The Unwilling Ambassador (Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

here?"
    "Um, no?" Fred replied.
    The old dwarf rolled his eyes. "If yer not riding the beast than why is he carrying that saddle around on his back?"
    Fred shrugged. "Because it's comfortable?" he suggested.
    Canto lifted the saddle and showed sore spots along the skin. "Does that look comfortable to ya?" Fred cringed and the girls looked aghast at the raw skin. "Ya have to get his saddle off once in a while and rub him down with-"
    "-a brush?" Fred finished.
    Canto raised an eyebrow. "Aye, a brush. Most any will do, but it's best to use an-"
    "-old one?" the boy added.
    The dwarf folded his arms across his chest and glared at the young man. "Is there something ya know that yer not telling me?"
    Fred dug into his pockets for five minutes before he found the brush. He held it out to Canto, who took it in hand. "I got that from an old woman who said it could be used on cantankus, and Ned said it was enchanted."
    Canto examined the brush and nodded. "Aye, and they're both right. This is an ancient dwarven cantankus brush used when the beasts were still the steeds of war." He pointed at the bristles, and for the first time Fred noticed there was a pattern to them. "This tells what spell is attached to the brush."
    "Which spell is attached to it?" Pat asked him.
    "Speed. Brush any creature's skin with this and it'll make them much faster for a short period of time," Canto replied. "But it works best on cantankus because they don't have much hair to slow them down in the first place."
    "So it's safe to use this brush?" Fred wondered.
    "Aye, but not until he's healed a bit." Canto released the saddle strap and grabbed the saddle. He hefted it off the animal and into Fred's arms. The young man nearly collapsed beneath the weight. "Otherwise you'll just hurt him more. Don't forget to take that collar off him like ya do yer own. Those can scrape the neck and give them some bad sores."
    Fred blinked, and crossed his eyes when he glanced down at his own collar. "I can take this off?" he wondered.
    Pat narrowed her eyes at the young man. "Wait, are you telling us you haven't taken that thing off? What about when you've taken a bath?" she asked him.
    "What bath?" he replied.
    Pat shrank away from him, and Ruth covered her mouth to stifle her giggle. Canto chuckled and patted Fred on the back. He fell over atop the saddle. "That's a fine warrior. Baths are for the weak and the women."
    Fred cringed and Ruth stepped away from Pat. Pat's hands balled into fists and she glared at the dwarf who stood nearly a foot shorter than her height. "Did you just compare women to weaklings?" she questioned him.
    Canto folded his arms across his chest. "Not all women. Dwarven women are a robust lot and Ah'll admit elven women can fire arrows with the best of 'em, but human women are frail creatures."
    Pat rolled up her sleeves and marched up to stand toe-to-toe with the dwarf. She growled through her grinding teeth. "Would you care to test my skill against yours?" she challenged.
    Canto raised an eyebrow. "My ax against yer sword?" She nodded. "Very well. The first to draw blood wins, but no attempts at mortal wounds," he scolded. "Meet back here in ten minutes?"
    "Agreed," Pat replied. She spun on her heels and marched toward the castle. Ruth rushed after her and Fred sat back on his haunches to glare at the dwarf.
    "Why are you fighting? We're supposed to be on the same side," Fred reminded him.
    "It's a matter of honor," Canto calmly replied. There was a mischievous smirk on his lips. "And there might be something more on her mind. Has she always been this short-tempered?"
    Fred shook his head. "Yeah, but she never wanted to fight somebody to the death because she was mad at them."
    Canto pulled at his whiskers and hummed. "Ya may want to have Ned here in case things get out of hand."
    The young man nodded, picked up the saddle and hurried off to inform his master. He went to Ned's room and knocked on the door. Ned opened it wearing a nightcap and his