The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul

Author:Donita K. Paul
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Published: 2009-05-21T21:00:00+00:00

“Flying is the best part of questing,” Tipper told her father. She sat facing backward with her shoulders resting against Verrin Schope’s back. She had a good view of the land below. Trees looked like splotches of green. Animals appeared as dots against the grass. Rivers flowed through the land like strings of blue yarn.

She breathed deeply. The cool air tasted clean and somehow lighter. She enjoyed the feel of the dragon’s muscles powering her great wings and relished the bond with the dragon. Through that connection she knew that Gus delighted in carrying her passengers. Tipper felt as if she were born to fly and wished her new friend felt the same way.

“I hope Bealomondore hasn’t thrown up again.”

“It’s good he emptied his stomach before we left the ground. Fen-worth gave him a flask of medicated water to drink. That will soothe his nerves. Perhaps he will even sleep.”

“What type of medicine is it?”

“Ground momile shells.”

Tipper pictured the small yellow beetles that ate aphids in the garden. Momiles were useful for several things. “How did you convince Bealomondore to get on Kelsi?”

“Both Grandur and Zabeth are riding with him. His fear brought on a physical reaction, and the healing dragons will help him.”

“You did something else, didn’t you? I saw him before you talked to him and after. Before, every muscle twitched. Afterward, he seemed asleep with his eyes open.”

Through her back, she felt a huge sigh from her father.

“It’s something a wizard can do, although we consider it cheating. But our poor young artist’s sensitivities were overwrought, and I mesmerized him as a compassionate means to dull his suffering.”

“Mesmerized?”

“Entered his thinking and suggested he calm down. The suggestion will not last forever, but by the time it wears off, he will have seen that no harm is going to come to him. And the two healing dragons are working on him, to keep his physical reaction to fear under control. They will be tired tonight.”

“The dragons?”

“Yes.” He sighed again. “We will be in Fayetopolis this evening.”

“Papa, are you all right?”

“Yes, yes, of course. We will have the first statue by this time tomorrow.”

Tipper had been so delighted over the prospect of flying that she’d only partially listened to the dinner conversation the night before. “Bealomondore saw the statue in the home of a wealthy lawyer in Fayetopolis less than six months ago?”

“Yes, but immediately afterward, he heard it was sold to Bamataub, a man Bealomondore does not like.”

“Why doesn’t he like this man? I thought anyone who admired your work would be considered a fine fellow by our tumanhofer friend.”

Verrin Schope coughed, and it took him a moment to get his breath back before speaking. “Bealomondore says that this man is not worthy of owning an exceptional piece of art. A lump of clay molded by a toddler would be more equal to Bamataub’s capacity for appreciation. That is, according to Bealomondore.”

“Bamataub must have liked Morning Glory to spend all that money to buy it.”

Verrin Schope shook his head.

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