Chester had baked the fish, which were of large size, to perfection and everyone had enjoyed their meal immensely. Everyone, that is, except for Clayton, who had been curiously missing the whole day. But since he was often away from camp, no one thought anything of it, and, if truth were known, they weren't sorry to be absence his company.

"Was something Hope said got me thinking I could do better than throw some worms in the water," Chester admitted. "If you're done, Hope, could you take a little bit of chowder over to Tid-Bit and his family? I made it special for them, seeing as how his misses is so fond of my cooking."

Julian laughed but Hope, who knew that Chester was not boasting, but merely speaking the truth, assured the old man that she would be delighted to make a trip to the fairy-tree. What she didn't add was that it had been a number of days since she had had a chance to talk with the king of the fairies and was longing to ask him what he thought on a few matters, most of them revolving around a long legged peasant lad with a soft voice and shy eyes.

"I'll go with you," Julian volunteered. "You shouldn't be traveling alone when the red dragon is about."

This time it was Hope's turn to laugh. "I have been hiding from dragons for as long as I have been on this island," she told the boy. "There is nothing that you can do to protect me that I can not do for myself."

"I suppose Whittle didn't save you from the dragon then?" Julian was upset at having been laughed at, and his nerves were raw from worry over his brother and the stress of trying to find a way to repair the balloon which was their only means of escape from the island. "If he hadn't been protecting you, he wouldn't be in that old cave now, playing minstrel to a man-eating dragon."

"Easy, lad. As far was we know the dragon hasn't eaten anyone yet," Chester said, seeing the dark cloud that settled over Hope's demeanor. "And one could just as well say if it weren't for someone shouting and waking the dragon your brother wouldn't have been carried off."

"Please, we mustn't bicker among ourselves!" Alanna cried in distress. "We must work together, or all will be lost."

"Are you any closer to finding a way to fix the balloon, Alanna?" Hope asked as she accepted the bowl of chowder that Chester held out to her.

The girl shook her head sadly. "No, I'm afraid not. Everything I try has no effect on the balloon. Perhaps because it was made by a wizard, or perhaps I'm just using the wrong spells."

"It's not easy without the books," Julian seemed defensive. "No one taught her a spell for repairing old balloons. I doubt such a spell even exists. I never got any real training, so I'm not much help either."

"No one is faulting you, boy," Chester soothed. "If we can't get the balloon fixed using magic, we'll have to use some plain old ingenuity. I never did much trust that supernatural hocus pocus stuff."

As Julian's face stiffened Hope grabbed his arm, "Come along then, Julian, let's make a trip to the tree. I fancy Timon would appreciate a visit."

"Nah, go ahead," the boy said, jerking his arm free. "Alanna and I have been working on a spell that's almost got cloth soft enough to sick it together before it hardens again."

"But Julian, that spell doesn't seem to work on the balloon's cloth," Alanna's reminder only made the boy more irate.

"You go with Hope then!" he snapped. "I'm going to work on the spell."

"Come along, Alanna," Hope said as Julian stamped off. "It will do you good to get away for awhile."

The girl gazed at Julian as he sat down under a tree and picked up Todd's old walking stick.

"All right," she said, "I'll come. Perhaps the fairy king knows some magic."

Hope was about to say that was doubtful, when she remembered a remark Tid-Bit had made and wasn't as certain.

As they reached the tree they found King Jakin and Queen Atar enjoying the garden, with its late blooming flowers, and miniature cascading waterfalls.

Hope was relieved and greatly pleased to notice how well the queen was looking, though one wing still drooped noticeably.

"Chester sent us with some fish chowder," Hope said, laying the bowl down on a flat rock and sitting down, cross-legged to enjoy some conversation.

"I don't believe you've met Alanna, Queen Atar," she said as the girl hung shyly back.

"Obil has told me about her," the queen said in her soft voice. "You are most welcome, child. Come and sit by me and tell me all about Cedric's palace. What sort of clothing do the ladies wear, and how has Cedric furnished the rooms? Poor Obil has tried to describe it to me, but he is a male, and it takes a female to notice and appreciate such matters."

Alanna came near and bowed. "I will be happy to tell you what I know," the girl said politely, "but I'm afraid I was more interested in my studies than furnishings and there were few female visitors."

