The Runaway Princess by Kate Coombs Read Free Book Online Page A

marriage.”
    People began to shout, but Garald held up his hands, and they stilled. “Fair play and full proofs required, mind you,” he added.
    Then the king stood forth again to bellow, “Let the contest begin!” Everyone applauded and yelled. Dozens of princes ran to mount their horses and charge off. One of them even sounded a hunting horn. The crowd wandered about gossiping, dispersing into the castle and the town.
    Meg and Cam and Dilly watched them leave.
    â€œWho do you think will win?” a woman behind them asked someone.

    â€œThat Vantor is a goodly fellow,” another woman replied.
    â€œPrince Vain-tor,” Meg whispered to her friends. “Let’s go before my mother sees us.”
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    Up on the dais, the king trailed after the queen. “Still not speaking, love?” he asked her.
    She swished away toward the castle.
    â€œWomen don’t always understand matters of politics,” the prime minister remarked.
    â€œHold your tongue, Garald!” the king snarled.
    â€œSorry, Your Majesty.”
    The two men walked after the queen in silence. Finally the king looked at his minister. “You really think this is going to work? This—economic development thing?”
    â€œAs you so brilliantly phrased it, Sire, we’ll ‘clean out the bad and make room for the good.’”
    â€œI said that?”
    â€œIndeed,” Garald answered quickly.
    â€œRoom for good gold, that is,” the king muttered.
    â€œThe very best gold, Sire.”
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    Prince Vantor paced to and fro in his tent, lifting the flap every so often to look out.
    At last he caught sight of Horace walking toward him very slowly, half supporting an elderly peasant.
    The prince let the tent flap fall and threw himself into an ornate camp chair. “The others will have captured
the witch before we even make a start!” he growled when the two men entered.
    Horace shook his head. “No. I’ve heard some pretty stories about the witch.”
    â€œShe be a fair good hand wi’ frogs,” the old man said.
    â€œNo one asked you to speak,” Vantor told him coldly.
    â€œThis is our guide,” Horace explained. “Orl says he can take us right to the dragon’s lair.”
    â€œNot right to,” Orl said, shivering with fear or simply age. “Near enough to point at.”
    â€œThat will do, won’t it?” Horace said.
    Vantor frowned. “This man is going to lead us up a mountain? He can hardly walk!”
    â€œI’ll get some of the men to carry him,” Horace told his master.
    The prince considered. “Very well. I want to leave before noon.”
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    â€œNow,” said Meg, leading her friends away from the field, “we’re going after the dragon.”
    â€œShouldn’t we search for the bandits first?” Cam asked uneasily.
    â€œTomorrow.”
    â€œAre you sure the witch is all right?” Dilly put in. Meg had told them about the witch when they met up that morning.
    â€œShe said she didn’t need help, but I’m still worried.”
    â€œI can go check up on her,” Dilly said. “Do you two have any idea where to find the dragon?”

    A prince on a chestnut charger galloped up behind them, and they all jumped out of the way.
    â€œTob told me which trail to take,” said Cam. “I asked him the other day, and he said he went dragon-hunting once and got all the hair on the back of his head singed right off.”
    â€œTob’s old,” Dilly objected.
    â€œIt was a long time ago.”
    â€œMaybe the dragon has moved its lair.”
    â€œNot far,” Cam said, giving Meg a look. “They like to stay within range of castles.”
    â€œWhere the princess-hunting is good?” Meg asked with false politeness.
    Dilly smirked. “I’ll be off, then. I won’t miss you two very much if you’re going to