Free Dragon Wizard by S. Andrew Swann

past few months had done her some good. She was still wiry, but it seemed more muscle than bone. Her black hair had filled out and now hung in a single thick braid between her shoulder blades. Her almond eyes sparkled in an impish face that no longer seemed gaunt. The only things marring her appearance were the small ugly scars on the corners of her mouth, left there by the thugs who had taken her tongue.
    Lucille leaned back and closed her eyes.
    Someone sniffled next to us. Lucille turned to look at Krys again. Krys had changed, too, over the past few months. Like Rabbit, she had lost the gaunt look all the girls had suffered from in midwinter. Also, she was at least a year older than Rabbit, and a decent food supply had fueled a growth spurt that had gained her at least acouple of inches in height. That meant she was taller than Lucille now, though that didn’t say much. She had allowed her hair to grow in, and now wore it in a style reminiscent of the Lendowyn guard—still very short in front, and no longer than a couple fingers’ width around the rest of her head. That, combined with the armor she chose to wear, made her appear much more the young squire than royal handmaid. Not that she ever looked the part of handmaid, or played the part, for that matter.
    She had grown too much to be called boyish.
    At the moment the only thing that detracted from her appearance as a handsome young man was the shiny smears on her cheeks.
    â€œKrys?”
    Her hand went up to wipe her eyes and she turned half away from us. “I’m fine.”
    â€œWhat’s the—”
    â€œI’m not crying.”
    Lucille sat up. “Krys, it’s all right to be upset.”
    â€œI’m not upset!”
    â€œKrys?”
    â€œI’m angry!”
    â€œI understand.”
    Krys sniffed into her hand and nodded. “I know you do.”
    â€œWe’ll find out what this scroll was meant to do and where it came from. Then we will find Frank.”
    â€œHe’s gone,” Krys whispered.
    I’m right here!
    â€œSir Forsythe may have caught up with him by now.”
    Krys turned her head to glare at Lucille. “You
know
that wasn’t Frank.”
    â€œNo, we don’t—”
    â€œYes, we do.” Krys snapped. “You really think it’s Frank out there torching villages?”
    Lucille opened her mouth and closed it. She shook her head. As she blinked I felt a wet heat in the corners of her eyes.
    No, please, I’m still around! Lucille! Can’t you hear me?
    â€œYes,” Lucille whispered.
    â€œI’m sorry, but you know that couldn’t have been him.”
    â€œIt has to be, otherwise . . .”
    â€œHe’s gone,” Krys said, her tone so flat and final it left Lucille speechless.
    Krys’s voice softened a little. “I know hope. I know how much we seem to need it. I felt it when they took my dad. I hoped for nearly ten years, before I gave up. And the thing is, the longer you hold on to it, the worse it gets when you have to let go.”
    Lucille!
    Lucille cried silently as she nodded. “And we don’t have that kind of time.”
    â€œBut we’ll find out what happened,” Krys said quietly.
    They were quiet for a long time before Krys asked, “Why?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhy would the prince do this?”
    That’s a damn good question.
    Lucille closed her eyes and sighed. “I don’t know.”
    â€œGet some sleep,” Krys said.
    We’re in the same skull! Why don’t you hear me?
    Lucille didn’t respond to my cries. She just lay down.Before she shut her eyes again, I thought I saw Rabbit standing and staring at us, but it happened too quickly for me to be certain what we saw.
    After several minutes it was clear that Lucille was sound asleep. After a while in darkness, I joined her.

CHAPTER 8

    Lucille woke up before dawn, sometime before I did. I came to awareness