A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by Kingfisher T

Author:Kingfisher, T. [Kingfisher, T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mystery, Humour
ISBN: 9781614505242
Amazon: 1614505241
Goodreads: 54369251
Publisher: Argyll Productions
Published: 2020-07-21T07:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Two

Less than an hour later, I was jammed into a closet with Master Gildaen and a large bowl of water.

“You can’t all fit in here,” said the wizard, when Joshua seemed inclined to argue. “It’s my working room. I go in there to talk to the waters, not entertain guests. My young colleague here can come with me, if you’re worried I’m going to summon up water demons to wash your bones clean, but the rest of you might as well stay in the sitting room.”

“I can’t watch the entrance to the working room and the Duchess at the same time,” said Joshua. “Not unless we all want to stand out in the hallway, and I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

The Duchess told him that he could watch the door and she’d be fine by herself and Joshua pretended that she hadn’t said anything. That surprised me. I guess it was proof of what she had said, that the ruler of a city didn’t have absolute power. As far as Joshua was concerned, when it came to keeping the Duchess safe, he was in charge. And the Duchess seemed to accept this.

She turned to me instead. “Mona?”

I knew that wasn’t an order. She was asking me if I was willing to do it, in case Master Gildaen was also a traitor. I could have said no, and we would have worked something out.

“I’ll go,” I said. I didn’t believe that Gildaen was a traitor. He’d listened to the entire story, and if he had been, he would have acted surprised when we told him about Elgar, to divert suspicion.

Instead, when we told him about the Spring Green Man, he only nodded. “Sounds like Elgar, all right. Nasty young fellow, the sort that pulls wings off flies when he’s bored. Always wearing those ridiculous bright green robes, too. You’d think he’d stick out like a sore thumb, but he’s got that weird talent with air, wraps it around himself so your eyes just slide off him half the time.”

“Can you go arrest him?” asked Spindle. He was eyeing Joshua’s weapons with intense interest. “Go chop him up for being a traitor?”

“We can try,” said Joshua. He looked at Master Gildaen for confirmation.

“Try is the right word, young man. Elgar’s not enough wizard to stop the breath in your lungs, but he’ll get smoke in your eyes and tangle your brain, and after that he only needs a knife. And the days when I could summon a rainstorm and wash the air clean for you are long behind me.” Gildaen glanced at the Duchess and sighed. “But I’ll do what I can, Your Grace, if you ask. Though I strongly suggest that we send a message to the Golden General first, so that if we fail, you aren’t short a wizard.”

“Then by all means, send your message, Master Gildaen.” The Duchess gave Joshua a quelling look. He looked as disappointed as Spindle, although he hid it better.

Gildaen himself was a master of water.

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