The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen

Author:Michelle Knudsen [Knudsen, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Social Issues, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Friendship
ISBN: 0763634557
Publisher: Candlewick
Published: 2008-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

IN THE END, THEY TOSSED MEG’S stick in the air and started walking in the direction it pointed. It seemed as good a way to decide as any. They both knew it hardly mattered whether they were headed toward Trelian or not. But walking felt better than sitting. Besides, it was cool in the forest, and moving helped them stay a little warmer.

Meg picked up the stick again before they left and was using it to strike at the tall thin plants that grew in patches between some of the trees. Calen followed silently behind her. She thought he had been about to speak several times, but so far he hadn’t said anything since they made their decision to start walking. She hoped he wasn’t too angry with her. She was angry enough for both of them. Of all the stupid times to lose her self-control! If she had only remained silent, they could have waited until Wilem and Sen Eva left the room and then gone and told her parents what had happened. They could have saved her sister and the prince and ensured that the traitors were stopped and punished and possibly tortured for their intended crimes. She could have seen to Wilem’s torture personally.

She struck out at another of the tall plants with her stick, slicing off the wispy tendrils at the top of the stalk with the force of her blow.

Wilem’s false affection for her was nothing compared to his plans to murder Maerlie, but somehow Meg couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was stupid, but she couldn’t help it. How could it be so easy for someone to lie that way? Was she just especially gullible? But her sisters had been fooled as well. Everyone had. But no one as — as personally as Meg herself. She flushed with shame at the thought of how she had enjoyed kissing him, how she had daydreamed about doing it again, and again. She had liked him so much. She had trusted him. And just as he’d apparently intended, she’d given him the information he needed to carry out his mother’s terrible plan. He had seemed so good, so strong and honest and true and kind, and he had made her feel special and warm and all the time he was using her, laughing at her behind his sad, dark, beautiful eyes.

She wiped angrily at her own eyes, hoping Calen couldn’t see that she was crying. Weak. She had been weak and stupid, and now Maerlie was going to pay the price for her failings.

“Meg?” Calen asked softly. He was right beside her. When had she stopped walking? She shook her head, refusing to turn and look at him. Couldn’t he leave her alone? Couldn’t he see that she wanted to be left alone? She opened her mouth to tell him that but instead she said, “He had been courting me. I don’t know why I never told you. We went walking together that first night after dinner. He came often, after that, to walk with me or talk, and he told me that he cared about me.

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