Magic Three of Solatia by Jane Yolen Read Free Book Online Page B

who would try,” said Sianna when she read a poster the king thrust into her hands.
    “I do not want such a prize as Sianna of the Song to escape me,” said Blaggard.
    “And what makes me such a prize, sir?” she asked.
    “Your beauty, your voice, your wit,” he replied. His mouth spoke the words, but his eyes were cold and gave the lie to his mouth.
    “My power,” said Sianna quietly. But though she spoke as softly as a creature of the sea, Blaggard heard.
    “You have no power,” he replied. He looked down at the bone flute he wore at his belt. His hand touched it lightly. “In this kingdom, only the king has power.”
    “Then why do you fear me?” asked Sianna.
    “The king fears no one. Perhaps I love you,” he said. But there was loathing in his voice.
    “It is a strange love that seeks to destroy.”
    Hate flashed brightly between them, and their words were a deadly game they played.
    Bartering and bear baiting, horse racing and wrestling, juggling and jongleuring, and singing of songs went on all day at the fair, but no man came forward to try for Sianna’s hand.
    From all parts of the castle came the sound of laughter. Sianna could not remember having heard so light a sound in Solatia before, and each laugh seemed a knife in her heart.
    The sun was near setting, and the smile on Blaggard’s face grew broader and cruder. “Look, lady,” he said to Sianna, “how the sun sits heavily on the horizon.”
    “Not as heavy as my heart in my breast,” she replied. Then she gave a start as a familiar figure moved toward them. It was Flan, the simple fisherlad who had long loved her.
    “Oh, no, dear Flan,” she said to herself, as a single tear filled her eye and moved down her cheek. “It is useless for you to try.”

5. The Magic Two
    F LAN MARCHED UP TO the throne escorted by guards. He smiled brightly at Sianna to calm her, but the sweet innocent look on his face served only to encourage her fear.
    “I shall answer the Four Elemental Questions,” he said. Then he quickly added, “Your Majesty” when he saw a frown begin to form on the king’s mouth.
    “Fool,” said Blaggard.
    “No fool, but a fisherman,” said Flan. He turned his smile on the king, for he had not the wit to fear.
    “It is said that there is no fool like a fisherman,” replied the king. “And I suppose it shall be proved out. Very well, here is the first riddle. Your head sits so lightly upon your body already, you will not feel its separation keenly.”
    “Do not worry, your Majesty, I shall not fail,” said Flan brightly. “I already know the answers. My father found them for me in a book of my great-grandfather’s. Though all the other books of the Old Way were burned, my family kept this one out of respect for the old man.”
    “So you know the answers,” said Blaggard slyly, playing with Flan as though he were a fish on a line. “But what if my questions are not your questions?”
    “But that is not the Old Way…” began Flan.
    “Silence!” thundered Blaggard, suddenly bored with the game. “It is my way.” He turned and nodded at Sianna, then motioned the guards closer to Flan’s sides. For the first time the fisherlad felt fear.
    Blaggard leaned over and looked into Flan’s eyes. With a careful gesture, he moved a misplaced curl to one side. “Here is a riddle for a fisherman,” he said with disdain. “Answer if you can:
    “A water there is which you must pass,
    A broader river there never was,
    Yet of all rivers that you might see,
    To pass it o’er is least jeopardy.”
    Flan stared back at the king. Sweat beaded his brow. Finally he whispered in a hoarse voice, “My great-grandfather’s book said the answer to the Elemental Water Question was ‘the sea,’ but I think that is not the answer to yours.”
    “You are right,” said Blaggard.
    Flan said with surprise, “I am?”
    “You are right,” repeated the king. “You are right that it is not the correct answer.”
    “Let me guess