The Unwilling Apprentice (Book 2) Read Free Page B

and pulled at his beard. "What shall we do with you?"
    "Can't we train him? You said people used them as steeds," Fred pointed out.
    Ned shook his head. "Though Fluffy here is very bright, I fear we wouldn't work fast enough to placate our dear captain."
    Fred thought for a moment and his face lit up. "Martley told me about a craftsman in the city! She said he could help us with Fluffy."
    The old man's bushy eyebrows shot up. "Canto is still alive? That is very fortunate for us."
    "Then you know about him, too?" Fred asked him.
    Ned nodded. "He's an old acquaintance, the best cantankus craftsman in all the lands. If anyone was to make you a saddle, I would trust him to do it. Did the woman tell you where he might reside?"
    Fred scrunched up his face. "I think she said in the blacksmith district."
    Ned smiled, wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders and turned them toward the door. "Then let us see what he can do for our wild friend."

CHAPTER 3
     
    Ned led Fred and Fluffy out into the courtyard and past the ugly looks of all the guards. The old man smiled and nodded his head at each of them, and a few returned the compliment with rude gestures. Fred was glad to leave them and the castle behind, but the staring didn't stop at the castle gates. Citizens did double-takes and stuck their heads out windows to see the cantankus. They murmured to one another, and Fred eased closer to Ned. "Shouldn't we put a blanket or something over Fluffy?" he whispered to him.
    "They're only curious," Ned pointed out. "So long as we don't start a panic we'll be-"
    At that moment they happened to pass a side-street with a push-cart filled with roasted chickens that hung from the triangular canopy. The lower part was a hot box filled with more of the delicious fowl. Fred leaned a hand on Fluffy's back, and the next moment he teetered over onto the ground. Fluffy barreled down the street toward the cart, dreams of dark meat in his eyes. The owner had his back to them until he heard the pounding feet. He turned with a smile that transformed into horror as he watched this large creature with its tongue out racing toward him. He screamed like a girl, grabbed the handles of his cart and raced down the street.
    Fluffy howled at the challenge of chasing his food and his lips curled back in a wide grin. The smile terrified the cart owner, who flew around the corner onto a busy street. People screamed and yelled, and dove out of the way of the cart as it went careening through the crowds. Fluffy bolted around the corner and crashed into several people who were picking up themselves from the streets. The cantankus ran over them and after the cart.
    Ned and Fred skidded out of the street and used the rising people to stop their slide. "Pardon us," Ned apologized. Fred nodded at the furious citizens, and the pair were off after their beast.
    Fluffy was fifty yards ahead of them and gaining on the cart. The poor owner's eyes were wide and his heaving, round stomach bounced slower with each failing step. He looked over his shoulder and the drool from Fluffy's open mouth flew into his face. The thick, oozing water blinded him and he didn't notice the wall until the front of his cart hit it.
    He flew over the handles and box of the cart, and was cushioned from the wall by the roast chickens. Fluffy yipped and put his claws ahead of him to slow his speed, but he tripped and tumbled forward. He collided with the cart and opened his mouth to grab as many of the chickens as he could gobble up.
    Ned and Fred came up to the scene of the crash and crime, and their faces fell. The cart owner lay dazed on the ground and Fluffy sat by the remains of the cart with the remains of chickens laid out around him in a circle of sacrifice. Ned glanced over to Fred, and Fred to the old man. Ned smirked and shrugged. "Perhaps Pat won't find out about this trouble," he hoped.
    All hopes were dashed when they heard the clanking of armor, and the sounds grew louder. A troupe of guards