The Wishing Lantern by Jeff Wheeler

Author:Jeff Wheeler [Wheeler, Jeff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 1999-10-31T07:00:00+00:00

"Because he could not solve the riddle, you slug-brained cesswart!" She rubbed her forehead and sniffled. "He was so tired of guessing that he flew a thousand paces into the sky and then hurled me into this pit. He tried to land me in a pool of quickmire, but dragons have terribly poor aim at such heights. But where do I land instead? Stingnettle! The last place any intelligent creature would come looking . . ." She sighed, long and melancholy. "It wasn't my fault Strathclyde is so stupid."

Hickem Tod rubbed his throat. "If I solve the riddle, do I get a wish?"

The Shimmer Faerie smirked. "You answer the riddle?"

"Do I get a wish?" he repeated.

"Did I say this was a Cursing Lantern? Of course you get a wish! But you solve it? A stupid Ferzohg? The Great Strathclyde couldn't solve it. Not even the Vizier of Zhoff with all his wisdom. Even the Provost Druid of Galamine — he gave up after six months."

"How many guesses do I get?"

"You can guess until your teeth fall out," she fumed. "Guess until your brain aches and you can't even remember your name. The Empress of Tartir-Zan brought a thousand priests who spoke every language. After six years, she had them all killed because not one of them could answer the riddle."

Hickem Tod shrugged and rubbed his throat. "Will you tell me the riddle?"

"Why should I? You could never answer it. Believe me, I don't want to spend another moment in this slime-heap. Take me to the Elven King — he's the only important one left who hasn't tried."

Hickem Tod folded his arms. "I'll make a bargain with you, Estellionata. If you tell me the riddle, I'll take you to the Elven King."

"What kind of bargain is that? You cannot possibly answer it. Just take me to the Elven King now. As a reward, he can gather you a heap of dead flies from the window sills of his palace. Take me to him!"

"How do I know you will grant a wish if I answer the riddle?"

The Shimmer Faerie planted her hands on her slim hips. "The magic of the Wishing Lantern, you green slug. It forces me to grant whatever you desire before I am free from the Lantern. Puff! Just like that."

"Who put you in there?" Hickem Todd asked, poking the glass with his cudgelstaff.

"Stop that. I was banished here by a Sorian Mage. You probably don't know what one is, do you?"

Hickem Tod shook his head.

"Why does that not surprise me? They are very powerful wizards, Hickem Tom. One trapped me here and bound the Wishing Lantern with a riddle that no one can answer." She sighed and wrung her hands. "To keep me locked away and to reward some mortal intelligent enough to answer it. As I said, it hasn't happened yet."

"Do you know the answer?" Hickem Tod asked.

"Of course not! If I knew it, don't you think I would have told someone so they could let me out?"

Hickem Tod nodded.

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