“I wasn’t asking you,” the dragon said severely in the general direction of the snake. “And whatever they are, they certainly aren’t wizards.”

“They look like somebody’s princesses to me,” a blue-green dragon said. “Pity, that. It would be so much simpler to eat them and get them out of the way.”

“Are you sure?” said a third dragon. “The one on the end doesn’t look like a princess.”

“I’m beginning to think this wasn’t such a good idea,” the stone prince said.

“He may not be a princess, but he doesn’t look edible, either,” the blue-green dragon pointed out. “And these other two are definitely princesses. You can’t go eating them out of hand.”

“Princesssessss,” hissed the voice from under the rock.

“Oh, princesses,” the olive-green dragon said. “No wonder they’re so full of wild tales.”

“It’s true!” Cimorene said desperately. “If you don’t believe us, take us to Kazul; she will.”

“I can’t do that!” the olive-green dragon said, shocked. “Kazul’s third in line now, after Mazarin and Woraug. You can’t talk to people who are that close to making their attempt with the stone. It would distract them.”

“Woraug!” Alianora said. “Woraug’s next in line?”

“Yes, he should be starting off any minute now,” said the olive-green dragon. “Then comes Mazarin, and then Kazul. I don’t expect it will take long, though. Nobody’s carried the stone for more than a mile or two yet.”

“But I’m Kazul’s princess!” Cimorene said.

“I don’t care who you are,” the dragon replied crossly. “You can’t talk to Kazul until she’s done with her turn.”

“That will be too late!” Cimorene cried. “You don’t understand. Woraug and the wizards—”

“I’ve had enough of your wizards,” the olive-green dragon said. “You’re a confounded nuisance, and you ought not to be pushing your way in here where you’re not wanted. Go away!”

“Cimorene, what are we going to do?” Alianora said as the olive-green dragon turned and stalked determinedly away.

“At hero’s school we were always taught that if you couldn’t persuade anyone to help you with something, it meant that you were supposed to do it by yourself,” the stone prince said diffidently. “And we are prepared.” He lifted one of his buckets slightly.

“But we don’t know where the wizards are.” Alianora said. “We have to find them before we can stop them, and there isn’t time.”

“S-s-stop the wiz-z-zardsss,” whispered the soft voice.

“That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said since we got here,” Cimorene said to the hissing whisper.

“Can’t you just wish to be where the wizards are?” the stone prince asked Cimorene.

“No, you have to know where you’re going, or the spell doesn’t work,” Cimorene said.