Book2:KigdomIteDreams

ing.Justthen,apuffofsmokestreakedacrosstheskiesandcametoastopbeforeastrawhutbythesideoftheke,whereitgedintotheformofaslimandcurvaceousyoungwomanaiefishthought,

    “Shewasinallyonlyapuffofsmoke,butcouldgeintohumanform.Ifshecoulddoso,why’tI?Fromnowon,IwillprayferventlyandbegGodtoletmegeintoabeautifulyoungwoman.IfIcouldbebyDimitri’ssideandkeephimpanythatwouldbeallIaskoflife!”Thergewhitefishhappilyflippeditselfoutofthewaterandjumpedintotheair.Thenshedivedagainbatothewateranddisappearedfromsight.

    WhiteFairypushedopenthedoorofthestrawhutandsawthequietaleLotussittingtherewithherheadbentlow,mendingabrokenfishi.ShekhatallthepeopleoftheKingdomhadbeencalledtotheminesandLotuswastryingtohelpthefishermenbydoingsomesimplechoresforthem.WhenshesawWhiteFairywalkin,shesmiledandsaid,

    “Whatwindblewyouhere?Howeyouhavetimetoeaoday?”

    “Iamnotreallyheresocially,Lotus”saidWhiteFairysittingdown.“Iamheretoinformyouaboutsomethingthathappenedindom.”

    “Really?pened?”

    “Alittleafternoooday,ouractivelittleDornatookKingDimitri’stwotigersawanderinginthemountain.Suddenly,sheheardawoman’svoiceshriekingandgshrilly.Soshecalledthetwotigersaoiigate.Inthedenseforest,shefoundourpoetessAngelicafallenonthegroundinafaint,surroundedbysevebarbarians.TheirfaceswereferociouslypaiattooedtolooklikedevilsandtheywerebusytearingoffAngelica’sclothestostripherwasnotknowhertheymeanttorapeherorbutcherher,foryouknow,thesetribesareknowntobeibals.OurceousDornawieldedAmalia’sbroomandregardlessofherowyfoughtthebarb