How to Save a Kingdom by Bill Allen

Author:Bill Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks, Inc.
Published: 2015-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

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Darkness was already closing in before Greg and the others made it back to the River Styx. With each step, the air grew more frigid. Even though it wasn’t safe to hike at night, they pressed on, knowing that a few miles away the warmth of the Styx awaited. Whether because of Lucky’s influence on the Fates or just coincidence, they managed to reach the bridge without incident and crossed about an hour after sunset. After a brief pause to remove their cloaks, they hurried back to Mrs. Alexander’s home in the dark.

“But Mother’s retirement village doesn’t allow overnight guests,” Brandon called out to them.

“Marvin must sleep in a warm bed tonight,” Nathan insisted.

Overnight-guest rules or not, Mrs. Alexander would have never said no to Greg. She seemed quite impressed by Marvin, too, fawning over him as he finished his third bowl of stew. She would have probably fed him all night if both Princess Priscilla and Greg hadn’t insisted Mrs. Alexander allow Marvin to get his much-needed rest. Truth was, they could all use the rest, with the possible exception of the spirelings.

In the morning, Gnash and Gnaw woke the others early so they could eat before daybreak. Mrs. Alexander was happy to whip up what looked like oatmeal, and the spirelings were only mildly irritated that she saw fit to dole theirs and Rake’s out into cat bowls.

While they ate, she resumed her pampering of the dragonslayer.

At first Marvin seemed pleased by the attention. “Thousands of the beasts,” he told her, “clawing at me and gnawing on my shins, and me totally helpless, with nothing but two tiny bedrolls to protect me from the elements.”

But by breakfast’s end, after Mrs. Alexander practically force-fed him three heaping bowls of mystery meal, Marvin gave up complaining and turned all his efforts toward convincing Mrs. Alexander he was good as new. Still she insisted on massaging his shoulders and refilling his bowl.

Marvin finally looked to Nathan and Ryder with pleading eyes. “Tell her I’m fine.”

“You’ve been through a terrible ordeal,” Nathan told him. “It wouldn’t be wise to travel until you’re fully recovered.”

“You call that a terrible ordeal?” Marvin cried. “Why, I’ve run into worse difficulties scaring up breakfast in the morning. Please, take me with you.”

But Nathan shook his head, and Ryder agreed.

“Didn’t you say he might play a part in the prophecy?” Priscilla reminded Nathan.

“Yes,” pleaded Marvin. “Listen to the maiden. For once she’s making sense.”

Priscilla’s face turned the same shade of red it held out on the blustery trail. “What did you say?”

“Tell them, maiden. You were speaking of the prophecy. Go on, make yourself useful. Tell them.”

Greg and Lucky both took cautious steps backward. Obviously torn between alliances, Melvin hesitated at first, but then wisely backed up as well. Priscilla planted herself before the dragonslayer and somehow managed to stare him down, even though, seated, he still towered over her by a full foot.

“Oh my, I hadn’t noticed that,” she said.

“What?” Marvin’s eyes spun about in opposite directions as he tried to examine his own face.

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