Free Dream a Little Dream by Piers Anthony Page B

the help we can get.” With that, he dismounted and walked out into the meadow.
    Nola followed uncertainly. These creatures sounded disgusting, but if Mich thought that they could help, then they probably would. After all, he was a prince here.

Welton Town was incredibly similar to a Virginia suburb. It consisted of a few town-type houses and some ramblers. Each had a beautifully manicured lawn, and flowers bloomed in backyard gardens. It was all surrounded by small plots of farmland.
    On each plot was a specific kind of fruit or vegetable. On some plots, there were familiar livestock such as chickens, goats and pigs.
    One of the town’s inhabitants came out to greet them. It was a tall, slim woman. She was wearing a white tight-fitting minidress, a pair of sandals and a flowing black cowl. Her face was greenish blue and her lips were black. In contrast, her eyes were a sparkling gold color. She smiled, showing perfectly straight white teeth.
    She bowed deeply to Mich. “Welcome, Your Highness, to Welton Town. My name is Greyden. The Welties have heard of your coming. I and my husband would be so honored if you and your lady friend would consent to stay at our inn during your brief visit.”
    Mich was forced to reply, as Nola was too disgusted by her beaten appearance to speak. It reminded her of an abused woman and dredged up thoughts she wished not to think. “We would be happy to,” he said, nudging Nola.
    “Yes, of course we would!” she agreed with feigned enthusiasm.
    The woman smiled and led them through the paved streets to theinn. It was really a small motel. It looked like the kind one would end up staying in if one’s car broke down in the middle of nowhere.
    Nola was surprised at the inside, however. It was lavishly furnished with Oriental rugs and Victorian furniture. In the ceiling of the lobby was a massive crystal chandelier lit by flickering candles.
    She led them down a narrow hallway and through a squeaky door. Inside was a small chamber. Bookshelves lined the walls. There was a desk with an elderly gentleman sitting behind it. The room was lit by a tiny window. A haze of dust floated along the rays of sunlight that sprang through the glass.
    The old man looked up from his papers when he heard the squeak of the door.
    The woman bowed to them. “I’ll prepare a dinner if you’ll be staying.”
    “We will stay for dinner, thank you,” Mich said. He hadn’t thought about dinner, and the guards had forgotten to bring them some food. It was kind of Greyden to offer, as the Welties were not normally so hospitable to strangers, even royal ones. Greyden bowed again and left the room.
    “Greetings,” the man said. “My name is Daree’. I am governor of the eastern territory.” He put his paper aside and removed his spectacles. He stared at Nola with intensity. Nola, feeling uncomfortable under the weight of the stare, shifted her gown and averted her eyes. She was relieved when he turned his eyes to Mich.
    “So, Prince Michael, it has come to my attention that you are in need of our help and I in need of yours.” His staring dark eyes became slits and his voice was excited as he leaned forward so that his guests could hear him better. “The Fren have destroyed two of my villages and have repeatedly burned up our crops. With no food to export, our people cannot continue to produce and we will become too poor to feed our children.”
    Daree’ leaned back and quieted himself; he was becoming angryto the point of losing his dignity. “Therefore, I shall offer what little I have left to you. As you know, my people like to keep their distance from other humanoids, but in a dire case like this, exceptions must be made, and in this circumstance,” he looked again at Nola, “I believe that I have nothing to fear.”
    Daree’ stood up and put his spectacles back on. “My army will be waiting for you at the Shattered-Glass Glade.” He skirted the desk to open the chamber door. He held the door open