Read Online The Feline Wizard by Christopher Stasheff - Free Book Online Page B

“Not here, not here! A cow might step on you! The farmer and his sons might see you! Nay, come farther back, sweet kit, and higher, to hide!”
    So, with Lichi's gentle urging, Balkis moved up into the haymow, where Lichi tucked her in among the straw. Balkis' eyes fluttered closed, but Lichi said urgently, “The farmer has five sons. His wife died of a fever when the youngest was three years old, and without her to temper them, they have grown into a rough and coarse household indeed! Be sure you wait until they have done their chores and gone out to their day's work before you come to hunt spilled milk. Sleep now, pretty kit—sleep until night falls and the men have gone in to their suppers.” Then she stroked Balkis and crooned a lullaby that was in fact a spell, assuring that the maiden would indeed sleep.
    By nightfall Stegoman had reached the mountains that formed the southeast corner of Prester John's domain.
    “Sun's almost set,” Matt pointed out as they coasted through the air. “Time to camp.”
    “And hunt!' Stegoman said emphatically. “Flying enhances my appetite.”
    “Must be all that fresh air,” Matt opined. “That mountain-top off to the right looks nice and secure.”
    “That one that seems to be a cup among sawteeth? Aye, the sides are sheer. The mortal would be skilled indeed who could climb it.”
    “A skilled mountain climber or a skilled magician?”
    “Indeed so.” The dragon spiraled down, cupped air with his wings, then stretched his legs to touch rock, keeping his wings spread while Matt slid down. “I trust you have wood in your pack and water by your side?”
    “Yeah—charcoal and a waterskin. I thought we might be camping in some inhospitable places.” Matt took out his supplies as he spoke and began to lay a fire. “Even brought dried beef and hardtack.”
    Stegoman shuddered. “I will take my beef hot and fresh, thank you.”
    “If you can find it. If you can't, you should be able to manage dinner on a couple of bucks.”
    “Deer would be tasty,” Stegoman allowed, “but I fear I shall have to make do with mountain goats.”
    “Not very appetizing,” Matt sympathized. “As a meal, that's a sham.”
    “Or perhaps a chamois?” Stegoman licked his lips. “Well, we shall see what moves. Dine well, wizard.” He leaped up atop a tooth of rock, poised a moment, then plunged off. Matt held his breath, though he knew that the air was as natural to the dragon as to any bird. He let it out in a sigh as Stegoman rose over the peak, spiraling on a thermal, up and up to catch the last rays of the setting sun.
    Then something else caught those rays, something else winged and saurian. “Look out!' Matt shouted. “Natives!”
    Stegoman's head swiveled. He saw the other dragon and turned to face it, hovering and drawing breath, his belly expanding, ready to belch fire.
    The local was a little longer than Stegoman and more slender, scales glinting where the sun rays touched it, reddish-brown where he was dark green. Furious, it cried, “Aroint thee, worm! How dare you come within my range?”
    “I only seek a night's rest on my route south,” Stegoman returned. “If you cannot afford me that, glitterscale, you are selfish indeed.”
    “Selfish or not, these chamois are mine, and you have no right to take them without the asking!”
    “Very well, then,” Stegoman said, irked. “May I partake of your mountain goats?”
    “No!” the other dragon snapped. “Snake, get thee hence!”
    “It would take many hens indeed to make a meal for a dragon.” Stegoman's impatience increased. “I would be loath to steal an ox from the farmers nearby.”
    “Do, and they shall come hunting me! How now, crocodile! Would you give all our kind infamy?”
    Stegoman said evenly, “Till now, I had never met a dragon who feared the human folk.”
    “Fear! Do you think I fear?” The red dragon shot closer, then danced, tilting from side to side a dozen yards from Stegoman's nose.
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