“Orn’s ears!” murmured Paithan. He had the strangest feeling that he was wandering about in a dream. It’so, it was high time Calandra threw a glass of water in his face. He turned back to Lord Durndrun. “I’m-I’m sorry, My Lord. But the-er- gentleman has already made a prior commitment. He’s going to be staying with . . . my father.”
Aleatha began to laugh. Lord Durndrun patted her shoulder anxiously, for there was an hysterical edge to her laughter, but she only threw back her head and laughed louder.
The dragon decided apparently that the laughter pertained to him. The red eyes narrowed alarmingly.
“Thea! Stop it!” ordered Paithan. “Pull yourself together! We’re not out of danger! I don’t trust either of ’em. And I’m not sure who’s crazier-the old man or his dragon!”
Aleatha wiped her streaming eyes. “Poor Callie!” She giggled. “Poor Callie!”
“I beg to remind you, gentlemen, that my wizard is standing around in wet clothing!” thundered the dragon. “He will likely take a chill and he is subject to a weakness in the lungs.”
“There’s not a thing wrong with my lungs-”
“If you’ll provide me with directions,” continued the dragon, looking martyred, “I will go on ahead and draw a hot bath.”
“No!” Paithan shouted. “That is-” He tried to think, but his brain was having a difficult time adjusting to the situation. Desperately, he turned to the old man. “We live on a hill overlooking the city. The sight of a dragon, coming on our people suddenly like this! … I don’t mean to be rude, but couldn’t you tell him to … well . . .”
“Go stick his head in the pantry?” The old man sighed. “It’s worth a try. Here, you! Dragon.”
“Sir.”
“I can draw my own bath. And I never catch cold! Besides, you can’t go galumping around the elves’ city in that scaly carcass of yours. Scare the bejeebers outta them.”
“Bejeebers, sir?” The dragon glared, tilted his head slightly.
“Never mind! Just”-the old man waved a gnarled hand- “take yourself off somewhere until I call for you.”
“Very good, sir,” the dragon answered in hurt tones. “If that is what you truly want.”
“I do. I do. Now, go along.”
“I have only your best interests at heart, sir.”
“Yes, yes. I know.”
“You mean a great deal to me, sir.” The dragon began to move ponderously off into the jungle. Pausing, he swung his gigantic head around to face Paithan. “You will see to it, sir, that my wizard puts on his overshoes before going out in the damp?”
Paithan nodded, tongue-tied.
“And that he bundles up well and winds his scarf around his neck and keeps his hat pulled low over his ears? And that he has his warming drink first thing on awakening? My wizard, you see, suffers from irregularity-”
Paithan stiff-armed the old man, who was howling imprecations and making a run for the dragon. “My family and I will take good care of him. He is, after all, our honored guest.”
Aleatha had buried her face in a handkerchief. It was difficult to tell it’she was laughing or sobbing.
“Thank you, sir,” said the dragon gravely. “I leave my wizard in your hands. Mind you take good care of him, or you won’t enjoy the consequences.”
The dragon’s great forefeet dug downward into the moss, sending it rolling, and slowly slithered into the hole it had created. They could hear, from far below, the rending and snapping of huge tree limbs and, finally, a thud. The rumbling continued for several more moments, then all was still and silent. Hesitantly, tentatively, the birds began to chirp.
“Are we safe from him if he’s down there?” Paithan asked the old man anxiously. “He isn’t likely to break loose from the spell and come looking for trouble, is he?”
“No, no. No need to worry, Sonny. I’m a powerful wizard. Powerful! Why I had a spell once that…”
“Did you? How interesting. If you’ll just come along with me, now, sir.” Paithan steered the old man to the carriage house. The elf thought it best to leave this place as soon as possible. Besides, it seemed likely that the party was over. But, he had to admit, it’d been one of Durndrun’s best. Sure to be talked about the rest of the social season.