Flight to Dragon Isle Read Online Free Page B

thrummed to raucous applause. Beneath the holly and berries that adorned the upper table, the Queen beckoned him forward. The bard, an elf from the Eastern Kingdom, bowed gracefully as he accepted a purse of gold, then bowed again to Quenelda, seated beside her father and to the Queen’s right. As the palace had been decorated for the twelve-day celebration of the Yule Festival, the Court had buzzed with chatter, finding the Lady Quenelda and her unusual esquire a welcome distraction from the gloomy talk of war.
    Quenelda had refused the jewelled and silk dresses and caps offered by the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, choosing instead a simple kirtle of sky blue. Her straw-blonde hair was worn loose, and brushed for once. Quenelda was overwhelmed by all the attention as she stood to acknowledge the applause. Her woollen skirts itched and the pointed shoes that the Queen’s ladies assured her were all the rage at Court pinched her toes – they were bound to raise a blister. It was a better curtsy than the one she had managed at the Winter Jousts, but it was awkward and stiff nonetheless. Behind her chair, Root bit back a grin when he saw the hot, jealous glances cast her way by the Queen’s younger ladies-in-waiting and her half-brother, Darcy. Only Root and the Earl knew just how much Quenelda longed to be back in breeches and boots and up and away on the back of Two Gulps.
    If Quenelda was having a hard time adopting the role of a lady, Root was having an equally difficult time learning the courtly duties of an esquire – one of which was to serve Quenelda at table. He was doing as badly as she was, and had already spilled wine over her twice. He had also nicked his fingers while cutting her a slice of bread that was so thick it had raised loud laughter from her brother.
    Darcy was furious at the attention lavished on Quenelda. Once again, his little sister had upstaged him in front of the entire Court, in front of tens of thousands from all over the Seven Sea Kingdoms! And now the whispers centred on him and his failure to take up the challenge to his injured father at the Winter Jousts. Aware of his shortcomings when it came to flying dragons, and angry at his father for ordering him to Dragon Isle instead of allowing him to remain in the Household Cavalry, he had in that bitter moment of refusal wished his father dead. Then he would be Earl and none would dare laugh at him behind his back.
    ‘Outrageous!’
    Further down the hall, sitting at a lower table, the Lady Armelia was also furious. It was too outrageous. When Darcy’s young lady had first visited Dragonsdome, his sister had humiliated her and ruined her chances of becoming a lady-in-waiting. And now Quenelda’s unladylike display in the Cauldron was being applauded. The girl was a disgrace to the DeWinter name. That was because she had been allowed to run wild like a common peasant boy, instead of being sent to the exclusive Grimalkin’s College for Young Ladies. Within its austere and decorous walls, daughters of the nobility were prepared for life at Court and taught the art of enchantment in order to ensnare eligible young noblemen.
    And as far as Armelia and the young ladies at Court were concerned, Darcy was still the most eligible and dashing young man around, and her intention was to become his bride. Wealthy beyond measure, and stunningly handsome to boot, it was rumoured that he was shortly to take command of his own troop of unicorns in the Queen’s Household Cavalry. Why, if she were to ensnare Darcy, she would be the envy of the entire Court! She might even win the coveted Golden Wand of Achievement from Grimalkin’s! Her imagination running away with her, Armelia hurriedly flicked open her fan to cool herself, then realized that the Queen had risen. Everyone was applauding. Quenelda was looking horrified, her mouth hanging open.
    ‘Aquainted with …?’
    Within heartbeats Armelia too was in danger of letting her own mouth hang open. Had she