Read Online Earth's Magic by Pamela F. Service - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Pamela F. Service
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If things are as bad as Merlin says, we will need all the help we can get, natural and supernatural.”
“That’s all very well and good,” one of the younger officers said. “But I’d as soon count on our mortal allies first, and how do you suggest they be ready for this battle whenever and wherever it takes place? If we’re talking a few years, then we could all be ready, but what if it’s a few months?”
“We’ll need to send riders out right away to alert the shires to be ready,” Natalie, the King’s chief horse trainer, offered. “The shires will need to put on extra training efforts too.”
“Will there be time for that?” Queen Margaret asked.
Arthur frowned. “Perhaps not. But there may be another solution.” He turned to the far side of the room. “Welly, you and Takata, among others, have been doing wonders training our troops. I could send you as a team to the other shires to alert them and help whip their troops into readiness.”
Welly grinned, but Takata shook her head. “Like the Queen said, is there time for all that riding? This is a pretty big country you have here.”
“I had something faster than horses in mind,” the King said. “Merlin, do you think Blanche would take the assignment?”
Merlin laughed. “In a wingflap. She’s a young dragon and still longs for adventure. She’s ornery, though, and will protest just out of habit. But if the Pendragon asks her politely …”
Arthur groaned, then nodded. “Right. I’ll ask her, if you can manage to get her here. In the meantime, we must step up our preparations to depart. I’d like to be under way in three days. Judging by Brendon’s news, Manchester should be our first goal.”
The discussion continued on routes and tactics while Merlin resumed his seat. In moments, Troll was tugging at his sleeve. “When Royal Emissary go?”
Merlin looked into the sincere wrinkled face, its ears flapping with eagerness. “Right away. This is an important assignment. You need to find out how much they know about the coming conflict and how much help we can expect from them. And, Troll, there is something very particular I need you to find out, which I didn’t have a chance to ask … earlier. We need to know where this battle, the one in Britain, is to take place so that Arthur can have his troops there. And the timing too. We need to know
when
and
where
it’s going to happen. Have you got all that?”
“Yes, Great Wizard. Troll find out everything!”
Just when it looked as if the little creature couldn’t get any prouder, they saw that Margaret had come to stand beside him. “If you are to be a true Royal Emissary,” she said, looking down at him, “you need a badge of office. I, Queen of Britain, award you this.”
Taking off a necklace, she lowered it solemnly over his head. At the end of a brass chain, its metal starburst sparkled with pre-Devastation glass diamonds. Merlin knew it was one of the many treasures Margaret and Arthur had been given as wedding presents, treasures which Margaret was perpetually trying to give away. But as Troll looked down at the glittering pendant lying on the sparse yellow hairs of his chest, his proud grin stretched from ear to large ear.
Before the council had quite concluded, Merlin slipped out to the courtyard. Dusk was falling. Above the roofs of Keswick and the fragrant wisps of cooking smoke, he could just see the spangle of the comet’s tail. It was a beautiful early spring evening, but he felt the burdens piling onto his shoulders as if they were solid things.
Suddenly the feeling became extra-solid as Sil landed on his shoulder after leaping from the roof above. Merlin staggered and snapped, “Aren’t you getting a bit large for that?” The dragonletshad all noticeably grown even in this short time. They were now nearly as big as Rus.
“Learning to fly!” the silver dragon piped.
Smiling despite himself, Merlin reached up and scratched behind Sil’s tiny horns.
“That’s all very well and good,” one of the younger officers said. “But I’d as soon count on our mortal allies first, and how do you suggest they be ready for this battle whenever and wherever it takes place? If we’re talking a few years, then we could all be ready, but what if it’s a few months?”
“We’ll need to send riders out right away to alert the shires to be ready,” Natalie, the King’s chief horse trainer, offered. “The shires will need to put on extra training efforts too.”
“Will there be time for that?” Queen Margaret asked.
Arthur frowned. “Perhaps not. But there may be another solution.” He turned to the far side of the room. “Welly, you and Takata, among others, have been doing wonders training our troops. I could send you as a team to the other shires to alert them and help whip their troops into readiness.”
Welly grinned, but Takata shook her head. “Like the Queen said, is there time for all that riding? This is a pretty big country you have here.”
“I had something faster than horses in mind,” the King said. “Merlin, do you think Blanche would take the assignment?”
Merlin laughed. “In a wingflap. She’s a young dragon and still longs for adventure. She’s ornery, though, and will protest just out of habit. But if the Pendragon asks her politely …”
Arthur groaned, then nodded. “Right. I’ll ask her, if you can manage to get her here. In the meantime, we must step up our preparations to depart. I’d like to be under way in three days. Judging by Brendon’s news, Manchester should be our first goal.”
The discussion continued on routes and tactics while Merlin resumed his seat. In moments, Troll was tugging at his sleeve. “When Royal Emissary go?”
Merlin looked into the sincere wrinkled face, its ears flapping with eagerness. “Right away. This is an important assignment. You need to find out how much they know about the coming conflict and how much help we can expect from them. And, Troll, there is something very particular I need you to find out, which I didn’t have a chance to ask … earlier. We need to know where this battle, the one in Britain, is to take place so that Arthur can have his troops there. And the timing too. We need to know
when
and
where
it’s going to happen. Have you got all that?”
“Yes, Great Wizard. Troll find out everything!”
Just when it looked as if the little creature couldn’t get any prouder, they saw that Margaret had come to stand beside him. “If you are to be a true Royal Emissary,” she said, looking down at him, “you need a badge of office. I, Queen of Britain, award you this.”
Taking off a necklace, she lowered it solemnly over his head. At the end of a brass chain, its metal starburst sparkled with pre-Devastation glass diamonds. Merlin knew it was one of the many treasures Margaret and Arthur had been given as wedding presents, treasures which Margaret was perpetually trying to give away. But as Troll looked down at the glittering pendant lying on the sparse yellow hairs of his chest, his proud grin stretched from ear to large ear.
Before the council had quite concluded, Merlin slipped out to the courtyard. Dusk was falling. Above the roofs of Keswick and the fragrant wisps of cooking smoke, he could just see the spangle of the comet’s tail. It was a beautiful early spring evening, but he felt the burdens piling onto his shoulders as if they were solid things.
Suddenly the feeling became extra-solid as Sil landed on his shoulder after leaping from the roof above. Merlin staggered and snapped, “Aren’t you getting a bit large for that?” The dragonletshad all noticeably grown even in this short time. They were now nearly as big as Rus.
“Learning to fly!” the silver dragon piped.
Smiling despite himself, Merlin reached up and scratched behind Sil’s tiny horns.
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