The Girl, The Rat, And The Five Whiskered Snow Dragon

Chapter 3

A Night Out

Mathis smiled as he sat on the edge of Cypress's bed. He crossed his arms and leaned back, looking at the ceiling as if the stars were found there. He was a handsome man in his youth and handsome still as a father. He had a strong jaw and silver streaked black hair and beard. Mrs. Smith once told Cypress that if her father knew any more his head would explode. Unbeknownst to the elderly woman, Cypress panicked over the pressure in her father's head, and for a good week tried to ensure he didn't think any new thoughts, which was difficult because thoughtful brooding was his favorite pastime. Mathis pulled out his dark cherry wood pipe. He knew she wanted to tell him something.

"Papa..." Cypress's voice trailed off as if she couldn't finish her sentence.

"Yes."

"I have a large head." That was not what Cypress wanted to say. She was going to tell her father about Belle. She was spelled. She couldn't tell him about the fairy. Belle had conjured a hex that made Cypress insult herself anytime she tried to tell someone her secret.

Mathis laughed as he thumbed jutter leaf into the worn bowl.

"Well, I don't think you got that from me. Don't tell your mother I said that," he replied with a wink.

"Wait, wait... That is not what I wanted to say." She hadn't tried yet to tell someone and hadn't realized what Belle had done. "What I meant to say was... that... I... am completely ugly." Cypress covered her mouth. She tried to quickly get out the story about Belle as if the speed of her words would counter the spell. "And my breath is absolutely and completely repulsive."

The speed of her words only produced a speedy insult.

"Well, at least you're not arrogant," Mathis said shaking his head. "Is this a day of opposites?"

"I—never mind," She yawned and rolled to her side as if to get some sleep, but she couldn't sleep. The fairy had filled her mind and still fluttered there like annoying insects on a summer night.

Mathis leaned over with a smile, kissed his daughter on the head and said: "Get some sleep, silly girl. Hopefully I will too, that is, if your brother doesn't keep me up all night telling stories about dragons and the Provincial War."

Her father had ridden dragons years ago, before he met their mother, when he was a captain of the future king's dragoons.

Cypress smiled. "Goodnight, Dad."

Mathis rose from her bed, regretting that they hadn't talked more. She would be leaving him soon. He walked quietly from her room, but as he got to the door, he paused, lighting his pipe.

"My little fox..." his voice drifted back to Cypress. She always loved that nickname.

"Yes?"

"You know your mother loves it when you surprise us with berries, and I do, too," he patted his belly as he spoke, "but the ones you got today were thick. The biggest I've seen for awhile. Where did you get them?"

Her father knew she'd been to the wall. It was the only place to find berries that big. She also knew this was his way of getting her to admit what he already knew.

"They grow by the wall."

"What have I told you about the wall?"

"The wall is dangerous."

"Do you think I lie to you?"

"Dad, I don't—"

"You must think I'm a liar," Mathis voice began to rise, "because you believe there's nothing wrong with the wall. You think everything is an adventure and nothing bad will ever happen."