, rising to his feet. "It pains me, sir," he said to Davey. "for His Highness of Ablemarle is a fine man, or bear, depending on how you look at him. and he tells me you're his son and acquitted yourself nobly in the dragon affair. But you've offended the honor of m' lady and for that you'll have to answer."
"No!" Zorah lept to her feet as well. "Do you think I brought you here so you could kill him?"
Rowan looked bewildered. He was honor-bound to Zorah as much as he was to avenging the insult. While he was trying to decide if it was more important to avenge a reputation lost than to reward a life saved, Amberwine tugged on his sleeve till he sat down.
"I only regret we let the villain get away before we got that heart for Davey," said His Highness. "He was such a good boy once."
"Is this it?" asked Amberwine, pulling it from her pocket. Its jeweled light danced across their eyes.
"Winnie," said Maggie, "How ever did you . . .?"
"When your uncle put the bear to sleep, Maggie. I saw it sitting about, and dropped it in my pocket while they were all watching you. I wasn't sure what it was, but it seemed important to you," she said the last to the bear as she gentiy set it in his paws.
His Highness rose and made Amberwine a bow. "Madam, if I wouldn't wet you to the elbow in so doing I'd kiss your hand."
He climbed heavily over the bench and waddled on his hind legs to where Davey sat beside his mother. The cynical smile on
Davey's lips as the bear pressed the crystal against his empty beast underwent a subtle change. "Be a man, my son," said the
.bear as the light gradually was absorbed into Davey. While everybody was busy feeling touched, the bear changed back into
:
The innkeeper's wife screamed at the naked prince as she had
not screamed to see a bear at her table. Rowan hastily handed the prince a cloak. Enchantments were sometimes careless about details.
"Ah, yes," sighed Xenobia. "I believe I do like you better in that form.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]