“How could I?”
IT was the masteress of knowing everything.
“I do know Sulow likes his silver.”
Liked money more than an apprentice who could turn herself into Thisbe. Some of my happiness came back. “Masteress Meenore, I was a fine Thisbe, wasn’t I?”
“More than fine. I did not expect it.”
Another realization struck. “He didn’t expect it, either. He wanted to laugh at me.” Oh. I turned on IT. “And so did you!”
IT exhaled blue smoke.
I stamped away and started back toward Two Castles. I had no idea what I would do when I got there or how I would keep myself alive. Fear as well as hunger stabbed my belly. I could be a tragedy, not merely portray one.
The rain had lightened, but twilight was falling, and the air had turned winter cold.
Masteress Meenore landed at my side, radiating heat. I supposed IT had a home with food and a bed, if dragons slept in beds. Why didn’t IT go there?
“Masteress Meenore, where may I find the nearest other company of mansioners?”
“In Pree. A month’s march, and the road is unsafe.”
Perhaps a caravan was going there, and I could travel along as someone’s servant.
“The master in Pree isn’t as welcoming as Sulow.” Enh enh enh. “I don’t see why you want to be a mansioner, Lodie—”
“Elo—”
“Lodie. Do not correct your elders. I prefer Lodie.”
“Elodie is prettier.”
“That may be. Why would you prefer to be a mansioner when you might be a dragon’s assistant?”
“I’ve always hoped . . .” ITs words penetrated. “Your assistant? Or a different dragon’s?” What would a dragon’s assistant do?
“I will not pay you much. I am stingy.”
The evening bells began to chime. Pay pay pay pay.
I liked the sound, but I grew frightened. Would I go to ITs lair? Would chunks of me be on ITs skewers tomorrow?
IT sniffed. “I will withdraw my offer, if you think that of me.”
Could IT read my mind? “I didn’t say anything!”
“Precisely.”
I had hesitated, so IT knew. IT waddled several yards away. I missed ITs warmth.
“What will my duties be?”
IT reared onto ITs back legs and spread ITs wings without flying. “Back away.”
I did, and quickly.
IT spewed a jet of flame, burnishing the yellow meadow and rusting the charcoal sky. “You will proclaim my powers of deduction, induction, and common sense.” IT came down heavily on ITs front legs. “And you will thread my skewers, carry my baskets, assist me with my many responsibilities.”
Proclaiming sounded well. A mansioner might proclaim.
“We will try each other out to see if we suit.”
I nodded.
“If I find you wanting, I will not keep you.”
If I found IT wanting, I wouldn’t stay.
But where would I go?
“Twenty tins for the month. I will feed you, and you may live with me. That is my offer.”
I hardly heard the sum. As soon as IT finished speaking, I demonstrated my proclaiming ability loud enough for the moon to hear. “I will serve you, Masteress Meenore, with dedication, with enthusiasm, and with whatever art nature has bestowed on me.”
IT smiled, showing every pointy yellow tooth in ITs mouth.
“Is there food at your house?”
“At my lair. Bread and cheese, which you may toast. Sundry victuals.”
The idea of food more substantial than an apple weakened my knees. I stumbled, then caught myself. At home my family and I would have shared four meals since I’d last eaten more than the apple.
“Masteress, would you pay to post a letter from me to my parents, to let them know I’m safe?”
“One letter. The scribes are all knaves: twenty tins to write a letter, twenty-five for posting, five for a small sheet of parchment, ten for a large.” IT snorted. “Ink is free.”
“Masteress Meenore, I can write my own letter.”
IT exhaled blue smoke. “You will still need parchment and the posting fee.” After a pause IT added, “I failed to deduce that you can read and write.”
Not many could. “My mother taught me.” To take my mind off home, I thought about my salary.
A hundred tins to a copper, fifty coppers to an iron bar, four iron bars to a silver. Many lifetimes before I earned my apprenticeship.
“Lodie, walking is not my preferred mode of travel. Return to the town gate, then follow the high street, Owe Street, west to the end. There is my lair. I will be waiting with your supper.”
“How will I recognize your”—I gulped—“lair?”
“You will. Be alert as you go. When you reach me, tell me what your senses perceived. Mysteries abound in Two Castles. As my assistant, you must learn to notice them.” IT stood on ITs back legs and lifted in two great wing strokes, ITs wing colors muted by the dusk, ITs body in flight powerful and sleek. In a moment IT rose higher than the tallest castle tower, caught a wind, and glided away.