Free The Lazy Dragon and Bumblespells Wizard by Kath Boyd Marsh Page A

tiptoes trying to see into his paws.
    â€œPaper.” Cl’rnce felt proud that he’d remembered Hazel had said to read it on maybe the fourth day. He didn’t think he should wait until then. What would a day early matter? Especially if it meant he could ignoreher orders. He unfolded the paper.
    â€œNo. I meant that shiny thing in your necklace.” The little wizard want-to-be stretched higher on her toes.
    â€œMale River Dr’gons do not wear necklaces. They wear chains with small cases for carrying important papers and things.” He snapped the locket closed. “Like this paper.”
    â€œNo. I mean the shiny thing. The thing that looked like it was on fire inside your lock … I mean, ornamental case.”
    Cl’rnce wrinkled his brow at her. The Whisper Stone was the only thing in his case, and it was just a dull, dingy old rock as silent as any pebble. Which it shouldn’t be. It was almost like Hazel had switched the real one for something she picked up in a bathroom pit, so she could send him on the Journey and drive him crazy.
    Tricking him made more sense than so easily giving in to sending him off to become Primus. The sister he’d grown up with would never give away the chance to be Primus to Cl’rnce. She was probably busy getting a waiver so she could become the next Primus while he was on this wild snark chase. It didn’t matter so much. Just for the chance to get away from her and school, Cl’rnce was willing to make the trip. Who wanted to be Primus anyway? Not him. After he got back, he’d tell on Hazel to their mother. No matter how important Hazel thought she was, she would never cross an Elder, especially their mother, who was very good friends withThomas, the current Primus.
    Cl’rnce decided the sun was in the little wizard’s eyes. The pebble he carried was definitely not shiny, not special. He ignored her question and read his paper, which oddly was written in Albion instead of Modern Dr’gon:
    Dear Lout of a Brother who does not deserve anything,
    This is not a trick, which you’ve probably convinced yourself it is. You are definitely on the quest to return the Whisper Stone to the Council Chamber and claim the Primacy.
    I know it’s ridiculous to believe you’d be doing a good job, but I hope at least you’ve remembered to read this on the third day. If you’d put any effort in, you could have flown straight to Ghost Mountain and delivered the stone in one day and completed the Journey required of every Primus to be. But I know you. You’re fooling around doing stupid stuff.
    â€œThen why didn’t she just do it herself?” Cl’rnce muttered. He read on.
    I know you’re asking why I didn’t do the job myself. Why I didn’t usurp you. Believe me, if I were allowed, I would have. But you, you lout, have to be the one. Just believe me on this.
    Now get your rear in gear and get to Ghost Mountain. And if, as I’m sure, you’re still nowhere near it, you know time’s up and you HAVE to GET a Wizard Partner and get help with the toad-swallow spell to unleash your ability to fly. It’s an embarrassment to this family and all River Dr’gons that you’ve scared off all possible Wizard Partners, and for River Sakes, never bothered to learn to fly. HONESTLY!
    Cl’rnce turned the paper over looking for a map or anything more. But the back was blank. “I don’t think she meant I have to swallow a toad,” he muttered. “She was just being angry Hazel, I think.”
    â€œYeah. Whoever wrote that was really snarky,” Great and Mighty said from where she’d climbed on a rock to read over his shoulder. “You need my help. It says you need a Wizard Partner. I’m coming with you.”
    â€œDidn’t you say you were just learning to be a wizard?” He looked up at her. A beginner wizard who reallydidn’t know how to throw a