The Lazy Dragon and Bumblespells Wizard Read Online Free PDF

would give Moire Ain back to the witch hurt more than she could bear. How wrong Moire Ain had been about Goodwife Greenfield. It didn’t mean a thing after all that unlike the rest of the village, she had never shooed Moire Ain away or hooked her fingers at Moire Ain in the sign to fend off evil.
    Moire Ain wriggled as hard as her dirt-encrusted body would allow and finally pulled out of Goodwife Greenfield’s grasp. If she was going back to Hedge-Witch, first she’d save her book. She’d hide it. Somehow, but where?
    â€œQuiet!” Goodwife Greenfield said again. “Hide.” With a hooking motion, she shoved Moire Ain behind her tall, well-padded self.
    Moire Ain’s heart whispered with hope.
    â€œDid you see the little thief?” Hedge-Witch’s shrill voice pierced the hut.
    â€œWhy, good morning to you, Goodwitch,” GoodwifeGreenfield said, ignoring the question. “What brings you to my home? I need no cures. We do not have illness here, but I think the Brownbarks’ cow is not giving milk. They’d welcome you, surely. Where is your assistant?”
    â€œShe’s run away, the little thief!” Hedge-Witch hissed.
    â€œA thief? What did she steal?” Goodwife Greenfield moved back a step, and Moire Ain danced backward with her.
    For a second, there was silence, but finally Hedge-Witch spit out, “My book!”
    Moire Ain stifled a gasp. How did Hedge-Witch know about her book?
    â€œBook? But I thought you did not read. You said you gained all your knowledge of healing from the gods.” Goodwife Greenfield’s arms flailed toward the ceiling.
    â€œOh, indeed,” Hedge-Witch stammered. “I said my boot. Didn’t you hear me?” she said, acid lacing her words.
    Goodwife Greenfield snorted, and Moire Ain knew the goodwife wasn’t fooled. “Boot?” Goodwife Greenfield said. “You wear boots? How you’ve prospered. No one else in the village can spare animal hide for boots. I see though that you are not wearing even one boot now. Did you own just a single boot?”
    â€œNever mind,” Hedge-Witch snarled. As angry as she was, the old crone would not dare to strike someone asbeloved by the village as the goodwife. With the crowd gathering out in the road, she would not be able to do anything to Goodwife Greenfield. Her next words were extra angry with the frustration. “If you see the little thief, send her back to me.”
    â€œBecause she stole your boot?” Goodwife Greenfield said with more than a little sarcasm.
    â€œI don’t like the tone of your voice, Goodwife Greenfield,” Hedge-Witch hissed. “It would be a shame if your pigs died.”
    Goodwife Greenfield stepped forward, away from Moire Ain. “
Are
you threatening me, Hedge-Witch? I would not like to report to the warden that you threatened a free citizen of Albion. Such things are frowned on. Even from old women with only one phantom boot.”
    In all her years of living with Hedge-Witch, Moire Ain had never heard anyone challenge the old hag. Hedge-Witch had made a point of telling Moire Ain that everyone believed it was always Moire Ain’s fault when a cure went wrong.
    â€œHrumph.” Moire Ain heard the slap of Hedge-Witch’s bare feet as she trotted back over the stone threshold and down the dirt road.
    Goodwife Greenfield turned to Moire Ain. “Little one, I think you must get far away. I know you stole nothing, but she’s a vengeful old crone. Whatever she’s furious about, it is better if you flee. It’s past time youmade your own way, struck out on your own.”
    â€œYes. Yes.” Moire Ain nodded. “Thank you for not telling her I was here. You were brave.”
    Goodwife Greenfield shook her head. “I’m glad it appeared such, but I was most certainly fearful. Hedge-Witch is more perilous an enemy than many believe.”
    Goodwife Greenfield reached a