No Place for Magic Read Online Free PDF Page A

mermaid's home and part of the ocean. I didn't know that she could come visit us as well. "It's good to see you," I said, not sure why she was here.
    "You, too, but I really can't stay. I've come to ask you for a favor."
    "Of course," I said. "I'll do whatever I can." She'd helped Eadric and me when we needed her, and I couldn't say no.
    Her eyes lit up as she thrust a hand into her hair. "I was hoping you'd say that," she said, pulling out something green and squirmy. "I'm on my way to visit my friend and she's allergic to shellfish, so I was wondering if Shelton could stay with you until I get back. I'd leave him with Octavius, but they can't seem to get along."
    "That's because he's a pinheaded nitwit," said the little green crab as he scuttled down the mermaid's arm to the floor. "He keeps threatening to rip off my shell and feed me to the sharks."
    Coral sighed. "You did tie his arms in knots."
    "Only after he wrapped me in seaweed and stuffed me in the trash!"
    "See what I mean?" Coral said, shaking her head.
    "Actually, we were about to go on a trip ourselves," said Eadric. "So maybe this isn't the best time for . . ."
    "We'd be delighted to have Shelton stay with us," I interrupted. Magical beings were easily offended, and it was always better to stay on their good side. Unfortunately, Octavius, Coral's octopus butler, wasn't the only one who found Shelton annoying. The little crab had bickered with Eadric from the moment they'd met.
    "Then it's all settled!" exclaimed the mermaid. Blowing a kiss to Shelton, she drew a silver comb from her hair and pulled it through the strands. "Thank you!" she called as she began to glow. A moment later, she was so bright that we couldn't look at her, and with a whoosh and a splash, she was back in the tank.
    "Hey," said Eadric. "We had to stick our hand in the water before we could go into the bowl!"
    I shrugged. "Maybe it was easier for her because she was already wet."
    "So Princess," said Shelton, "how have you been? I'm doing fine, in case you want to know." Shelton swiveled his eyestalks toward Eadric. "Better than you, I guess, since he's still around. Say, that otter isn't here, is he? I've been having bad dreams about him."
    "Grassina turned him back into a human," I said.
    Eadric chuckled. "Too bad, huh?"
    "Please don't get started, you two." The trip was already going to be too long. If I was going to have any peace at all, I'd have to keep the two of them separated, but that might not always be possible if we were traveling together. And Eadric was already unhappy about our change of plans. . . .
    "Shelton," I said when Eadric had left the room to get his things. "Perhaps you should stay here while we're gone. We'll be away only a few days. We're going to travel by coach, which you probably wouldn't like anyway."
    The little crab's eyestalks drooped. "You mean you don't want me to go with you? I thought you liked me, Princess."
    "I do, Shelton, but that isn't the point. We're going to be very busy, and I won't always be able to spend time with you."
    "I understand," said Shelton, looking even more dejected.
    I tried not to look at him while I chose the things that I would take with me. Space wasn't a problem because I'd recently purchased an acorn trunk at the magic marketplace. Although it looked like a regular acorn, it could hold just about anything. I had yet to learn if it had any limits.
    It took me only a few minutes to pack my clothes. When I was ready, I stuffed my acorn in the pouch I wear on my hip and headed for the stairs.
    Li'l had never liked my mother and always tried to stay out of sight when she was around. Instead of going through the castle with me, the little bat flew out the window and went straight to the first carriage waiting in the courtyard. When I arrived, Eadric was there with Bright Country saddled and ready.
    "Let's get going before my mother makes us take everybody in the castle," I told Eadric.
    "Do you want to ride with me?" he asked. The