My Sparkling Misfortune (The Lakeland Knight) Read Online Free PDF

could live quite comfortably with him by my side, not having to worry about basic necessities, but, of course, I wanted far more than that. Therefore, wasting no time, I began to work on getting back in shape, in power, and, ultimately, accomplishing my revenge.
    I exercised with the sword for long hours, every day, by myself and with Jarvi who willingly agreed to help and in fact had too much fun with it. He was by far the best and the fastest swordsman I ever encountered, yet he'd give me a fair chance to deliver a decent blow, tumbling down with impossible shrieks whenever I managed to do it. I could see that he was holding back his strength to avoid hurting me. To him, it was just a game, but I was getting the best training of my life.
    The miracles were very handy. I used the small ones to obtain more armor, clothes, and other helpful things; bigger ones proved to be more of a challenge since I usually had to grapple with Jarvi about what was "really needed" and what wasn't. It took me half a day, for example, to convince him that I needed a horse (I had sold mine during my journey here). The only thing he immediately agreed to use the big miracle for was making a white tower. That happened after I glanced out the window one morning and nearly had a heart attack upon seeing the monster who lay quietly under a tree, his red eyes fixed on the house door.
    "Jarvi!!" I yelled. "Come here! Is this how you ensure my safety?!"
    The sparkling did not share my concern.
    "Yes, I saw him. He is not doing anything bad, he just sits there, so I figured there's no harm."
    "No harm?! Get him out of here, now! And never let him come close!!"
    "All right, all right, I will go do that. I'm sorry, I didn't know he was making you so nervous."
    After such carelessness on his part, I naturally had to take measures. It was clear that the monster had been waiting for a moment when Jarvi would not be around, and I did not want to take such a risk, even though so far I had no reason to send the sparkling anywhere. I needed my home to be safe at any time. Later that day, I told Jarvi to build a white tower nearby. He was surprised, of course, and I suspect he'd read too much into it, but he didn't question my order and fulfilled it right away. A couple of days later I decided to expand my safety zone and told him to make another tower a mile away. With that done, I was far more comfortable and able to concentrate fully on my preparation.
    In two weeks, I felt stronger than ever and, as much as I hated the very thought of it, ready to try again.
    "We will go to the lake tomorrow," I told Jarvi.
    "To the lake? Why?"
    "So that I can capture a gormack, of course. Don't worry: I know you can't help me in this, and I am not asking you to. You will just follow me and watch out for the beast."
    He looked puzzled.
    "Why do you still want a gormack? You've got me."
    "Will you go to the kingdom of Dalvanna and bring me its prince in chains if I order you?"
    "No."
    "Well, that answers your question. I need a servant who will."
    The sparkling gave me a long, serious look. I didn't like it.
    "I hate to disappoint you, Lord Arkus, but I am afraid I cannot allow it."
    "You what? "
    "Trying to capture a gormack is very dangerous, far more than you know. I vowed to always act in your best interests. I cannot allow you to do this."
    "And how do you think to stop me?"
    "That shouldn't be hard. I am much stronger than you, as you are aware."
    Oh yes, I was well aware of that, especially after our sword matches.
    "Don't you dare..."
    "I am sorry, but I must."
    I grabbed the first thing I got my hand on, which happened to be a piece of firewood, and hurled it at him. Jarvi ducked with one of his ridiculous shrieks, angering me even more--I wasn't playing, I meant it!
    At the fourth piece thrown at him Jarvi flew up to the ceiling. That stunned me enough to pause: I didn't know he could fly... Unless?...
    "Are you wasting a miracle on this?!"
    "What choice do I have? Look