A Multitude of Monsters by Craig Shaw Gardner

Author:Craig Shaw Gardner [Gardner, Craig Shaw]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science fiction, Fantasy, General, Fiction, Fantasy - General, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fiction - Fantasy
ISBN: 9780441545230
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 2010-01-21T15:55:20+00:00

NINE

There comes a time when a wizard must put his fate totally in the hands of another. This takes great courage, and great faith in the ability of others to perform some function that is beyond you. But there are benefits to this course of action as well. Should this task reach a successful conclusion, it will show you the worthiness of your fellow beings, and lead you to trust in the providence of the universe. And, of course, should the task not be successful, there is always someone else to blame.

— THE TEACHINGS OF EBENEZUM,

VOLUME XXVII

The crowd dispersed rapidly to make way for the dragon. The giant reptile landed with a resounding thud.

“Excuse me, my dear,” the dragon said. “Not the most graceful of landings, I’m afraid. Do you have my hat?” The reptile turned to the crowd, most of which was cowering around the edges of the clearing.

“Pardon me,” the dragon enunciated. “Did I arrive at an inauspicious moment?”

“Pop! Wake up!” the Hippogriff cried. The Griffin snored, still under Headbasher’s awesome power.

The blond woman sitting on the dragon’s back reached into a satchel in front of her and extracted a large top hat. She handed it to the dragon.

“Thank you,” the giant reptile said as it placed the hat atop its head.

I had thought I knew this dragon! Now, I was sure.

“Hubert!” I cried.

“Good heavens!” The dragon blew a smoke ring of surprise. “Could it be a fan?”

“ ‘Tis Wuntvor!” I called. “You remember—the Western Kingdoms, and that business with the duke?”

Hubert nodded. “I never forget an engagement. You should see my scrapbook on that one.”

“You remember Ebenezum, too?” I pointed across the stage. “Well, at the moment, he’s inside that shoe.”

“Oh, does he do escapes, too? We had a fellow like that on our bill when we played the Palace. Used to get out of locked trunks and iron maidens, that sort of thing. Never a shoe, though. Rather a unique touch.” Hubert nodded his head approvingly.

I wondered if I should correct his line of conjecture. Then again, perhaps it was best if we did not discuss my master’s malady in too great detail at present. The crowd seemed to be getting over their shock at the dragon’s sudden entrance, and were slowly moving closer to both Hubert and the maiden on his back.

“Hello, Wuntie.”

My heart stood still in my chest. Only one woman had ever called me Wuntie, and then only in our most intimate moments. Could it be?

It was! Alea waved from her perch atop the dragon.

It was little wonder I hadn’t recognized her. She had changed in the weeks we had been apart. No longer was she but a duke’s daughter, forced to while away her hours in a drafty keep deep within the Western Kingdoms. Her hair, once straight, was curled, and seemed a lighter shade than I remembered, probably bleached from hours of flying through sunny skies on a dragon’s back. She wore a gown of lightest blue, no doubt all the rage in Vushta.

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