Dragon's Breath Read Free Page A

must have been worried about you when you disappeared."
    The door banged against the wall behind me, and Eadric rushed into the room. "There you are, Emma!" he said. "I've been looking for you everywhere. You wouldn't believe what happened while I was getting dressed. I was putting on my shoes when suddenly I turned back into a frog! It was so fast, too, not at all like the last time. I couldn't believe it at first, but it lasted only a little while, then suddenly I was back to being me. And then it happened again. What's going on? Yesterday when we turned back, I thought that everything would be all right."
    "It wasn't only you, Eadric. I changed, too—every time I sneezed."
    "Ah!" said Haywood. "You sneezed. That explains it!"
    "I was afraid something like that might happen," Grassina said. "I was hoping you'd have more control of your magic before it did."
    Eadric frowned. "I'm glad you understand. Now how about telling us?"
    "It's simple, really," said my aunt. "Emma's magic is strong, and she has to learn how to control it. Until she does, whenever she stresses her body, that stress is going to snap her back to whatever form she was in last. That means that when she sneezed, which is an intense physical reaction, she became a frog. And remember that your spell was linked, so you both had to turn back into humans or you both had to remain frogs."
    I couldn't believe my ears. I already had enough problems with my magic, and now this! "Why haven't I heard about this before?"
    Haywood explained that it didn't happen often. Changing to another shape was generally discouraged among witches until they could exercise greater control, but in my case it wasn't a matter of choice.
    "This could happen again?" I asked.
    Grassina nodded. "I'm afraid so. You'll need to work on your magic as much as possible. It's controlling you now, and that's not a good way to live. I know you wanted to go with us to see your grandmother, but perhaps you should stay here."
    I didn't like that idea at all. Sitting around the castle worrying that I might turn back into a frog was the last thing I wanted to do. "I'd still like to go with you," I said. "I haven't visited Grandmother for a while, and Eadric wants to meet her before he returns to his parents' castle."
    "What's that I smell?" Eadric asked. "Did someone make breakfast?"
    "I did," I said. "Why don't you—"
    Eadric hadn't waited to be asked. Grabbing a plate of eggs, he carried it to a bench by the wall. After popping a bite in his mouth, he said, "These eggs are delicious, but they could have used a little salt."
    I rolled my eyes.
    "I've met Emma's other relatives, and I've heard so much about her grandmother," Eadric said. "I'd like to meet her, too. Emma, you should have seen it!" he continued, turning to me. "Grassina sent a message to my parents saying that I'm all right. They can stop worrying now, and I can stay a while longer. I have to wait a few days for Bright Country, anyway. He still hasn't recovered from being turned back into a horse."
    Haywood twitched his whiskers. "Do you know what you're getting into? Emma's grandmother has a nasty way with suitors."
    "I'll tell her that we're friends," Eadric said. "She can't object to that. Hey!" he shouted, jumping to his feet. "Something pinched me!" Setting the plate on the bench, he rubbed his backside with one hand and thrust the other into the space between the bench and the wall, pulling out something small and golden brown. "Here's the culprit!" he said, waving it in the air.
    "It looks like one of my crab-apple dumplings," I said. I had had enough experience with the nasty little things to recognize them even from across the room. Their flaky pastry had turned out well, but the claws they'd grown after my magic went awry could deliver a painful pinch. "I wouldn't eat it now. It's probably stale."
    Freshness didn't matter to Eadric. After inspecting the golden brown crust and the squirmy, kicking legs, Eadric shoved the whole