Enchanted Forest #02 - Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Author:Patricia C. Wrede [Wrede, Patricia C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction, General, Biography & Autobiography, Wizards, Animals, Mythical, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Kings and Rulers, Royalty, Dragons, Humorous Stories, Fairy Tales, Girls & Women, Princesses, Health & Daily Living, Kings; Queens; Rulers; Etc, Kings; Queens; Rulers; Etc.
ISBN: 9780152045654
Google: bEQvNmxBXN4C
Amazon: 0152045651
Publisher: Sandpiper
Published: 1991-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

“That’s true. Oh, I wish I knew what they were up to!” Cimorene scowled at the broken window, then turned sharply away, almost running into the dwarf.

“I don’t understand this at all,” the dwarf said, looking from Cimorene to Mendanbar with a puzzled frown.

“I’m sorry we don’t have time to explain,” Mendanbar said. “But I’m afraid we don’t.”

“Thank you for all your help,” Cimorene added.

The dwarf shook his head and led them back to the front door, frowning in such deep concentration the whole time that neither Mendanbar nor Cimorene could bring themselves to interrupt. In the doorway, the dwarf paused.

“Are you sure youdon’t want any gold?” he asked. “Quite sure,” Mendanbar said. “We have a long walk ahead of us, and gold is awfully heavy.”

“I thought you didn’t want to spin gold anymore,” Cimorene added.

The dwarf looked down. “It’s not the spinning, it’s the rest of it,” he said, not very clearly. “And spinning’

s the only way I know to make money, and you wouldn’t believe how fast kids grow.”

“Oh,” said Cimorene. She bit her lip. “What if we asked you to spin some gold for us and then let you keep it?” she asked without much hope.

“No,” said the dwarf. “I tried it once. It just doesn’t work.”

“Can you spin for the children?” Mendanbar asked.

The dwarf shook his head. “They’re my responsibility, so it’s the same as spinning for myself as far as the spell is concerned.”

“What are yougoing to do with them all?” Cimorene asked as renewed shrieks and the sound of pounding feet came through the open door.

“Oh, most of them will grow up and save their kingdoms from something or other in the nick of time,” the dwarf said. “Long-lost heirs, you know. That’s what makes it so difficult. I have to see that they’re properly trained on top of everything else.”

“Training,” Mendanbar said under his breath. He squinted into the sunlight, trying to catch hold of an idea that hovered just out of reach.

“I don’t suppose their parents . . .” Cimorene’s voice trailed off as the dwarf shook his head.

“A bargain’s a bargain. Besides, it wouldn’t be the same without them running all over. I can ’t give them back.”

“Of course not,” Mendanbar said, blinking. He smiled suddenly. “But you can charge for training them, can’t you?”

An answering smile lit up Cimorene’s face. “A boarding school for long-lost heirs. What a good idea!”

“A school?” the dwarf said as if the words tasted funny. “A boarding school? I don’t know—”

“Why not?” Cimorene said. “It would solve your money problems for sure. Special schools are always horribly expensive. You could charge the parents of your children for just the training part, and take on a few more kids at training plus full room and board.”

The dwarf’s eyes gleamed at the idea, but then his face fell. “What about my spinning?” he said. “It is a family tradition.”

Cimorene rolled her eyes. “Haven’t you done enough of that already?”

“Well—”

“I have an idea about that, too,” Mendanbar put in.

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