The Dragons' Lair Chapter 4

Chapter Four.

 

Trying Out a Spell.

 

Princess Sarriette talked for hours about how wonderful it was that Rose could do magic. Rose listened, tried to argue, tried to protest, but the Princess would not hear a word of it. In the end, Rose agreed to return to the Magician’s room and look through the books to see if they could find a spell that was actually useful.

After breakfast the next morning, with the rain still pouring down, the pair made their way back to the Magician’s room. They began reading through the books. They were full of spells, but none of them seemed remotely interesting. The Magician had clearly tried most of them; he had written notes beside each one. Most of the notes simply said that the spell did not work.

“This sounds useful,” said Rose. She read aloud: “A Spell to Remove Stains from a Cloth.”

“Not very exciting, though,” said Sarriette.

“The note says it worked, but that soap did just as good a job and was less dangerous,” giggled Rose.

“This sounds more interesting,” said Sarriette. She read: “A Spell to Change Someone’s Face. The note says it works, but only lasts a day.”

“Why would anyone want to change their face?” asked Rose.

Sarriette had already skimmed the spell. “It says it exchanges the faces of two people.” She put the book down and paced the room. “We could swap looks! You could be a Princess for a day and I could be you. I could go outside the Castle on my own, talk to people without them bowing and curtseying and getting tongue‑tied. It would be wonderful.”

“But I don’t want to be a Princess,” said Rose. “Not even for a day. I’m happy being me.”

“Please,” begged Sarriette. “Do it for me. If we wait for a sunny day, you could go for a long ride into the countryside. You’ve always said you want to explore the hills. Your parents won’t let you ride that far alone, but I always have to take grooms with me, so my parents allow it.”

Rose nodded. It was true. She had always wanted to ride out to the distant hills.

“You know exactly how I behave,” said Sarriette. “You’d have no trouble convincing people you’re me.”

Rose hesitated. “True… but I’m not sure you know how to behave like me.”

“Oh, fiddle,” said Sarriette. “I know everyone in the town and the Castle, and I’ve seen how they speak to you. I can do it. Please.”

Rose sighed. “I suppose so.” She glanced out of the tiny window. “But not today. It’s still raining.”

“I’ll take the book and the wand down to my room and hide them until we need them,” said Sarriette.

It rained solidly for another week. Prince Emdan grew more and more worried, and short‑tempered, as the fires under the seaweed vats refused to burn. He had to write to everyone waiting for the finished product to explain the delay. He even snapped at Princess Jasmine. Sarriette and Rose kept well out of his way.

At last, a week later, the clouds rolled away and the sun shone. Prince Emdan rushed out to supervise the workers as they spread the firewood to dry. Princess Jasmine, still annoyed with him, ordered her coach and went to visit an old friend some distance away.

“Be a good girl,” she told Sarriette. “You’ve been shut indoors for weeks. Go for a ride, the fresh air will do you good. But no galloping and leaving your groom behind.”

“No, Mother,” promised Sarriette. “I’ll be as good as gold.”

Sarriette and Rose watched the coach disappear.

“Now,” said the Princess, eyes shining, “do the spell. I’ll walk through town, and you can ride wherever you like.”

Rose opened the book and read the spell carefully. “It says it can be broken if we both say Reverso at the same time. Useful if we get into trouble.” She read the words aloud and waved the wand as shown.

Nothing happened.

She rushed to the mirror, and Princess Sarriette looked back at her. Rose squealed.

Sarriette hurried to stand beside her. Rose looked at Sarriette, and saw herself.

“It worked!” cried Sarriette. “Quickly, put on my riding clothes, and I’ll put on your dress.”

The girls changed.

Sarriette watched Rose ride away, then walked down into town. Rose was well known, and Sarriette was delighted when so many people called “Hello!” to her. She was less delighted when a young man approached.

Billy Suggins

Sarriette knew all about him. Billy wanted a close friendship with Rose. Rose did not want a close friendship with Billy.

