Patricia Wrede - Searching for Dragons

"Of course, Your Majesty," said Willin in tones of perfect understanding.

He paused. "May I inquire where you are going and when?"

"To rescue the King of the Dragons," Mendanbar said, "and as soon as possible."

Willin swallowed hard, Prince Rupert choked, and even Morwen looked slightly startled.

"The only question is, what's the best way of doing it," Mendanbar continued. "Any suggestions?"

"We can't just charge in and attack the cave," Cimorene said, frowning.

"The wizards could kill Kazul before we got to her. And if the area around the cave looks like that bit you showed us a few minutes ago, it simply won't be possible to sneak up on them."

"What we need is a back way in," Telemain said. "I don't suppose there is one?"

"Every cave in the Enchanted Forest has a back way in," Mendanbar said.

"The problem is finding it. Do you know anything about that part of the forest, Morwen?"

"I'm afraid not," Morwen said. She turned to the cats. "Chaos? Jasper? How about you?"

The cats looked at each other, blinked, and looked back at Morwen.

"They aren't familiar with the area, either," Morwen said with regret.

Willin coughed. "If I may venture a suggestion, Your Majesty…"

"Go ahead," Mendanbar said.

"I believe there is a list of caves, passages, vestibules, and entrances in the Royal Archives," said the elf. "Would you care to examine it?"

"Immediately," Mendanbar replied. "I might have known you'd have a list somewhere with the right information, Willin. I should have asked you at once."

The elf bowed deeply, looking very pleased. "I shall bring it without delay, Your Majesty," he said, and whisked off down the corridor.

"Hey!" cried Crown Prince Jorillam. "Are you going to fight the wizards? Can I come?"

"Yes, we are, and no, you can't," Mendanbar told him. "You're going to be locked in the dungeon, remember?"

"But a fight with wizards is much more interesting than being locked in a dungeon," Jorillam complained. "I want to watch."

"Maybe so," Cimorene said. "But that's how it is with dungeons. You aren't supposed to get a choice about whether you're going to be locked up in one, you know."

This was evidently a new idea for the young prince, and he did not look happy about it. "But-" "But, nothing," Mendanbar said. "I'm the King, and I say you go to the dungeon instead of fighting wizards, and no argument."

"Yes," said Morwen. "We have much more important things to argue about. Such as how to get rid of the wizards once we find them."

"Buckets," said Cimorene. "Lots of buckets, and soap, and lemon juice.

Where do you keep your buckets, Mendanbar?"

"Around somewhere," Mendanbar said vaguely. "I'll have someone bring us a few. Can the three of us carry enough buckets to get rid of all the wizards?"

"Four of us," said Morwen. The cats yowled. "Yes, I know, and of course you're coming, but you can't carry a bucket of soapy water, so for purposes of this discussion it doesn't matter," she told them.

The cats gave her an affronted look, turned their backs, and began making indignant little noises at each other.

"It seems probable that the wizards will be present in force," Telemain said. "They were certainly aware of Prince Rupert's appearance among them this morning, and they may well have detected your unsuccessful locating spell, Mendanbar. Consequently, I would wager that there will be far too many to dispose of by means of your, er, interesting methods, Princess Cimorene."

"We'll bring some buckets along anyway," Mendanbar said. "It can't hurt."

He nodded a summons to the blank-faced footman by the front door.

The footman came over at once, and Mendanbar told him to bring half a dozen buckets of soapy water mixed with lemon juice out to the entrance hall immediately. The footman, who had worked at the palace for a long time and was used to peculiar requests, bowed impassively and departed.

"Any other ideas?" Mendanbar asked.

"Can't the witch turn them into toads?" said the Crown Prince.

"I certainly don't object to trying," Morwen said.

Cimorene shook her head. "I don't think it would work. The Society of Wizards has some new spell that soaks up magic. That's what makes the bare spots in the Enchanted Forest."

"I still wish I understood why the Society of Wizards is doing all this," Mendanbar said, half to himself. "I suppose it makes sense to try and blame the dragons for burning bits of the Enchanted Forest, but they've been deliberately trying to start a war. That would make almost as much trouble for them as for everyone else."

"Ah, well, but would it?" put in Prince Rupert timidly. "I mean, if these wizards are soaking up magic, they must want it for something."

Cimorene, Morwen, Mendanbar, and Telemain stared at one another in dismay. "Yes, what are they using it for?" Cimorene said after a long, thoughtful silence.

"In all probability, to intensify their general enchantments," Telemain said. "Alternatively, to enable themselves to achieve something more substantial than would otherwise be possible."

Prince Rupert looked at the magician blankly. "Oh," he said in a doubtful tone.

"Don't mind him," Morwen said. "He always gets technical when he's talking about spells."

"But what did he mean?" the prince asked.

"He meant that the Society of Wizards wants more magic to power their spells," Mendanbar replied. "Or maybe to use in a spell that would be too big for them to work without it."

"Yes, and that is an idea I don't care for at all," said Morwen, frowning.

"The Society of Wizards is too powerful already, if you ask me."

"You know, if the dragons start fighting with the Enchanted Forest, any new wasted areas would be blamed on the war," Telemain commented.

"The Society of Wizards could absorb considerable quantities of magic before anyone realizes what they are up to."

"That would explain why they're doing this, all right," Mendanbar said. "We have got to stop them." Without thinking, he put his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Mendanbar!" said Cimorene suddenly. "Didn't that wizard say something about you reversing his spell? Not Antorell, the wizard at Jack's house.

And you were using the sword. Maybe it can reverse this spell, too."

"It's worth trying," Mendanbar said.

"Not until we have a better idea of exactly what we're up against," Morwen said firmly. "If the King of the Enchanted Forest gets killed trying to rescue the King of the Dragons from the Society of Wizards, goodness only knows what will happen."

"We'll sneak in and take a look around," Telemain agreed. "Then we can formulate a plan of action."

"As long as it doesn't take too long," Cimorene muttered. "This isn't some kind of experiment, where we can take our time and try again. If those wizards figure out that someone is trying to rescue Kazul . .."

Mendanbar tried to smile reassuringly at her. "I don't see how they-ah, Willin! Did you find that list? Good! Then let's all go into the parlor and look at it. The sooner we're done, the sooner we can be on our way."

Willin's list was remarkably clear and well organized. Once they found the section headed "Caves and Caverns Near the Mountains of Morning," it was only a matter of a few minutes before they discovered the listing for the Cave of Stone Icicles, the only cave at the western end of the Pass of the Dragons. As Mendanbar had predicted, there was a back way into it. A tunnel started from the bottom of the Crystal Falls and wound around under the hills and forest until it reached a crack at the rear of the cave.

"This doesn't look as if it will be hard at all," Cimorene said.

"Let's go."

"Right," said Mendanbar. "This shouldn't take long. I'll be back in an hour or so. Willin, take care of everyone while I'm gone-you know, refreshments and things."