Talking to Dragons by Patricia Collins Wrede

Author:Patricia Collins Wrede [Wrede, Patricia Collins]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf_fantasy, child_sf
Published: 2012-05-04T07:09:59+00:00

13

In Which They Learn the Difference Between a Wizard and a Magician

The dragon was still sneezing in medium-sized puffs of flame. The man with the staff examined it and shook his head. "That certainly is a dragon."

He made another pass with his staff.

The staff vanished, and the dragon stopped sneezing abruptly. It sniffed a couple of times in an experimental way, looking surprised, as if it expected to start sneezing again any minute. I was surprised, too. I mean, wizards never let go of their staffs-not willingly, anyway.

The man bowed politely to the dragon. "I apologize for inconveniencing you," he said. "I offer you greetings and welcome to my home, and I wish you good fortune when you leave."

"What?" said the dragon.

The man looked a little startled and peered at the dragon more closely.

"Oh, I see," he said after a moment. "Well, you're welcome. Come and make yourself comfortable."

Shiara scowled at him and bent to pick up Nightwitch, who had come running toward her as soon as the flames had died. The dragon looked suspiciously at the man.

"I don't like wizards," it said. "And I don't like people who put invisible things in the middle of my shortcut."

"I am not a wizard," the man said with a sigh. "And my tower has been here for years, and it isn't invisible. Now, come in and talk.

There hasn't been a dragon by for a long time, and I'm a bit behind on the news."

"If you're not a wizard, what are you?" Shiara said, petting Nightwitch and glaring at the man.

"I'm a magician," the man said. "And my name is Telemain."

"Pleased to meet you," I said.

"Mrrow," said Nightwitch, and started purring loudly.

Telemain looked at the kitten, and suddenly he began to laugh. He had a nice laugh, sort of deep and friendly. I started thinking that I might be able to like him after all, even if his fire wall had nearly burned me to a cinder.

"I don't believe I have ever seen a group quite like this one," Telemain said when he finished laughing. "Please, tell me who you all are."

I introduced everyone, and Telemain nodded courteously to each of us.

He gave me a sharp look when I told him my name. "I thought that was what your friend called you," he said. "Welcome to my home."

"Some welcome!" Shiara said. "You nearly got Daystar killed, and you started the dragon sneezing again. And how come the dragon was allergic to you if you aren't a wizard?"

"Dragons aren't allergic to wizards," Telemain said, sounding surprised.

"What gave you that idea?"

"I did? the dragon said. It came forward and sat down emphatically, right next to me. "All dragons are allergic to wizards. I should know: I sneeze every time I get near one." It eyed Telemain belligerently.

"Oh, I don't doubt that at all," Telemain said. "But the hypersensitive reaction results from the indiscriminate absorption of magical energy through the enchantments fixed in their staffs."

"What?" said the dragon.

Telemain sighed. "It's not wizards you're allergic to, it's their staffs.

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