Kedrigern in Wanderland by John Morressy Read Free Book Online Page A

sleep, and don’t wake up until you hear the command. Go, Hamarak.”
    Hamarak walked at his customary slow pace to the fireside, where he settled on a stool and leaned his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his hands and gazing drowsily into the fire. Mergith looked upon his broad, motionless back, smiled, and patted the hilt of the sword possessively.
    “And now, my dear sword, we can converse in privacy. What would you ask of me?” said Mergith.
    “I am the victim of an enchantment. My brother and sister are victims, too. Only a wizard can help us. Needless to say, you will be rewarded generously.”
    “I can see your problem. What happened to the others?”
    “William was turned into a great iron shield. And Alice dear, sweet little Alice . . . was turned into a golden
    crown.”
    Mergith’s brows rose. He nodded slowly and appreciatively. “That’s a very impressive triple enchantment. Whatever did you do to bring it upon yourselves? And at whose hands?”
    “It was the work of Vorvas the Vindictive,” said the blade coldly
    “I’ve heard of Vorvas. He was legendary for his transformation spells. He’s dead now, you know. Died about twenty years ago, in his cave.”
    “Was it painful?”
    “I should think so. Slow, too, in all likelihood.”
    “Good,” said Panstygia grimly.
    “It was also quite humiliating.”
    “Better and better. Tell me all about it.”
    “Not much to tell, really. Vorvas became rather absentminded in his last century or so. One day he turned himself into a vole for some reason, and forgot to notify his familiar of the change. His familiar was a large black cat.”
    “Serves him right. But if Vorvas died, why am I still a sword?”
    “He wasn’t called ‘Vorvas the Vindictive’ for nothing, good blade. He placed an exceptionally strong spell on you to make sure it would outlast his own life. What did you do that got him so angry?”
    The blade hesitated for a moment, then plunged ahead with her story. “When our parents died, the neighboring kingdom seized disputed lands on the western border. William and I went off to fight them—his battle name
    was Shield of the Realm, and I was called Sword of Righteousness—while Alice stayed behind to act for the crown. During a lull in the fighting, when the three of us were home together, Vorvas came to offer his magic in our cause. In return, he wanted to marry me.”
    “But you refused him.”
    “Vorvas was three hundred and eighty-nine years old at the time, and exceedingly ugly. He smelled like a dead goat. I spumed him. William threatened him. Alice denounced him. He enchanted us on the spot and carried us off with him. He even put enchantments on distant cousins who happened to be visiting us at the time. He was extremely cruel. I ended up sealed in an oak tree. I don’t know what’s become of William and Alice. Or our cousins,” the sword concluded.
    “It may be difficult to find out. You were sealed in that oak tree for a long time. Just a few months before his fatal oversight, Vorvas celebrated his five hundredth birthday.”
    “One loses track of the days when one is sealed up in a tree. But surely you can help me find the others, and free us from our enchantment,” said the blade confidently.
    “I’m afraid I must disappoint you,” the wizard said, gripping the sword firmly and rising from the throne. “In the first place, I much prefer not to tamper with one of Vorvas’s spells. He was far more powerful than I, and very nasty. And in the second place, I have little need at present for a pair of grateful princesses and a grateful prince, but I could do very well with an enchanted sword. Oh, yes, very well indeed.”
    “Then you won’t help us!” the blade cried.
    “On the contrary, you will help me . . . Panstygia, is it? Very impressive name. What is your real name?”
    “I’ll never reveal it to you!”
    “You will, sooner or later. We’re going to be together for a long time, Panstygia. I