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

know a bit about these enchantments, and I know that you’re bound to obey and protect the one who wields you.”
    “But I don’t want to be a sword! I insist that you change me back!”
    “Not for a long time, if ever. I suggest that you learn to enjoy being a sword. It will save you no end of frustration.”
    “I hate being a sword!” Panstygia cried in anguish. “All that hacking, and smiting, and hewing, and slashing
    and the noise! And the crowds! It’s no fit work for a princess. I was better off sealed in the tree! Help me, Mergith—! ‘11 reward you generously.”
    “With what?” he asked, and laughed in a cruel, superior way. “After all this time, your kingdom is lost metrievably. It’s gone and forgotten.”
    “You’ll have my undying gratitude and respect!”
    “I’d rather have an enchanted sword.”
    “But you’re a wizard, Mergith—wizards don’t need enchanted swords.”
    Mergith glanced sharply around the room, checking all the dark corners; then, in a lowered voice, he said, “Since I know that I can speak to you in confidence, my faithful blade, I will admit you to my secret: I am not a very good wizard. Oh, I can work an effective little spell now and then, but nothing like what Vorvas accomplished. And every time I do work a bit of magic, I’m exhausted for weeks afterwards. Consequently, my hold on Dendorric has become rather tenuous. Sleight of hand and conjuring tricks can keep the townspeople looking over their shoulders and behaving themselves, but I won’t be able to keep the brigands from the woods at bay much longer. They’re too hungry. But with an enchanted sword . He raised the dark blade high and looked lovingly on the glinting edge. “Great days lie ahead for Mergith the Magnificent, the warrior-wizard-king. And great deeds for his sword Panstygia.”
    “I’ll never help you! I’ll miss every stroke and wiggle around in your grip!” Panstygia said defiantly.
    “I think it would be best if you learned at once who is in charge of this partnership, Panstygia,” said the wizard, striding to the hearth. He plunged the blade into the bright
    embers and stepped back. “Perhaps when you’ve toasted for a while, you’ll feel more agreeable.”
    “You’ll destroy my temper!”
    “Quite the contrary. I expect to improve it.”
    “You’ll ruin me! l-Iamarak, get me out of this fire!”
    “I’m afraid Hamarak is in a long, deep sleep, thanks to my hypnotic powers,” said the wizard with a thin smile of triumph.
    “Hamarak, wake up!” Panstygia cried in desperation.
    Hamarak gave a start, turned, blinked, and looked at the wizard and the sword in obvious bewilderment. “What are you doing in the fire, Panstygia? Do you want to get out?” he asked.
    “Yes! Immediately!”
    Mergith reeled back, astonished. “You’re supposed to be in a deep sleep! I hypnotized you! What’s going on here?”
    Rising and drawing the blade from the fire, Hamarak turned to him. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t really asleep,” be said slowly. “I never sleep during the day. A man told me it isn’t good for you to sleep during the day.”
    “But you were . . . you looked . . . you did as I said! You sat by the fire and didn’t move,” Mergith said, his voice tight and squeaky.
    “I thought that was what you wanted me to do, so I did it,” Hamarak said, raising the smoking blade and inspecting it with apparent concern. “I never met a king before, and I wanted to be polite and do what the king told me to do.”
    “You were right about one thing, Mergith,” said Panstygia. “You aren’t a very good wizard. You can’t even hypnotize a peasant.”
    “Wait a minute, Hamarak,” said Mergith, backing away and skipping behind the throne. “Don’t do anything hasty.”
    Panstygia’s voice was like an arctic wind. “We will not be hasty, Mergith. We will deal with you slowly and deliberately.”
    “No! Wait! I’ll unspell you—how’s that for an offer?”
    “Too late,