As the queen and Alanna were becoming better acquainted Tid-Bit motioned for Hope to follow him and flew to a nearby log where he alighted on a limb that stuck up from its moss covered surface. When Hope sat down beside him she found herself almost eye to eye with the fairy king.

"Where is Timon?" Hope asked, looking about for the tiny figure. "I thought he might cheer Alanna up."

"Queen Atar be comforting young friend," Tid-Bit said. "Queen not really interested in fashion and furnishings, but gives something more pleasant to talk about than dragons."

Hope recalled how the queen had asked her similar questions about her father's court, and how quickly they had become friends. Perhaps Tid-Bit was right, though she suspected the queen really did enjoy fashion and adornments. As she had said, it would take a woman to understand.

"You haven't answered my question, King Jakin. Where is your son? He hasn't run away again has he?"

"No, no! He be near-by. Obil with him. He be well guarded."

"He hasn't gone into the cave has he?" Hope asked with sudden suspicion. "You know that isn't safe, Tid-Bit!"

"Fairies small. Hard to see when not glowing. Timon very fond of Whittle. Young prince would go see his friend even if father tell him was forbidden. So Obil go along and stand guard. Watch for dragon's return. When see dragon coming he warn Timon and they fly into woods quick as bees. Safe enough, and Whittle need encouragement. Very lonely, he be. Very frightened."

"I must go to him!" Hope cried, leaping to her feet.

King Jakin made a tisking sound and wiggled his finger at her. "No, no! Dragon very jealous of its treasure. Not be safe for Hope to go into cave. Dangerous for both Hope and young man."

"But I fear for him, Tid-Bit!" she admitted. "What if the dragon grows tired of his music? What if he decides he'd rather eat him than listen to him play?"

"Is danger for anyone dealing with dragon. Is danger for Hope and Chester. Is danger for Julian, and Alanna too. Must fix balloon and leave here soon as possible."

"But Alanna's spells don't seem to work on the balloon, Tid-Bit!" she lamented. "She thinks perhaps it is because it was made by a wizard."

"What!" the pixie yelled, and in his excitement his wings bore him several feet up into the air. "Balloon made by wizard, you say? Why Tid-Bit not be told this before? What wizard?"

"Alanna will know more about that than I," Hope said, surprised and a little frightened by the fairy's intense response. "What does it matter who made the balloon, Tid-Bit?"

"Matter very much. Very much indeed!" was all he said before flying over to where the two females sat conversing.

Hope followed slowly, watching Tid-Bit wave his arms excitedly in the air as he spoke to Alanna. Before she could reach them Tid-Bit had flown away.

"Where's he going?" Hope asked, gazing into the woods where the small speck had vanished.

"To get better look at balloon. Why king not informed balloon be made by wizard? And not just common wizard, but greatest wizard that ever lived?" the queen seemed quite offended.

"What does it matter who made the balloon if we can't fix it?" Hope asked in bewilderment.

"Because, child, balloon made by wizard as knowledgeable and mighty as Dagu should not be damaged by anything - even razor sharp claws of red dragon. Must be that balloon be meant to fall into sea, and those inside basket meant to be marooned on island. But for what purpose be beyond our understanding."

"Begging your pardon, your majesty, but the balloon was damaged, and we can't fix it with our magic, so what good is it going to do for your husband to look at it?"

"Perhaps none, child. But husband have some knowledge of such things. We shall see. Perhaps is no need for young people to try and fix balloon. Perhaps magic already in balloon to fix self."

Dragon's Claw Book One
Price $12.95  
    by Charles M. Clark
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

FROM THE BOOK STORE

Prince Adam returns home to find his father, the King, gravely ill, some say dying. Feeling unprepared for the duties of kingship, and unhappy about a proposed marriage between himself and a rather plain princess, Adam makes a plea to the Powers that be for guidance and help. Adam then falls into a deep sleep and awakes in an unfamiliar land full of sinister foes and wild men. Yet it is one of these wild men that takes Adam under his wing and teaches the young prince what it takes to be a real leader. Charles M. Clark has written this book for older children and teens, but older folks enjoy it as well. All Antelope Publishing's fantasy books are browser readable and come on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM contains TWO books. One book with music and special electronic enhancements, and one book without, for times when a quieter read is desired. For more information about browser readable e-books CLICK HERE

The Making of a King
Price $9.95  
    by Charles M. Clark
(Browser Readable E-Book on CD-ROM contains Music & No Sound Options)

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