Read Online Wrede, Patricia C - Enchanted Forest 01 by Dealing, Dragons - Free Book Online Page A

don’t like being a dragon’s princess, why don’t you escape?” Cimorene asked, remembering that Kazul had said that three princesses in a row had run away from the yellow-green dragon, Moranz.
    Keredwel and Hallanna looked shocked. “Without being rescued?” Hallanna faltered. “Walk all that way, with dragons and trolls and goodness knows what else hiding in the rocks, ready to eat me? Oh, I couldn’t! ”
    “It isn’t done,” Keredwel said coldly. “And I notice that you haven’t tried it.”
    “But I’m enjoying being Kazul’s princess,” Cimorene said cheerfully. “I suppose I might have been upset if I’d been carried off the way you were, but I can hardly complain as it is, can I?”
    Alianora leaned forward. “Then you really did volunteer to be Kazul’s princess?”
    Keredwel and Hallanna turned and stared at their companion. “ Where did you get that ridiculous idea, Alianora?” Hallanna said.
    “W-Woraug said—” Alianora faltered.
    “You must have misunderstood,” Keredwel said severely. “ No one volunteers to be a dragon’s princess. It isn’t done. ”
    “Actually, Alianora’s quite right,” Cimorene said as she set the teacups in front of her visitors. “I did volunteer.” She smiled sweetly at the thunderstruck expressions on the faces of the first two princesses. “I got tired of embroidery and etiquette.”
    Keredwel and Hallanna seemed unsure of how to take this announcement, so they made polite conversation about the tea and asked Cimorene questions about the current fashions. Alianora didn’t say very much, and the few times she tried either Keredwel or Hallanna jumped on her. Cimorene felt rather sorry for Alianora.
    The princesses swept off at last, still somewhat puzzled by Cimorene’s attitude. Cimorene gave a sigh of relief and set about cleaning up the kitchen. She was just rinsing the last of the cups when she heard someone hesitantly clearing her throat behind her. Cimorene turned and saw Alianora standing timidly in the doorway.
    “Hello again,” Cimorene said. “Did you forget something?”
    “Not exactly,” Alianora said. “I mean, I told Keredwel I did, but actually I just wanted to get away from them for a while. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “I don’t mind at all as long as you don’t expect more hospitality,” Cimorene assured her. “I have to get back to work on the library.”
    “What are you doing?” Alianora asked. She seemed really interested, so Cimorene explained about the fireproofing spell.
    “It sounds like a wonderful idea,” Alianora said when Cimorene finished. “The dragons are careful around us, but it would be nice not to have to depend on them not to lose their tempers.” She hesitated. “May I help?”
    “I don’t think Kazul would mind,” Cimorene said. “But you’d better change clothes first. The library isn’t very clean, I’m afraid.”
    Alianora looked down at her silk gown, which was embroidered heavily with silver and pearls, and giggled. Cimorene took her into the bedroom and found a plain, serviceable cleaning dress in the magic wardrobe. It took two tries before the wardrobe figured out that she wanted a dress for someone else, but once it caught on, it provided a splendid selection in Alianora’s size. Then they went to the library and got to work.
    *           *           *
    Cleaning was much more enjoyable with Alianora for company. By the time they finished dusting and straightening the last bookcases, the two girls were fast friends, and Alianora was comfortable enough to ask Cimorene straight out how it was that she had come to volunteer for a dragon.
    “It’s a long story,” Cimorene said, but Alianora insisted on hearing it. So Cimorene told her and then asked how Alianora had happened to be carried off by Woraug.
    To her surprise, Alianora flushed. “I think it was the only thing left that they could think of,” she said, not very clearly. “My family, I