me. It wasn't so much the way she treated me as the knowledge that this girl was my ancestor. I'd always wanted to believe that my ancestors were better people than they probably really were.
After talking to Hazel, I needed to see a friendly face. Millie was still busy with her mother and I couldn't find Eadric anywhere, so I decided to go outside to visit Li'l. Except for the droning of the bees, the maze was quiet when I reached it. Li'l didn't come right away when I called her, and I was beginning to wonder if something had happened to her when she finally showed up.
Landing on a full-blown rose that bent double under her weight, Li'l opened her mouth to yawn, then said, "What's up?"
"I'm sorry I woke you. I wanted to know about your night. You said you might go exploring."
The little bat shifted her feet like she does when she's excited. "It was great! I went to the forest. It's bigger now than in our time. There are fewer farms between here and there and a lot more places for a bat to live. Lots of bugs, too. I was chasing a firefly when I met him."
"You met a bug?"
"Course not! Just the handsomest bat I've ever seen. He was chasing the same firefly, but he let me have it. A real gentlebat, that's what he was. I wish you could meet him. You'd like him; I'm sure of it."
I had to smile. "A gentlebat, you say. How nice."
"He showed me around. We saw the waterfall where the wood nymphs wash their hair and the ring where the fairies dance. We missed the early show, and the musicians were taking a break when we got there, so we waited for them to come back. The dancers were so graceful and light on their feet."
"They have wings, don't they?"
"That's true. Anyway I didn't get back until it was almost dawn. Bugsy brought me home."
"Bugsy?"
Li'l ducked her head as if she was embarrassed. "That's what I called him and he didn't seem to mind. He's so good at catching bugs."
"Hmm," I said, watching my little friend preen her wings, something I'd never seen her do before. "Do you think you'll see him again?"
Li'l bobbed her head. "He's coming back tonight. We're watching the unicorn races in the Silver Glade and going out for beetles afterward."
"Then you'd better get your rest," I said. "It sounds like you're going to need it."
It was still early, so I went for a walk around the castle, admiring the variety of flowers that grew at the edge of the moat. After a while I heard the distant clang of metal on metal. The sound grew louder as I approached the practice field where the princes were showing their sword-fighting techniques to a group of squires not much younger than themselves. Jasper was correcting a squire's stance when he looked up and saw me. He smiled and waved before turning back to his pupil.
I noticed Eadric at the same time that he noticed me. Excusing himself from his companions, he joined me in my walk. "Millie wants to know more about the princes," I said. "It would help if you could keep your eyes and ears open and find out what you can."
Eadric laughed. "That won't be a problem. You learn a lot about people when there are six of you crowded into one little room. I already know who snores and who doesn't like to wash. And Garrid must be having some sort of intestinal trouble."
"You mean you've met him?"
Eadric nodded. "He came in late last night and left the room a short time later. We were all asleep, but my pallet is so close to the door it wakes me every time someone leaves the room. Poor guy didn't come back until it was almost dawn."
"Maybe it was something he ate," I said.
"Maybe," said Eadric. "Say, you should see some of the birthday gifts the princes have brought for Hazel. Jasper has this cup...."
"I forgot about the gift! We have to get her one!"
"At the magic marketplace?" asked Eadric.
"We don't have time for that. We'll have to make it."
Eadric rubbed his jaw. "I suppose I could find some wood and carve a buckle...."
"Never mind," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'll think of
After talking to Hazel, I needed to see a friendly face. Millie was still busy with her mother and I couldn't find Eadric anywhere, so I decided to go outside to visit Li'l. Except for the droning of the bees, the maze was quiet when I reached it. Li'l didn't come right away when I called her, and I was beginning to wonder if something had happened to her when she finally showed up.
Landing on a full-blown rose that bent double under her weight, Li'l opened her mouth to yawn, then said, "What's up?"
"I'm sorry I woke you. I wanted to know about your night. You said you might go exploring."
The little bat shifted her feet like she does when she's excited. "It was great! I went to the forest. It's bigger now than in our time. There are fewer farms between here and there and a lot more places for a bat to live. Lots of bugs, too. I was chasing a firefly when I met him."
"You met a bug?"
"Course not! Just the handsomest bat I've ever seen. He was chasing the same firefly, but he let me have it. A real gentlebat, that's what he was. I wish you could meet him. You'd like him; I'm sure of it."
I had to smile. "A gentlebat, you say. How nice."
"He showed me around. We saw the waterfall where the wood nymphs wash their hair and the ring where the fairies dance. We missed the early show, and the musicians were taking a break when we got there, so we waited for them to come back. The dancers were so graceful and light on their feet."
"They have wings, don't they?"
"That's true. Anyway I didn't get back until it was almost dawn. Bugsy brought me home."
"Bugsy?"
Li'l ducked her head as if she was embarrassed. "That's what I called him and he didn't seem to mind. He's so good at catching bugs."
"Hmm," I said, watching my little friend preen her wings, something I'd never seen her do before. "Do you think you'll see him again?"
Li'l bobbed her head. "He's coming back tonight. We're watching the unicorn races in the Silver Glade and going out for beetles afterward."
"Then you'd better get your rest," I said. "It sounds like you're going to need it."
It was still early, so I went for a walk around the castle, admiring the variety of flowers that grew at the edge of the moat. After a while I heard the distant clang of metal on metal. The sound grew louder as I approached the practice field where the princes were showing their sword-fighting techniques to a group of squires not much younger than themselves. Jasper was correcting a squire's stance when he looked up and saw me. He smiled and waved before turning back to his pupil.
I noticed Eadric at the same time that he noticed me. Excusing himself from his companions, he joined me in my walk. "Millie wants to know more about the princes," I said. "It would help if you could keep your eyes and ears open and find out what you can."
Eadric laughed. "That won't be a problem. You learn a lot about people when there are six of you crowded into one little room. I already know who snores and who doesn't like to wash. And Garrid must be having some sort of intestinal trouble."
"You mean you've met him?"
Eadric nodded. "He came in late last night and left the room a short time later. We were all asleep, but my pallet is so close to the door it wakes me every time someone leaves the room. Poor guy didn't come back until it was almost dawn."
"Maybe it was something he ate," I said.
"Maybe," said Eadric. "Say, you should see some of the birthday gifts the princes have brought for Hazel. Jasper has this cup...."
"I forgot about the gift! We have to get her one!"
"At the magic marketplace?" asked Eadric.
"We don't have time for that. We'll have to make it."
Eadric rubbed his jaw. "I suppose I could find some wood and carve a buckle...."
"Never mind," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'll think of
Similar Books
