Patricia Wrede - Talking to Dragons

Father and Mother and I went out to see them off. Mother gave Shiara some advice about princessing, and Father told her that if she was going to glare at dragons, she'd have to learn to glare politely. Then they both went to talk to Kazul. Shiara looked at me.

"I'm beginning to wonder whether I really want to do this or not," she said. "Does he really expect me to practice glaring at people?"

"No, just at dragons," I said. "If he wanted you to glare at everyone, he would have said so."

"Well, I think it's-Nightwitch!" Shiara bent to retrieve the kitten, who had been investigating one of Shiara's bundles a little too vigorously.

"Where did you get all of this, anyway?" I asked as she straightened up. There were three bundles in the heap Nightwitch had been climbing, and I knew Shiara hadn't had any of them when we'd arrived at the castle.

"Morwen gave me that one, and Cimorene gave me the others," Shiara said. "She said I would need them if I was going to live with Kazul.

I don't even know what's in all of them yet."

I couldn't think of anything to say because just then I realized how much I was going to miss having Shiara around. The Mountains of Morning weren't exactly close to the castle, and I didn't think Kazul would be interested in flying back and forth every day.

Shiara frowned. "What's the matter with you?"

"I was just wishing you were going to be living a little closer to the castle," I said.

"I don't see why. I'm going to have to come here a lot anyway, at least until you get that stupid politeness spell off of me so I can use my fire magic.

So what difference does it make? I'M the one who has to do all the traveling back and forth." Shiara looked toward Kazul. "I think they're ready to go.

Come on, Daystar."

She picked up one of the bundles and started walking. I didn't say anything, but I felt a lot happier than I had a few minutes earlier.

Getting rid of that spell didn't sound easy, and until it was gone Shiara would have to spend quite a bit of time at the castle. I was sure that if I had enough time, I could think of some reason for her to keep visiting after the spell was gone, and even if I couldn't, Mother would be able to. Smiling, I picked up the other two bundles and followed happily after.