Read Online Castle Kidnapped by John Dechancie - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John Dechancie
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It'll take time, but we'll locate him."
âYou're so kind to help, Trent."
âGlad to. I rather like Gene, myself. A good kid, handy with a sword."
Sheila rose. âWe've taken enough of your time."
Trent threw out his arms expansively. âI have all the time in the world. In semiretirement, you know. Out to pasture."
âYou don't look your age, whatever that is."
âI'll never tell. But thanks for saying it. We old codgers need all the compliments we can wheedle out of pretty young ladies."
Sheila blushed again. âAnyway, thanks for your time."
âCertainly. And I'll let you know as soon as I come up with a locator spell. It shouldn't take long to design, but getting the bugs out of the thing is going to be the real problem."
Trent escorted Sheila and Snowclaw back to the dining room, where the upright rectangle of the portal stood. Trent had summoned it, detaching the Earth end from its Pennsylvania mooring and anchoring it here, inside Trent's sumptuous Long Island estate.
âGood thing you picked today to come,â Trent said. âMy housekeeper's day off. Otherwise you would've had to travel here the old-fashioned way. I'm afraid she wouldn't have understood having magic casements in the dining room."
âThis is the only way to travel,â Snowclaw said, then changed expressions. He sniffed the air. âHey, what's that smell?"
Trent said, âSmell?"
âYeah, something mighty good in here.â Snowy bent and sniffed the huge oak dining table. âSomething that was on this table. Smell's Just like jhalnark . Now, that's a drink."
âI think you're smelling furniture polish. Linseed oil, or something. The cleaning people were here yesterday. If I'd known, I would've offered..."
Trent broke off and moved to the far wall, against which stood a long, ornately carved sideboard. He opened the bottom drawer, searched among some bottles, and came up with one. âIn fact, here's the very stuff, Hornby's furniture cleaner. Never let it be said I'm not an accommodating host. Take it with you.â He handed the bottle to Snowclaw.
Sheila squealed with laughter, and was about to add a sarcastic comment when she caught sight of someone on the castle side of the portal. It was one of the servants, a young page, although she didn't recognize him.
âYes, what is it?â she asked.
âBegging your pardon, milady, but Lord Incarnadine has returned, and he requests you see him immediately."
âGreat! C'mon, Snowy.â Sheila stepped through, but stopped suddenly and looked around.
âBe with you in a sec,â Snowclaw said as he tilted the bottle of furniture polish to his lips. He took a deep drink.
Sheila said, âHey, wait a minute. Where are we?"
Still on the Earth side, Trent edged toward the aperture. âWhat's wrong, Sheila?"
âThis isn't where the portal is usually anchored in the castle.â She took a step toward the servant. âWhat's going on?"
âI wouldn't know, milady,â the page said, backing off.
âWhat's wrong?â Sheila said, puzzled by the young man's behavior.
Trent saw the wall sliding down. He dashed through the portal.
âSheila, get back! It's a trap!"
Snowclaw dropped the bottle and leaped toward the portal, but neither he nor the prince had acted in time. The barrier slammed down, and the portal closed.
Snowclaw was stranded on Earth.
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Library
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âWow, there're a lot of books in here,â Jeremy whispered, gazing about.
âThis is a library, young man,â Osmirik said airily, but remembering his own reaction the first time he set foot in the place. He had been nothing less than astonished.
âIt's so big."
âPlease set your machine here,â Osmirik directed, having chosen a table in the middle of the main floor, near the open stacks. âIf you'll set it to working, I have some books to fetch."
Osmirik disappeared into the
âYou're so kind to help, Trent."
âGlad to. I rather like Gene, myself. A good kid, handy with a sword."
Sheila rose. âWe've taken enough of your time."
Trent threw out his arms expansively. âI have all the time in the world. In semiretirement, you know. Out to pasture."
âYou don't look your age, whatever that is."
âI'll never tell. But thanks for saying it. We old codgers need all the compliments we can wheedle out of pretty young ladies."
Sheila blushed again. âAnyway, thanks for your time."
âCertainly. And I'll let you know as soon as I come up with a locator spell. It shouldn't take long to design, but getting the bugs out of the thing is going to be the real problem."
Trent escorted Sheila and Snowclaw back to the dining room, where the upright rectangle of the portal stood. Trent had summoned it, detaching the Earth end from its Pennsylvania mooring and anchoring it here, inside Trent's sumptuous Long Island estate.
âGood thing you picked today to come,â Trent said. âMy housekeeper's day off. Otherwise you would've had to travel here the old-fashioned way. I'm afraid she wouldn't have understood having magic casements in the dining room."
âThis is the only way to travel,â Snowclaw said, then changed expressions. He sniffed the air. âHey, what's that smell?"
Trent said, âSmell?"
âYeah, something mighty good in here.â Snowy bent and sniffed the huge oak dining table. âSomething that was on this table. Smell's Just like jhalnark . Now, that's a drink."
âI think you're smelling furniture polish. Linseed oil, or something. The cleaning people were here yesterday. If I'd known, I would've offered..."
Trent broke off and moved to the far wall, against which stood a long, ornately carved sideboard. He opened the bottom drawer, searched among some bottles, and came up with one. âIn fact, here's the very stuff, Hornby's furniture cleaner. Never let it be said I'm not an accommodating host. Take it with you.â He handed the bottle to Snowclaw.
Sheila squealed with laughter, and was about to add a sarcastic comment when she caught sight of someone on the castle side of the portal. It was one of the servants, a young page, although she didn't recognize him.
âYes, what is it?â she asked.
âBegging your pardon, milady, but Lord Incarnadine has returned, and he requests you see him immediately."
âGreat! C'mon, Snowy.â Sheila stepped through, but stopped suddenly and looked around.
âBe with you in a sec,â Snowclaw said as he tilted the bottle of furniture polish to his lips. He took a deep drink.
Sheila said, âHey, wait a minute. Where are we?"
Still on the Earth side, Trent edged toward the aperture. âWhat's wrong, Sheila?"
âThis isn't where the portal is usually anchored in the castle.â She took a step toward the servant. âWhat's going on?"
âI wouldn't know, milady,â the page said, backing off.
âWhat's wrong?â Sheila said, puzzled by the young man's behavior.
Trent saw the wall sliding down. He dashed through the portal.
âSheila, get back! It's a trap!"
Snowclaw dropped the bottle and leaped toward the portal, but neither he nor the prince had acted in time. The barrier slammed down, and the portal closed.
Snowclaw was stranded on Earth.
Â
Â
Â
Library
Â
âWow, there're a lot of books in here,â Jeremy whispered, gazing about.
âThis is a library, young man,â Osmirik said airily, but remembering his own reaction the first time he set foot in the place. He had been nothing less than astonished.
âIt's so big."
âPlease set your machine here,â Osmirik directed, having chosen a table in the middle of the main floor, near the open stacks. âIf you'll set it to working, I have some books to fetch."
Osmirik disappeared into the
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