'If he gets to go, so do I!' Crown Prince Jorillam cried.
'Not without me,' Prince Rupert said, setting his jaw. 'I don't know anything about this business with the dragons and wizards, but Jorillam is my responsibility. Until I lose him in the forest, that is.'
'And Kazul is my responsibility,' Cimorene said.
'Like it or not, I am going to get a look at those spells,' Telemain stated flatly.
'Those wizards have caused me a lot of trouble, what with one thing and another,' Morwen pointed out. 'I intend to cause them a bit of trouble back.'
'It is necessary to Your Majesty's dignity that Your Majesty take a proper escort with you,' Willin put in.
'Quiet!' Mendanbar said.
Everyone stopped talking. Willin looked utterly astonished. Jorillam had a wary expression, and Prince Rupert and Telemain both looked mildly taken aback. Morwen's eyes gleamed approvingly behind her glasses.
Cimorene looked momentarily startled, but then she smiled.
Mendanbar took a deep breath. First things first. 'Crown Prince Jorillam.'
'Yes?'
'You are not coming on this expedition. You will stay here, at my castle, until I return. In the dungeon, just as you requested.'
'But it's not fair,' Jorillam said. 'I didn't know then that you were going to go fight wizards. And that elf-' 'Willin is one of my people, and a native of the Enchanted Forest,' Mendanbar said. 'You aren't.
Don't bother arguing; you don't get a choice.
I'm the King here, remember.'
Jorillam gave him a sulky nod.
'Prince Rupert,' Mendanbar went on, 'you were quite right to say that your nephew needs watching. You will stay here and keep an eye on him while I'm gone.'
'Certainly, Your Majesty,' Prince Rupert said with a relieved sigh.
'If you say so.'
'I'm afraid I can't bring you with me, either, Willin,' Mendanbar said, turning to his steward. 'Somebody has to take care of our visitors, you know, and you're the only possible person.'
Willin hesitated, plainly torn. 'It is my duty to serve Your Majesty regardless of the danger.'
'I appreciate your willingness to accompany me,' Mendanbar assured him.
'I feel, however, that you would serve me better here. Now, please take these two guests to the North- Northwest Tower dungeon and see that they get some refreshments.'
'As Your Majesty commands,' Willin said, bowing. He gestured to Prince Rupert and Crown Prince Jorillam, and led them away.
Well, that takes care of them, anyway, Mendanbar thought as the three rounded a bend in the corridor and vanished from sight. The rest wouldn't be that easy. He looked over and saw Morwen, Cimorene, and Telemain standing side by side, wearing identical expressions of stubbornness, and he sighed. He supposed he could accidentally-on-purpose forget to include them in the transportation spell, but somehow he didn't think that would stop them. Not when one was a witch, one a magician, and one an experienced dragon's princess.
'Don't even bother trying to talk us out of it,' Cimorene warned.
'You'll only waste more time.'
'You're probably right,' Mendanbar said at last. 'And anyway, I suspect I really should have some help with me, just in case.'
'Very sensible of you,' Morwen told him.
'Yes, well, let's get our buckets and go,' Mendanbar said uncomfortably.
The four of them collected buckets of soapy water from the imperturbable castle footman. Cimorene and Telemain took two each, but Mendanbar only took one, because he wanted to keep one hand free in case he needed his sword. Morwen also took only one bucket. She did not explain, and her expression dared anyone to comment. No one did.
The footman left, removing Telemain's staff along the way. 'Be sure you put that somewhere safe,' Telemain called after him.
Mendanbar looked around one last time, checking to make sure everyone was finally ready, then twitched the strands of power and transported them all to the foot of the Crystal Falls.
They appeared on the slippery bank of a narrow stream. A little farther on, the Crystal Falls poured in a shining curtain down the side of a sheer cliff of black glass. The water foamed and swirled at the foot of the falls, forming a small, restless pool, then rushed down the channel at their feet and dashed on into the deeper parts of the Enchanted Forest . The noise of the falling water was tremendous, and the air had a clean, sharp smell.
Mendanbar looked around to see that everyone was there and that no one had spilled the soapy water. He noticed, without surprise, that the two cats had come along, even though he had not specifically included them in the transportation spell. Cats were like that.
'Which way is the tunnel entrance?' Cimorene asked. She had to shout to make herself heard over the roar of the waterfall.
'Over there,' Mendanbar shouted back, waving at a clump of fir trees near the foot of the cliff. 'Watch your step.'
'What did you say?' Telemain yelled.
'He said, 'Watch your step,'' Cimorene replied at the top of her lungs.
Telemain nodded, and they moved cautiously away from the water-slick bank of the stream. The cats had already moved out of range of the mist billowing up from the base of the waterfall. When the rest of the group caught up to them, the two cats gave Mendanbar looks of deep reproach, as if to imply that he should have more sense than to set everyone down so close to such a damply uncomfortable spot.
The runnel entrance was a narrow crack in the side of the cliff, hidden behind the clump of firs. The cats trotted through it and vanished into the darkness. Morwen gazed after them with a thoughtful expression on her face.
'I don't suppose anyone remembered to bring a light?' Cimorene said, eying the crack with evident misgiving.
Telemain smiled and said three words that crackled in the air. A small globe of golden light appeared above his head. 'I'll go first, so the rest of you can see where you're stepping,' he said, smiling with a trace of smugness.
'And what do you think will happen when we get near the wizards and their magic-absorbing spell gets hold of your little glow-ball?'
Morwen said sharply. 'You're not thinking, Telemain.'
'I suppose you have a better idea?'
Morwen pushed her glasses firmly into place, set down her bucket of soapy water, and reached into one of her long, loose sleeves. She pulled out a small lantern and set it on the ground. Then she reached into the other sleeve, from which she pulled a flint striker and a long splinter of wood.
Expertly, she struck a spark and lit the splinter, then used the splinter to light the lantern. She blew the splinter out, stuffed it and the flint back into her sleeve, and smiled at the surprise on everyone else's face.
'I thought we might be needing this,' she said. Picking up the lantern and the bucket, she started for the mouth of the tunnel.
'Hang on a minute,' Mendanbar said. 'I should go first. Would you give me the lantern, Morwen?'
'Only if you don't dawdle,' Morwen responded. 'My cats are in there.'
'Of course. You come next, then, and Telemain after you. Cimorene can come last. That way we'll have a light between every two people.'
Cimorene did not look happy about these arrangements, but Mendanbar did not give anyone time to argue. As soon as Morwen nodded, he took the lantern and started into the crack. It was only wide enough for one of them at a time to edge sideways, and the ground was covered with shattered rock, which made the footing treacherous. Juggling the lantern and his bucket back and forth from hand to hand, Mendanbar tried to see what lay ahead of him while still giving Morwen enough light to follow.
Progress was slow, and he began to wonder whether the whole tunnel was going to be as narrow and
