The Mage of Trelian Read Online Free PDF Page A

which Meg could sneak around in style. There were long tapered sleeves that wouldn’t catch on Jakl’s occasional rough scales, and clever leather pieces set along the inner thighs and calves that helped keep Meg firmly in place on Jakl’s back. There were even matching black leather gloves and a black hood to hold and conceal Meg’s long blond hair.
    “Now we must get you outside without incident,” Pela said briskly. It was late, but there were always servants about, and some of them wouldn’t hesitate to inform the king and queen if they saw Meg stealing out for what could not possibly be any good reason at this time of night. Pela preceded Meg down the halls, checking around corners and making sure the way was clear, until they reached Jakl’s paddock. Jakl, of course, was ready and waiting, eager to go. He was always up for flying, especially at night, but Meg thought that he was also eager to help find Calen. Jakl knew how much Meg wanted to find him. And she thought that the dragon had come to love Calen in his own way, too.
    Meg turned to thank Pela once more for her help, but Pela brushed her words aside. “It’s my pleasure to assist you, Princess. You know that. Now, be swift, and do what you must do, and come back safely.”
    Meg nodded and was about to climb up onto her dragon’s back when she heard what sounded like a strangled squeak behind her.
    She turned back around. “Pela, was that —?”
    Meg’s words died her in her throat.
    Pela was standing frozen on the path. She’d only taken a couple of steps before finding her way blocked by the dark figure standing before her.
    It was Mage Serek.
    He was standing right in front of Pela, but his attention was fixed on Meg. His eyes were alight with anger.
    Meg stared back at him defiantly. He was
not
going to stop her.
    She waited for him to shout at her, but for a long moment he didn’t say anything at all. When he finally spoke, his voice was eerily calm. “What exactly do you think you are about to do?”
    “I’m going to find Calen.”
    He uttered a harsh laugh. “You’re going to find Calen. You’re just going to fly off on your dragon and
look
for him?”
    “Yes!” she said back angrily, practically spitting the word at him. “
Someone
has to.”
    “And you think you’re just going to look down and see him standing there, waiting for you to come rescue him?”
    The contempt in his voice was very irritating.
    “Mage Krelig has a hundred giant disgusting slaarh,” Meg said. “Do you think they will be hard to spot?”
    Serek shook his head. “Do you not quite grasp the size of the world we live in, Your Highness? What are the chances that you’re just going to happen upon the place where Krelig is hiding?”
    “Small,” Meg conceded hotly. “But better than nothing. And I’ll take any chance over no chance. I don’t care how long it takes, how many nights I have to spend —”
    “How much you risk yourself and your kingdom in the process,” Serek added.
    Meg flinched inwardly. She didn’t like to think about that part.
    “You’re not stopping me,” she said instead. She climbed the rest of the way up to Jakl’s back.
    “Get down from there, idiot child!”
Serek snapped. He sprinted toward her, nearly trampling poor Pela.
    Jakl whipped his head down, snarling, knocking the mage to the ground. Serek twisted around to face her, but he didn’t try to get up. Jakl was still growling ominously, head lowered, his eyes fixed on Serek’s.
    “Careful, Mage Serek,” Meg said softly. “Jakl knows exactly how important this is to me.”
    “As do I,” Serek said, his voice controlled again, despite the dragon staring him in the face. “But this is not the way.”
    Meg looked at him, a thought occurring to her. “How did you even know that I’d be out here? Have you been
spying
on me?” She didn’t suspect Pela for a second. Pela might try her best to discourage Meg from doing stupid things, but she would never betray