Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede Page A

Mendanbar’s sword is painful to touch, unless you happen to belong to the King’s family,” Cimorene said. “And the longer it stays outside the forest, the harder it is to handle.”
    â€œThe deflection increases exponentially,” Telemain said. “Rather like the magic leakage we discussed earlier, only the defense spells won’t slow down the deflection. By this time, it is undoubtedly past the transfer-resonance point.”
    â€œSo the Society of Wizards can’t use the sword against us.” Morwen smiled grimly. “Good. I’d been wondering about that.”
    â€œUnfortunately,
you
can’t use it, either,” Cimorene said. “If Telemain is right about the timing—”
    â€œAnd I am.”
    â€œâ€”then in a day or two nobody but a member of the Royal Family will be able to pick up the sword at all, much less carry it back to the Enchanted Forest. So since Mendanbar and I are the only members of the Royal Family right now, and since Mendanbar has to stay in the forest—”
    â€œâ€”you
have
to come with us to retrieve the sword,” Morwen finished, raising an eyebrow. “I see.”
    Cimorene grinned. “Telemain explained it at least three times at the castle, and by the time he and Mendanbar finished arguing, I had a pretty good idea what he meant, even if he never did say it straight out.”
    â€œI did, too!” Telemain said indignantly. “Several times.”
    â€œNot so I understood.”
    â€œThat is unfortunately not very surprising,” Morwen said. “Mendanbar, your sword is very inconven­iently designed.”
    â€œDon’t blame
me,
” Mendanbar said. “The blasted thing came with the kingdom.”
    â€œHmph.” Morwen glanced around. “What about Killer? Why is he here?”
    Killer’s ears twitched anxiously forward. “They told me I was supposed to come. Is it all right?”
    â€œOnce we’re away from the interference patterns of the Enchanted Forest, we should be able to trace the residual energy in the morphological field trap,” Telemain said. “At that point, a standard locus delimiter should—”
    â€œTelemain,” Kazul said in a warning tone.
    Morwen rolled her eyes. “He thinks we can use what’s left of the size-changing spell on Killer to find the wizards. But are you sure there’s enough, Telemain?”
    â€œI can’t tell until we’re out of the forest,” Telemain said. “The interference—” He glanced at Kazul and stopped.
    â€œI understand,” Morwen said. “But remember: bringing him along was your idea, so you’re responsible for keeping him out of trouble.”
    â€œAnd he’d better do a good job,” Trouble said. “If that overgrown blue idiot steps on
my
tail, he’ll wish he’d never left his rabbit hole.”
    â€œI
already
wish I’d never left my hole,” Killer said. “Rabbits aren’t supposed to have adventures. Our temperaments aren’t suited to them.”
    â€œAre you people going to stand around talking all day?” Kazul asked pointedly. “Or are we going wizard hunting?”
    â€œ
Sword
hunting, Kazul, if you please,” Morwen said. “And I am ready to leave as soon as we decide which way we’re heading.”
    There was a pause while Cimorene, Telemain, and Mendanbar looked at each other. Scorn snickered. “Look at them! They didn’t even think of that.”
    â€œThe central office of the Society of Wizards is in the Brown Forest,” Telemain said at last. “We should probably start there.”
    â€œWhy waste time?” Kazul said. “The wizards wouldn’t be stupid enough to take Mendanbar’s sword to their main office.”
    â€œAntorell would,” Cimorene said.
    â€œWhere is the Brown Forest?” Killer asked timidly. “It doesn’t sound