Scowling furiously, Woraug marched off into the forest. The stone prince and Alianora followed, talking in low voices. Morwen paused to pick up the wizards’ black rock and Cimorene’s pebble, then went on after them. Cimorene hesitated.

“Go on,” said the escort dragon.

“I will, but I think you ought to know that another batch of wizards is supposed to show up soon,” Cim­orene said. “Zemenar said something about a second shift. I don’t know what they can do without the stone they were using, but I’m sure they’ll try something.”

“Wizards always do,” the escort dragon said with a sigh. He studied the wizards’ staffs that were lying around the clearing with a melancholy air. “All right, I’ll send someone back to keep an eye on things as soon as we get to the ford. Whatever was going on here, there certainly were wizards in it, and that’s enough for me.”

“Good,” said Cimorene. “And thank you.” She smiled at the startled expression on the dragon’s face and started after the others.

15

In Which the Dragons Crown a New King, and Cimorene Gets a New Job

THE WALK TO THE FORD OF WHISPERING SNAKES took longer than Cimorene expected. The trees of the Enchanted Forest grew close together in many places, forcing the dragons to take a zigzag path instead of heading straight up the bank of the river. Woraug, who was in the lead, seemed to be deliberately setting a slow pace. Cimorene was sure he was hoping that the second shift of wizards would arrive at the blackberry clearing before the dragons at the ford had been warned. She had no idea what would happen then, but she doubted that it would be good. The escort dragon was not interested in Cimorene’s worries, however, and he refused to speed things up, so the group ambled on.

As they approached the ford at last, they heard cheering ahead of them. Woraug flinched visibly, and Alianora and the stone prince were startled out of their quiet conversation.

“What’s that?” Alianora said.

“Sounds to me as if we have a new King,” their escort said with great satisfaction. “That means I can get you lot off my hands right away. What a relief! I thought I was going to be stuck with you for hours.”

Alianora looked faintly indignant at this unflattering opinion. Morwen was merely amused. Woraug’s wings sagged momentarily, but then he seemed to pull himself back together, and he continued on as confidently as ever. Cimorene’s concern deepened. What if Woraug managed to convince the new King that they were all lying?

They reached the edge of the cheering crowd of dragons. “Who did it?” the escort dragon asked. “Who’s the new King?”

“How should I know?” the other responded. “I can’t see a thing from way out here.”