“Go away,” said Sarriette, exactly as Rose had told her to.

“Aw, Rose,” said Billy. “Don’t be like that. I just want to walk with you. There are rough types about. I can look after you.”

“I can look after myself,” said Sarriette, and walked on.

Billy sighed and followed a few paces behind.

Sarriette walked down to where her father was supervising the drying of the firewood.

“Oh, hello, Rose,” said Prince Emdan.

Sarriette had been a little worried the spell wouldn’t fool him.

“I see you’ve brought your follower,” he added.

“He’s becoming a nuisance,” said Sarriette.

“Well,” said Prince Emdan, “I’m sure if you mentioned it to his father he’d soon put a stop to it.”

“I could,” said Sarriette, “but where’s the fun in that?”

Prince Emdan laughed. “Where’s Princess Sarriette today?”

“She’s ridden out to the hills for a picnic,” said Sarriette.

Prince Emdan frowned. “I hope she stays with the grooms this time. There are dangerous people in those hills.”

“I—” Sarriette caught herself. “She promised Princess Jasmine she’d be good.”

Prince Emdan didn’t notice the slip. He turned back to the workers. “Spread it thinner. It needs to be properly dried or it’ll never burn.”

Sarriette watched for a few minutes, then decided it was dull. She waved goodbye and walked back through town. Billy followed.

As she passed the town gates, she saw a dusty young man ride in. He looked exhausted, but he wore a huge smile.

“Someone’s happy to be here,” she thought.

He saw her watching, dismounted, and approached.

“Excuse me, my lady,” he said. “Is this the town of Sealand, where they make the seaweed fertiliser?”

“It most certainly is,” said Sarriette. Under the dirt, he was rather handsome.

“At last,” he said. “Where are the Dragons, please?”

“Dragons?” Sarriette blinked.

“Yes. The bottles show Dragons. I’ve come to find them.”

“There are no Dragons in town,” said Sarriette. “You’ve had a wasted journey.”

Before she could say more, Billy barged up.

“You shouldn’t be talking to strangers, Rose.” He glared at the young man. “And you can be on your way. We don’t take kindly to strange men talking to our girls.”

“Sorry,” said the young man. He mounted and rode straight back out of the gates.

Sarriette was furious.

“You are the most ill‑mannered person I have ever met, Billy Suggins.” She turned and marched back to the Castle. Billy followed, trying to explain, but she refused to listen. Only when she entered the Castle did he give up and go home.

“Ah, Rose, good, you’re here.” It was Mary, Rose’s mother. “You can help me in the kitchen.”

Sarriette dared not argue. She followed Mary into the huge kitchen and spent the rest of the day doing all the things Princesses usually leave to servants. Since she had never done most of them before, she did them badly.

“I don’t know what’s got into you today,” scolded Mary. “You’d better go up and deal with the Princess. She’s just come in from her ride. Let’s hope you can manage that properly.”

Sarriette fled.

Rose was in the Princess’s rooms, full of excitement about her wonderful ride and picnic. She didn’t notice how miserable Sarriette looked.

Sarriette tried to be happy for her friend, but it was difficult. At last, she snapped.

“Well, I’m glad you had a nice time. I certainly didn’t.” She flung herself onto her bed.

Rose stopped talking. “Sorry. What happened?”

“Nothing,” sniffed Sarriette. “I walked through town, spoke to Father, was followed by Billy Suggins and then spent the rest of the day doing your chores.” She added honestly, “Very badly. I don’t think your mother was very pleased with you.”

Rose sighed. “I did try to tell you my life is fairly dull. Did nothing interesting happen at all?”

Sarriette remembered the young man. She told Rose about him.

“He was rather handsome,” she admitted.

“Well,” said Rose, “if he’s come looking for Dragons, he’ll have to come back. This is the best place to find out about them. Now say the word, and I’ll go and try to make things better with my mother.”