magic has changed even the trees themselves. But you need not fear the magical beings, for they will see you as an animal and therefore one who belongs. Still, you would not make it through without me, for your indiscretions will soon attract the attention of predators. Without my protection, your journey is doomed before you begin."
Great! I thought. Even the snake is a critic! I swallowed past the lump in my throat and tried my best to look brave. "So you're not going to eat us?"
"I do not eat creatures who have helped me. You freed me from a cage so small I feared I would soon go insane. I owe you far more than I can repay by a simple trip through the forest. No, I swear upon my honor as a snake that I shall not eat you." Fang dipped his head to me in a gesture both elegant and noble.
It was up to me to set an example. I resolved not to let anyone see either my fear or the revulsion I felt at being around a snake.
"Does that include my companions, too?"
"Of course. I will—"
"Snake! Snake!" shrieked Li'l, flitting back and forth just above our heads. "Look out, frogs! That's Fang and he's going to get you! What can I do? What can I do?"
The poor bat was frantic and I began to worry that she might injure herself in her frenzy. Apparently, I wasn't the only one concerned, but the snake was more disapproving of the commotion than he was worried about her well-being.
"Would you be so kind as to do something about Li'l?" Fang said in a voice that made my skin crawl. "She's drawing too much attention to us. If you don't stop her immediately, I shall."
I couldn't watch my friend risk her life, but trusting a snake went against all my instincts. Setting aside my misgivings, I waved my arms frantically above my head and shouted as loudly as I could. "Li'l! No! He's a friend!" I hoped it was the truth.
Li'l veered away in midflight and landed on the ground behind Eadric. "Has Emma lost her mind?" she whispered. "How could any snake be her friend?"
"Fang said he owes her a debt, so he's going with us. He promises not to eat us."
"Are you sure he can be trusted? He was always very polite, but he never seemed to want to be anyone's friend. How do we know this isn't a trick? From what I've heard, snakes are pretty sneaky characters."
"What do you suggest we do about it?" whispered Eadric. "He's bigger than the rest of us put together. I don't think it would do any good to tell him not to come."
"Maybe," said Li'l, "but we can keep an eye on him. We'll take turns watching him tonight. I'll take first watch."
"You won't need to wake me when it's my turn," said Eadric. "I won't be able to sleep with him around anyway."
"What are you two talking about?" I asked, although I'd already heard their conversation and feared that Fang had as well. I hopped closer to my friends while Fang raised his head and stared at them through slitted eyes.
"Nothing," said Li'l in a tiny voice as she noticed Fang watching her. She crouched down to hide behind Eadric until all I could see were the tips of her wings. "I was about to show Eadric my twine. It's my only possession and I couldn't leave it behind."
"You risked your life for a piece of twine?" I exclaimed.
Li'l peeked out from behind Eadric. "That wasn't the only reason I stayed. I moved the book so Vannabe wouldn't know what we'd done. Anyway, the string will be really useful. We can tie the dragon's breath to someone's back with it. Here," she said, handing it to Eadric.
Eadric examined the coarse brown string, turning it over in his hands. "Fine. Tie it to my back. At least that way my arms won't get tired anymore."
"If you have finished your conversation, may I suggest that we move on?" hissed Fang. "You are wasting daylight hours."
At the sound of Fang's voice, Li'l ducked down behind Eadric again. "I saw the castle. I can show you how to get there," she whispered.
"That would be a big help," I said, trying to be encouraging.
"Uh, Fang," said Eadric, "I'd feel a lot more
Great! I thought. Even the snake is a critic! I swallowed past the lump in my throat and tried my best to look brave. "So you're not going to eat us?"
"I do not eat creatures who have helped me. You freed me from a cage so small I feared I would soon go insane. I owe you far more than I can repay by a simple trip through the forest. No, I swear upon my honor as a snake that I shall not eat you." Fang dipped his head to me in a gesture both elegant and noble.
It was up to me to set an example. I resolved not to let anyone see either my fear or the revulsion I felt at being around a snake.
"Does that include my companions, too?"
"Of course. I will—"
"Snake! Snake!" shrieked Li'l, flitting back and forth just above our heads. "Look out, frogs! That's Fang and he's going to get you! What can I do? What can I do?"
The poor bat was frantic and I began to worry that she might injure herself in her frenzy. Apparently, I wasn't the only one concerned, but the snake was more disapproving of the commotion than he was worried about her well-being.
"Would you be so kind as to do something about Li'l?" Fang said in a voice that made my skin crawl. "She's drawing too much attention to us. If you don't stop her immediately, I shall."
I couldn't watch my friend risk her life, but trusting a snake went against all my instincts. Setting aside my misgivings, I waved my arms frantically above my head and shouted as loudly as I could. "Li'l! No! He's a friend!" I hoped it was the truth.
Li'l veered away in midflight and landed on the ground behind Eadric. "Has Emma lost her mind?" she whispered. "How could any snake be her friend?"
"Fang said he owes her a debt, so he's going with us. He promises not to eat us."
"Are you sure he can be trusted? He was always very polite, but he never seemed to want to be anyone's friend. How do we know this isn't a trick? From what I've heard, snakes are pretty sneaky characters."
"What do you suggest we do about it?" whispered Eadric. "He's bigger than the rest of us put together. I don't think it would do any good to tell him not to come."
"Maybe," said Li'l, "but we can keep an eye on him. We'll take turns watching him tonight. I'll take first watch."
"You won't need to wake me when it's my turn," said Eadric. "I won't be able to sleep with him around anyway."
"What are you two talking about?" I asked, although I'd already heard their conversation and feared that Fang had as well. I hopped closer to my friends while Fang raised his head and stared at them through slitted eyes.
"Nothing," said Li'l in a tiny voice as she noticed Fang watching her. She crouched down to hide behind Eadric until all I could see were the tips of her wings. "I was about to show Eadric my twine. It's my only possession and I couldn't leave it behind."
"You risked your life for a piece of twine?" I exclaimed.
Li'l peeked out from behind Eadric. "That wasn't the only reason I stayed. I moved the book so Vannabe wouldn't know what we'd done. Anyway, the string will be really useful. We can tie the dragon's breath to someone's back with it. Here," she said, handing it to Eadric.
Eadric examined the coarse brown string, turning it over in his hands. "Fine. Tie it to my back. At least that way my arms won't get tired anymore."
"If you have finished your conversation, may I suggest that we move on?" hissed Fang. "You are wasting daylight hours."
At the sound of Fang's voice, Li'l ducked down behind Eadric again. "I saw the castle. I can show you how to get there," she whispered.
"That would be a big help," I said, trying to be encouraging.
"Uh, Fang," said Eadric, "I'd feel a lot more
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