Free The Dragon's Lair by Elizabeth Haydon Page B

gets long and tangly, or a bush grows bigger."
    "Never mind," said the merrow. "You're making my head hurt."
    "Saeli is so gentle that you can't possibly be afraid of her," Ven went on. "She's—"
    "There you go again, telling me what I can and cannot feel," Amariel interrupted. "You should really stop that. Wait 'til you come under the sea with me. We'll see if you can keep from being afraid of stuff that doesn't scare me . I, for instance, have a good many friends who are sharks. I can't wait for you to meet them."
    "You have a point," Ven admitted. "Sorry. Anyway, the tall girl with the dark brown skin—that's Clem. Her real name's Clemency. She's human, but she is the curate-in-training for the Spice Folk who live in the Inn." He stopped at the look of confusion on the merrow's face. "This isn't making any sense to you at all, is it?"
    "Not a bit."
    "All right, then, I'll stop trying to explain and you can just meet them," Ven said. "I know they're going to be excited to meet you."
    The merrow let loose an exasperated shriek. "See, there you go again, Ven," she said. "You don't know anything about how they are going to feel. Who do you think you are, King of the Sea?"
    "Definitely not," said Ven.
    "I know you are trying to make me less nervous, and that you want to help. Just stop trying to make everything all right and maybe it will be."
    "Good enough," said Ven. "We're almost there."
    The wagon slowed as it approached the Inn. Ven could see Ida and Clem sorting through a large canvas bag, and Saeli finishing her daily maintenance of the flowerbeds. Char had come out from behind the rosebush and was standing at the edge of the road, his hand shielding his eyes, and was waving excitedly.
    Amariel tugged at his sleeve.
    "That's the boy who was fishing for birds," she said.
    "Yes! His name is Char," Ven said. "He's the one I told you about—my roommate."
    "Roommate?"
    "We share the same bedroom at the Inn."
    "Bedroom?"
    "A room where you sleep."
    "Well, sleep I know. What's a room?"
    "Oh boy," said Ven. "This really is going to be a challenge for both of us to keep anyone from finding out you're a merrow." Amariel looked even more nervous. "Tell you what—if there's something that you don't understand, just grab my elbow, and I'll explain it to you when no one is listening."
    " Great ," said the merrow. "Then they'll all think I'm stupid ."
    "No, they won't," Ven said. "No one who meets you could ever think you're stupid. You're very smart, and that's obvious."
    "How diplomatic you are," said Amariel. "Now, quiet down. I want to hear what everyone is saying." She leaned up over the wagon boards and looked around at the Inn and the wide green fields leading off to woods, her eyes still glowing with wonder.
    The wagon came to a halt outside the Inn. Amariel grabbed Ven's elbow and pointed to the golden griffin that was painted on the door. Ven explained quietly what it was.
    "Yo! Ven! Hoay!" Char called as he ran alongside the wagon.
    "Shhh," Ven said in return. "We're trying to leave without everyone in the world knowing we're gone."
    "Well, the Inn is empty of guests. Cadwalder's asleep. And the other kids are takin' stock of supplies and cleanin' the basement, so 'til someone comes along on the road, no one's here to see us."
    "Are you sure Cadwalder's asleep? We had a close call with Mr. Whiting when we passed the White Fern."
    "Quite sure," Char said. "Or in bed, at least. The Spice Folk are watchin' him."
    "Good. Is Nick coming with us?"
    Char shook his head. "No. He's got to work. He didn't come inside the Inner Market anyway, so the Thief Queen never saw him. He says he'll be careful, and good luck."
    "All right," Ven said. "Char, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. This is Amariel."
    Char blinked. Ven glanced to his right where the merrow had been sitting, looking out over the fields.
    She was gone.
    Ven turned around. The merrow was crouched behind a large barrel.
    The back of the wagon rattled as Char opened