Lindorm Princess

Chapter 6

I shifted in the bed, my eyes closed. I could hear the satisfied purrs of Grey Mis by my ear, drifting between dream and reality.

Nooooo, Lise, make her stop, I heard suddenly. My eyes snapped open, and I rolled by the side of my pillow.

Grey Mis groomed Slange, as he stared at me in shock. The sandpapery tongue lapped at his scaly little head, and he closed his eyes in an unmistakable shudder.

This wretched feline is going to devour me, he complained. Save me, please.

I tried not to laugh as she wrapped her paws around him and almost smothered him in a motherly embrace.

"It's because you're warm," I chuckled. "She likes heat."

I gently extricated him from her clutches, which earned me a hiss and a little swipe.

"Ow! Grey Mis, you naughty cat. He's not for you," I exclaimed, as I lifted Slange away from her.

Thank you, Slange exhaled. He was clearly relieved to be freed of her furry paws.

Grey Mis went back to a nap, as she quickly moved on from the dispute.

I blinked, carefully. It was early still, before the crow of the roosters. I wrapped Slange around my neck as I peeked through the woolen curtains. The sun was still a thin, pale line fighting for dawn against the dark expanse of sky.

The memories of the past two days came rushing back. After I had managed to thresh all the wheat with Slange, he had spent the rest of the evening and the next morning teaching me chants again. I had to learn the words to separate the grains and another to lift and sort them into the bags.

In all that time, I had only managed to fill two bags, and cover the bottom of another. It was going to be long work, no matter how strong I was, and I didn't have much time left before my parents checked the progress.

What are you thinking?  interrupted Slange.

I responded slowly, still a bit sleepy. "I think we should go to the barn and get started while we still can. I'll leave Mor and Far a note at the table."

No breakfast?

I smiled. Slange was always thinking of his belly.

"Don't worry, I'll snatch you a bite from the larder on the way out."

After quickly dressing, I grabbed two small baked cinnamon buns from the cupboard over the hearth before making the trek to the barn. The roosters crowed their first alarm as I slid the door open, and set Slange down upon the nearby stool, which was now routine.

We began as the first cracks of sunlight began to shine through the doorway, and the cows mooed. I closed my eyes and stomped my feet to keep time as I sung, telling each grain to break free of its hull. I felt my magic waltz with Slange's, as his deep voice strengthened my chant.

The chant always quickened as I commanded the grains to find rest in the open bags surrounding me. It was the most difficult part, but after hours of practice the day before, my tongue nimbly slid over the words in perfect rhythm.

The singing and the stomping clouded my ears, which was why I didn't hear Mor or Far's footsteps until it was too late.

"By the devil's horns, what is this, Lise?" roared Far from the open door.

My eyes snapped open at the curse, and both Slange and I dropped the chant. Perfectly cleaned bits of grain rained down from the air around us, the magic immediately dissolving.