Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

sounds cranky,” Fiddlesticks said to Jasmine. “Do you think she’ll turn him into a toad after all?”
    Before anyone could answer, there was a loud
thwump
from the other side of the house. Fiddlesticks fell off the window ledge, and all of the rest of the cats except Jasmine jumped. The moment he landed, Trouble leapt for the back door with an angry growl, Chaos and Murgatroyd close behind.
    â€œWait for me!” Fiddlesticks yelled, scrambling to his feet. “Wait—”
    â€œ
Morwen!
” The shout came from the front yard as Morwen rose unhurriedly to her feet.
    â€œThat sounds like Kazul,” Scorn said.
    â€œI suspect it is,” Morwen said. “Come along, Scorn. It’s time to leave.”

9
In Which the Expedition Leaves the Enchanted Forest at Last
    T HE REST OF THE CATS , even Jasmine, followed Morwen and Scorn through the house and out onto the front porch. Kazul was standing in the center of the yard, along with Telemain and Killer. The donkey was still floating a good six inches above the ground, and he looked extremely uncomfortable. Standing beside him was Mendanbar, who was frowning ferociously, and Cimorene, who seemed to be trying to suppress a satisfied smile. With some dismay, Morwen noted that Cimorene now had a small pack slung over one shoulder and a slim sword belted to her waist.
    The cats flowed across the yard and converged on Kazul. Making little noises of satisfaction, all nine of the cats scrambled up the dragon’s sides. Their claws rasped against Kazul’s scales, making Cimorene wince, but neither they nor the dragon seemed to notice.
    Morwen looked at Telemain while the cats draped themselves contentedly all over Kazul. “I thought you were going to explain to him why he couldn’t come along,” she said, nodding sideways at Mendanbar.
    â€œI did,” Telemain said grumpily.
    â€œThen what is he doing here?”
    â€œMaking trouble?” Scorn suggested from a comfortable perch on Kazul’s left shoulder.
    â€œHe’d better not be,” Trouble said. “That’s my job.” He stretched himself full length along the lower part of Kazul’s neck, beside her spinal ridges, his tail and one front paw dangling lazily.
    â€œI’m taking you to the edge of the Enchanted Forest,” Mendanbar said. “I can do that much, at least, even if I can’t come with you. My magic will get you there faster than anything else, and you’ll be safe from most of the things that live in the forest if you’re with me.”
    â€œI see.” That explained Telemain’s bad mood: he hated having to admit that anyone’s magic was better than his, even the King’s. Morwen looked at Cimorene. “What about you?”
    â€œI’m coming with you,” Cimorene said. Mendanbar scowled fiercely as if he wanted to object, but before he could, Cimorene hurried on, “I
have
to. Otherwise you’ll have as much difficulty with the sword as I hope those blasted wizards are having right now.”
    Kazul snorted angrily, sending out a large ball of smoke, which made everyone in front of her cough. “If they aren’t having trouble now, they will soon.”
    Morwen gave Kazul a stern look over the tops of her glasses. “We are going on this expedition to recover Mendanbar’s sword, Kazul. We aren’t trying to destroy the entire Society of Wizards.”
    â€œYet,” said Trouble.
    â€œYou be quiet, or I’ll leave you at home,” Morwen said. “Now, would someone explain to me just
why
Cim­orene has to come along?”
    â€œResonance and half-hard deflection mechanisms,” Telemain said. “Which are—”
    â€œâ€”as clear as mud,” Kazul put in.
    Telemain looked annoyed. “I wasn’t talking to you. Morwen understands what I mean.”
    â€œMost of the time,” Morwen said.
    â€œI think he means that