Free Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede Page B

too.”
    â€œEven so . . .”
    Morwen thought for a minute. “The only thing you can do is avoid talking about magic with him,” she said at last. “He’s reasonably clear when it comes to normal conversation, but as soon as anyone mentions spells he gets technical. Or you could make sure Kazul is always with you.”
    â€œYes, I’d noticed that Telemain doesn’t—”
    A distant bray interrupted Cimorene in midsentence. “Good heavens,” she said. “What on earth was that?”
    â€œKiller,” Morwen said, walking more quickly. “Unless you’ve acquired a donkey since the last time I was here.”
    â€œA donkey? No, but—”
    As they rounded the last corner and came in sight of the kitchen, Cimorene stopped short. The cook stood in the half-open kitchen door, brandishing a copper frying pan to keep Killer from forcing his way inside, while Scorn and Jasper watched from the safety of a nearby window ledge. Midway between the kitchen and the moat, Kazul sat on her haunches, smiling down at the terrified blue donkey in amusement. Since the smile showed a fair number of teeth, it wasn’t helping Killer’s state of mind at all.
    â€œKiller,” Morwen said sternly. “Stop that this instant.”
    â€œBut it’s a
dragon!
” Killer wailed. “And it’s
right there!
Eee-augh!”
    The cook glanced toward them, gasped, and dropped the frying pan. “Your Majesty!”
    Taking full advantage of the cook’s distraction, Killer flung himself forward. He hit the door with a thud, shoving it wide and knocking the cook over backwards. As his head and front feet disappeared inside the kitchen, a cat yowled loudly in surprise and pain.
    â€œFiddlesticks!” Morwen said. “That does it.” She raised her arms.
    Â 
    â€œSky and sea and whirling sands,
    Stop that creature where he stands!”
    Â 
    On the final word, she brought both hands down in a swift chopping gesture. Killer stopped moving and gave a startled bellow. An instant later, Fiddlesticks shot out from between the donkey’s legs. Morwen breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
    â€œHe stepped on my
tail!
” Fiddlesticks said with great indignation. He sat down at Kazul’s feet and began energetically washing the offended part.
    â€œI’m surprised it wasn’t your nose,” Scorn said. “You poke it into enough peculiar places.”
    â€œHelp! Hee-eeau-elp!” Killer cried. “I’m going to be eaten!”
    â€œGet this creature out of my kitchen!” the cook yelled as he scrambled to his feet.
    â€œQuiet, all of you,” said Cimorene, edging her way through the narrow gap between Killer’s rear end and the door frame. Since Fiddlesticks seemed more or less unharmed, Morwen followed Cimorene inside. Killer continued to moan and whimper despite Cimorene’s order, but he at least stopped braying.
    Inside, Cimorene glanced around the kitchen, which was nearly as clean and tidy as Morwen’s, and nodded to the cook. The cook bowed deeply. Cimorene turned to Killer. “Nobody is going to eat anyone here unless I say so. Now, how did this happen?”
    â€œJust how you’d expect,” Scorn said from the window. “Killer was being stupid again.”
    â€œI’m not stupid,” Killer said. “Eee-eeaugh! Oh, help!”
    â€œI said
quiet,
” Cimorene said.
    â€œBut I can’t move, and there’s a dragon—”
    â€œI can arrange it so you can’t talk, either,” Morwen said. “And if you don’t start behaving yourself, I’ll do it. Cimorene, this is Killer. He ought to be a rabbit of the usual size and color, but he’s had some trouble with wizards lately. This is Cimorene, the Queen of the Enchanted Forest. I think you should answer her question.”
    Killer rolled his eyes and waggled his ears, managing to look