Quen Nim by Steve Shilstone Page B

announced, “Gave up! Gone off! Zilp and Forr! We sold all of our pots of honey as well as our cart! They needed all of everything they could get for the journey.”
    â€œLet me tell, Thim!” said the other, nudging forward.
    â€œDo tell. You tell best, Boots!” agreed Thim, giving way.
    â€œThe Kinng and the Queeeeeeeeeeeeeeen left today at dawn for retirement!” spouted Boots importantly. “Yes! No wedding! No Royals! The Cloud Castle Princess with the snapjaw mind has disappeared! The Blossom Prince has disappeared! Run off scared, they say. Gone! No Royal to rule the Boad, All Fidd and Leee Combined!”
    â€œBut Cloud Castle City is …,” offered Zootch.
    â€œStill there, yes, one wonders,” said Thim, nudging forward. “If we weren’t duty bound to return to Clover, we would stay and wait to see what happens.”
    â€œYes,” agreed Boots, nudging forward. “Business comes first. Honey can’t go hauling itself around, can it?”
    â€œNo, I suppose not,” mumbled Zootch, his snapjaw mind having truly left the conversation to race in circles, chasing answers.
    I should announce myself instantly. No, I shouldn’t. I should wait for Nimble Missst to appear. No, I shouldn’t. I’ll take the Cap off right here now! No, I won’t! I’ll go to the Castle and … No, I won’t. Cloud Castle City is there. I will demand that it … No, I won’t. I will chant the Cap to take me to Aunt Zilp! NO!! No, no, no, not that. I will …
    By this time the miffens had turned the wild herd of fleece onto an easterly path. The honeytraders headed south, having completed their satisfying gossip-filled conversation with Zootch, a conversation Zootch efficiently took part in without so such even knowing it. Rooted to the road, he froze with snapjaw indecision.

Chapter Twenty-Eight
    Motty Complains, Nimby Explains
    â€œIs it morning? Are we gone? Is it sunsink? Are we wrong?” sang Motty, emerging so such from sleep in confusion.
    â€œRidiculous! Up! This game is over. The ridiculous Zootch is waiting for me to find him at the Castle Boad. Come along, Motty. Gather yourself. We fly now to end this ridiculous trifle,” said Nimble Missst merrily, so fizzed was she with bubbles of confidence.
    Motty rolled her eyes, looped her tongue around her neck and said, “Gaaaaacckk!”
    â€œAh, ye are tired then. Is that it?” asked Nimble Missst, still merrily, still fizzed.
    â€œGaaaaacckk!” answered Motty.
    â€œOh, I see. Ye can’t fly another ounce without more rest, ye say. Well, I say ye can. Ye can and ye will. Do ye know why ye can and ye will?” continued the chatty, light-hearted Nimby.
    â€œGaaaaacckk?” said Motty.
    â€œA fine guess, but not correct. Now unwind your ridiculous tongue and stash it where it belongs, and put this silver cape back into your pocket while I explain to ye all and everything,” said Nimby, and though she wasn’t smiling, her eyes were sparkle bright and her eyebrows arched as she handed the cape to Motty. “Possessed of a snapjaw mind, I know much and more about all kinds of sorts of things. Such like as for example, wind currents. There is a thick and powerful river of wind high above these Woods just now. Ye have not sensed it, of course, have ye?”
    Reeling in her tongue, Motty shook her head.
    â€œAs expected. I say to ye it will be a thrill to ride! Where is it racing? Straight to above the Castle Boad! Ye merely spread your wings and it carries ye fiercely swift! Not one flap will ye need to spend from here all the way to the Castle! Except of course right now to get up to it. I’ll tell ye what, ridiculous old Motty. Ye grasp my ankles and I’ll pull ye up to the current. What about that? It will be ridiculous fun!” said the now almost too giddy Nimble Missst.
    â€œAnkles?” Motty managed to say, not sing, so such