Read Online In Deep Dark Wood by Marita Conlon-Mckenna - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marita Conlon-Mckenna
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‘I will show you the courtyards!’
Mia and Trig followed her.
A whole series of courtyards encircled the outside of the castle. Some were open, others were covered by what looked like a mesh of heavy fishing nets.
‘These are the training yards.’
Trig sniffed, as if he sensed that this was something that concerned him.
‘We work under the nets at first and then later on out in the open. Each dragon is different and will have a training schedule of its own, although there will be group lessons too. You will learn, child!’ said the dragon woman, squeezing Mia’shand. Bella looked tired. The journey had drained all the colour from her face and even her voice sounded weary.
‘Let us go and say good morning to the dragons. They should be well rested after their journey by now.’
Some dragons lay sleeping in the sunlight, others sat, snouts pressed anxiously against the iron bars of the pens.
‘Trig, this is where you were meant to sleep,’ said Bella crossly, and ordered him inside, lifting the iron hatch. Mia could not believe how obedient Trig was – he did exactly what
Bella told him. ‘Remember, Mia, Trig is not a pet!’ Bella greeted each of the young dragons in turn, and Mia found herself hunkering down beside them, tickling one under the chin, rubbing the tummy of another, patting a shoulder and a forehead, Trig eyeing her jealously all the while. Bella watched her approvingly.
‘I knew it, child! You were born to handle dragons. They like you and it is clear that you like them. It does my old heart good to see it. Come! We must go inside and prepare some food for them. They will also need fresh water.’
The kitchen seemed miles away. It had high, barred windows that looked out across a magnificent silvery blue lake, which formed a natural moat that surrounded the castle.
‘Put that on, child! It will protect your clothes!’ Bella said, tossing her an apron.
Despite her age, Bella moved quickly about the kitchen, pulling out pots and pans and filling them with all kinds of strange ingredients. Mia had to fetch food from the shelved pantry and from the cold room, which made her teeth chattereach time she went. Bella barked orders, ‘Cut this! ‘Chop that!’ ‘Peel this!’and Mia did as she was bid, watching steam rise from large, bubbling pots.
‘Dragons are finicky creatures, picky eaters at the best of times,’ complained Bella.’ ‘They need lots of nourishment to build up their strength.’
A strange, sour smell drifted from some of the pots, and when Mia stirred them it made her feel queasy. Yuck!
‘I’ve sent Gwenda to get some provisions for us. We will eat later.’ Bella didn’t explain who Gwenda was and Mia was afraid to ask.
The dragons gobbled up the prepared food, licking their dishes and searching for more. Only Trig left his breakfast half-finished, staring at Mia with mournful eyes.
Bella set Mia to sweeping the floor and scrubbing the big kitchen table. She worked till her arms ached and her hands were covered with big blisters. There was just so much to be done. There was probably an army of servants and maids working in the castle in times gone by, she thought, no wonder it had fallen to such decay now.
‘So, she’s set you to work already, my girl!’
Mia looked up in surprise to see a broad, hefty young woman push in the kitchen door. ‘Give me a hand, will you?’
Mia couldn’t help staring at the strong face and the high, pointed eyebrows and funny turned-up nose of this strange girl. The girl threw her packages on the table and removed her heavy, green cloak. She grabbed an apron from a hook on the wall and pulled it on over her head.
‘I do hate haggling and bartering, it always gives me a headache. Still, I reckon I got most of what the old one wants.’
Mia sat open-mouthed, unsure of what to say.
‘I’d shut that mouth if I were you, my girl, or you might swallow a flying flea. The castle’s full of them!’
‘Sorry,’ Mia
Mia and Trig followed her.
A whole series of courtyards encircled the outside of the castle. Some were open, others were covered by what looked like a mesh of heavy fishing nets.
‘These are the training yards.’
Trig sniffed, as if he sensed that this was something that concerned him.
‘We work under the nets at first and then later on out in the open. Each dragon is different and will have a training schedule of its own, although there will be group lessons too. You will learn, child!’ said the dragon woman, squeezing Mia’shand. Bella looked tired. The journey had drained all the colour from her face and even her voice sounded weary.
‘Let us go and say good morning to the dragons. They should be well rested after their journey by now.’
Some dragons lay sleeping in the sunlight, others sat, snouts pressed anxiously against the iron bars of the pens.
‘Trig, this is where you were meant to sleep,’ said Bella crossly, and ordered him inside, lifting the iron hatch. Mia could not believe how obedient Trig was – he did exactly what
Bella told him. ‘Remember, Mia, Trig is not a pet!’ Bella greeted each of the young dragons in turn, and Mia found herself hunkering down beside them, tickling one under the chin, rubbing the tummy of another, patting a shoulder and a forehead, Trig eyeing her jealously all the while. Bella watched her approvingly.
‘I knew it, child! You were born to handle dragons. They like you and it is clear that you like them. It does my old heart good to see it. Come! We must go inside and prepare some food for them. They will also need fresh water.’
The kitchen seemed miles away. It had high, barred windows that looked out across a magnificent silvery blue lake, which formed a natural moat that surrounded the castle.
‘Put that on, child! It will protect your clothes!’ Bella said, tossing her an apron.
Despite her age, Bella moved quickly about the kitchen, pulling out pots and pans and filling them with all kinds of strange ingredients. Mia had to fetch food from the shelved pantry and from the cold room, which made her teeth chattereach time she went. Bella barked orders, ‘Cut this! ‘Chop that!’ ‘Peel this!’and Mia did as she was bid, watching steam rise from large, bubbling pots.
‘Dragons are finicky creatures, picky eaters at the best of times,’ complained Bella.’ ‘They need lots of nourishment to build up their strength.’
A strange, sour smell drifted from some of the pots, and when Mia stirred them it made her feel queasy. Yuck!
‘I’ve sent Gwenda to get some provisions for us. We will eat later.’ Bella didn’t explain who Gwenda was and Mia was afraid to ask.
The dragons gobbled up the prepared food, licking their dishes and searching for more. Only Trig left his breakfast half-finished, staring at Mia with mournful eyes.
Bella set Mia to sweeping the floor and scrubbing the big kitchen table. She worked till her arms ached and her hands were covered with big blisters. There was just so much to be done. There was probably an army of servants and maids working in the castle in times gone by, she thought, no wonder it had fallen to such decay now.
‘So, she’s set you to work already, my girl!’
Mia looked up in surprise to see a broad, hefty young woman push in the kitchen door. ‘Give me a hand, will you?’
Mia couldn’t help staring at the strong face and the high, pointed eyebrows and funny turned-up nose of this strange girl. The girl threw her packages on the table and removed her heavy, green cloak. She grabbed an apron from a hook on the wall and pulled it on over her head.
‘I do hate haggling and bartering, it always gives me a headache. Still, I reckon I got most of what the old one wants.’
Mia sat open-mouthed, unsure of what to say.
‘I’d shut that mouth if I were you, my girl, or you might swallow a flying flea. The castle’s full of them!’
‘Sorry,’ Mia
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