Free Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger by Lee Edward Födi Page B

I jus’ about saved yer skins.”
    “Humph,” Uncle Griffinskitch muttered.
    “I think all this gold has gone to your head,” Jinx said.
    “Gold! Tee hee!” Pugglemud giggled, but after a moment, he recovered from his mirth and a stern expression came to his face. “The point bein’,” he said (and now he stood up in his throne, and hooked his thumbs in his magnificent gold belt so that all could see it), “I be known as King Reginaldo now. And you’ll be callin’ me that.”
    Pugglemud gazed down upon them as if he expected something to happen. It was as if, Kendra thought, he was waiting for them to shout out “King Reginaldo” all at once—and, in truth, part of her felt compelled to do just that. In fact, she suddenly felt a strange loyalty to the Dwarf king, and she started to fall to her knees.

    Then Uncle Griffinskitch thumped his staff against the gold floor, and the soft thump broke Kendra’s momentary trance.
    “Humph,” Uncle Griffinskitch muttered. “I can see you have some magic at work in your court, King ,”—and here Kendra found herself gazing upon the Dwarf’s belt—“But remember: You are not the only one who is able to cast such enchantment. Or do I need you to remind you of your trousers?”
    Kendra muffled a giggle as she recalled the time when they had first met Pugglemud. The Dwarf had not believed in Uncle Griffinskitch’s magic then, but to prove his wizardry, the old Een had caused Pugglemud’s trousers to start on fire.
    “Well, ahem,” the Dwarf king muttered, eyeing Uncle Griffinskitch’s staff with caution. “There ain’t no need to go bringin’ that up. We’re just all old pals after all.”
    “Indeed,” Uncle Griffinskitch grunted.
    “But Pugglemud—I mean King Reginaldo,” Kendra stammered, “Why are you, I mean—er, how did you—,”
    “What she’s trying to say,” Jinx interrupted, “is how in the name of Een did you ever become a king? The last time we saw you, you were sitting in the rubble of the castle of Krodos with every monster known to Eenkind coming toward you to get its share of gold.”
    “Gold!” Pugglemud repeated, giggling so that all could see his gold-capped teeth. “Tee hee! Ah, yes, all that wonderful gold. Tee hee! Well, that’s a tale fer sure. But perhaps it’d be better fer another time, don’t ya know. What about you wee folks? I reckon yer still lookin’ fer that fancy-smancy treasure of yers, eh? The box of what’s-it-now?”
    “Humph,” Uncle Griffinskitch muttered. “We found our Box of Whispers. We’re on a quest of another kind.”
    “Eh, an’ what’s that?” Pugglemud asked. “Ya ain’t come to steal all me gold, have ya now?”
    “I do say!” Professor Bumblebean declared. “What would Eens do with such treasure?”
    “Swim in it, of course,” Pugglemud declared. “That’s what us Dwarves do.”
    “We’re not interested in gold,” Uncle Griffinskitch told the Dwarf gravely. “We’re searching for a door.”
    “Well, we got a lot o’ doors about here,” Pugglemud said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I’ll sell ya one if ya like.”
    “Humph,” Uncle Griffinskitch muttered, and Kendra could tell that it was the type of humph that meant the old wizard was growing impatient.
    “It’s a special door we’re looking for,” Kendra explained to the Dwarf king. “It’s called the Door to Unger.”
    “Well I ain’t ever heard of no such door,” Pugglemud said. “And I ain’t ever heard of a land of Unger either. Them critters ain’t got no proper kingdom like me, King Reginaldo IV. So how can there be a door to a place that don’t exist no how?”
    “Aye,” Uncle Griffinskitch returned wearily. “But we seek the door nonetheless.”
    “What ya need to do is find some Ungers,” Pugglemud said, leaning forward in his throne. He had a strange gleam in his eye, reminding Kendra of the look that she had seen in the gatekeeper.
    “And I suppose you know where to find