"Oh?"
"Well, it doesn't sound particularly noble and knightly to say you've rescued the Chief Cook and Librarian, does it? And it has cut down on the number of interruptions. I used to get two or three knights a day, and now there's only about one a week. And the ones who do come are at least smart enough to figure out that I'm still a princess even if the dragons call me Chief Cook."
"Doesn't that make them harder to get rid of?."
"Not at all. The smart ones listen when I argue with them. The stupid ones think I'm kidding. I had to offer to fight a couple of them myself before I could get them to go away."
Mendanbar peered doubtfully at Cimorene in the dim lantern-light.
She didn't look as if she were joking. "You actually offered to fight a knight?"
"Four of them," Cimorene said, nodding. and a prince. It was the only way to convince them." She looked at Mendanbar uncertainly. "I'm sorry if I behaved badly to you at first, but I really did think you were here to rescue me. It's the crown." She pointed to the circlet on his head. "You wouldn't believe the trouble I've had with some of the princes. Being rude is the only way to get rid of them in a hurry, and sometimes even that doesn't work. Especially if they're particularly stupid."
"I understand," Mendanbar said without thinking. "They sound a lot like princesses-stubborn, witless, and-" He stopped short in dismay.
He'd forgotten for a moment that Cimorene was a princess, too. He hoped she wouldn't be insulted.
Fortunately, Cimorene didn't seem insulted at all. She nodded.
"Exactly.
That's why I send the knights and princes on to rescue other princesses.
They mostly deserve each other. Of course, I do try to make sure I send the nicest knights to the nicest princesses. They can't help it if they're silly," They had reached a side opening, and Cimorene hesitated. Then she shrugged and went in. "The kitchen's a mess today," she said over her shoulder, "but even when it's messy, it's more comfortable for human-type people than the big caves where the dragons go to chat. I can make tea, too, if you'd like some."
Before he could answer, Mendanbar emerged from the side tunnel into a large, well-lit cavern. An enormous black stove took up half of one wall, and the other walls were lined with tall wooden cupboards. A stone sink next to the door was filled to the brim with scummy gray water, and the shelf next to it was overflowing with dirty dishes. In the middle of the floor stood a large wooden table and three mismatched chairs.
"Tea sounds good," Mendanbar said, politely ignoring the dishes.
Cimorene scowled at the sink and began rummaging through the cupboards.
"Do you mind having your tea in a wine glass? I know it's a little strange, but I'm afraid all the cups are dirty. The sink has been plugged up for nearly a week, and I haven't been able to do the dishes."
"I don't mind," Mendanbar said. "But you'll have to do something about that sink sooner or later, you know."
"I've tried," Cimorene said in an irritated tone. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to persuade a plumber to come look at a dragon's sink? I thought I'd finally found one, but he was supposed to get here yesterday morning and still hasn't shown up, so he's probably not coming. And there aren't any books on plumbing in Kazul's library, or I'd have fixed it myself."
"I'm sorry," Mendanbar said. "Maybe I can do something about it."
"Go ahead," Cimorene replied. "You can't make it any worse than it is already."
That didn't sound like much of a vote of confidence to Mendanbar, but it didn't matter. He went over to the sink and studied it for a moment, then backed up a pace and drew his sword.
Cimorene made a startled noise. "Your sword does plumbing?" she said, sounding interested. "I knew it was magic, but I thought it was for dragons."
"It does most things," Mendanbar said absently. Working magic outside the Enchanted Forest took a lot of concentration. He squinted down the length of the blade at the sink, feeling the power within the sword tingle against his palm. Then he whipped the sword through the air, pushing power out of it to wrap around the sink. With a final flourish, he touched the tip of the sword to the surface of the scummy water. There was a spray of magic, a loud glug, and the water swirled and began to run down the drain.
"There," said Mendanbar. "That should do it." He wiped the tip of his sword and stuck it back in its sheath.
"It certainly should!" Cimorene said. "Is your magic always that flashy?"
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind. I'll wash some cups while the tea water is boiling. Sit down while I get the kettle started."
Mendanbar sat down at the table and frowned suddenly. "Oh, bother."
"What?"
"Morwen gave me some cider to bring to King Kazul, and I was so busy cleaning up after Zemenar that I forgot to pick it up before I left.
I'm sorry. I'll have to send it with someone when I get back."
Cimorene stopped short, holding the teakettle suspended in midair.
"Zemenar? Not the Head Wizard of the Society of Wizards?"
"Yes, of course," Mendanbar said, a little surprised by her reaction.
Then he recalled how much Zemenar seemed to dislike Cimorene.
Presumably Cimorene felt the same way about Zemenar.
"And you had to clean up after him? It figures," Cimorene muttered.
She finished filling the kettle and put it on the stove, then went back to the sink and washed two cups, two saucers, and two spoons with an intense concentration that made it obvious she was thinking about something else.
Mendanbar was happy to let her think. He had a few things to mull over himself. Cimorene was not at all what he'd expected. She acted more like Morwen than like a princess. He wondered where she had come from and how she had gotten captured by the dragons. He nearly asked, but pulled himself up short before the words left his mouth. He hadn't come to talk to a princess. No, indeed. "When will King Kazul be back?" he asked instead.
Cimorene did not answer at once. She set the teacups on the table, poured hot water into the teapot to brew, and sat down across from Mendanbar. She studied him for a long minute, then gave a decisive nod.
"All right," she said. "I'll tell you the truth. I don't know."
A wave of irritation swept over Mendanbar. "If Kazul didn't tell you when she expected to be back, why didn't you say so at once?"
"Oh, she told me," Cimorene said. She looked very sober. "She was supposed to be home the day before yesterday."
"And she's not back yet?"
Cimorene nodded again. "And she hasn't sent a message or anything.
She's disappeared. I was just getting ready to go search for her when you showed up."
Mendanbar took a deep breath. "I think you'd better tell me everything you know about this," he said. "When did Kazul leave, and where was she going?"
"She left last Monday," Cimorene replied readily. "She was going to visit her grandchildren in the northern part of the mountains. She does that whenever she gets a chance, and sometimes she stays a few extra days, but she's always sent word before when she's done that."