Wrede, Patricia C - Enchanted Forest 02 by Searching for Dragons

Forest in ways no one, not even the Kings of the Enchanted Forest, really understood. Mendanbar always felt better when he had the sword with him, but he couldn’t wear it around the castle all the time. It made Willin unhappy and visitors nervous. So he kept the sword in the armory unless he could think of an excuse to use it.
    Rising, he swung the sword twice, just for fun. Then he hunted around until he found a sword belt and scabbard, put the sword in the sheath, and buckled the belt around his waist. With another wave of his hand, he was back in the audience chamber.

5 In Which There Is a Misunderstanding
and Mendanbar Does Some Plumbing

    T he awkward lump of wizard-magic was right where Mendanbar had left it. He studied it for a moment, then drew his sword.
    “Your Majesty!” said Willin from the doorway. “What are you doing?”
    “Cleaning up after our visitor,” Mendanbar replied. “Do be quiet for a minute, Willin. I need to concentrate.”
    “But— ”
    Mendanbar shot an irritated look at Willin. The castle steward broke off and closed his mouth into a thin, disapproving line. Mendanbar waited half a moment longer to make sure the elf was not going to say anything else, then turned back to the lump. Raising the sword, he reached over the loop of Enchanted Forest magic and stuck the point into the center of the mass.
    A surge of power ran through the sword as it sucked up the wizard’s leftovers and sent them to reinforce the invisible network of Enchanted Forest magic. The surge was stronger than Mendanbar had expected, and he frowned as he lifted the sword away from the now-empty space and put it back in its sheath. Perhaps it hadn’t been extra, unused magic, after all; perhaps Zemenar had deliberately left a spell behind. It was too late to test it now, though. The sword was thorough, and whatever the lump had been, it was now gone for good.
    “Your Majesty?”
    Willin’s voice sounded much more tentative than it had a moment before. Mendanbar almost smiled, but Willin was sure to get upset if he thought he was being laughed at. So Mendanbar kept his face stiff and took a little longer than necessary to undo the loop he had left to guard the wizard’s magic. When he was positive that his expression was normal, he turned.
    “Yes, Willin?”
    “What was all that about? Has my lord the Head Wizard gone? Why are you wearing your sword? What—”
    “One thing at a time,” Mendanbar interrupted gently. “Zemenar has gone, yes. He cast a vanishing spell, and a very good one, too. No smoke, no whirling dust, just poof and he was gone. Unfortunately, he wasn’t as tidy with the end of his spell, and some of it got left behind. Or at least, that’s what I thought until I got rid of it a minute ago.”
    “I . . . see,” Willin said in a tone that meant he didn’t. “And that’s why you have your sword?”
    “Partly.” Mendanbar looked at the empty patch of floor where the wizard had been, then shook his head. Whatever Zemenar might have been up to, it would have to wait. “I have to pay a visit to the King of the Dragons.”
    Willin’s face went completely blank. “You what?”
    “I’m going to the Mountains of Morning, to see the King of the Dragons,” Mendanbar repeated. “And I’m certainly not going without a sword. There are lots of dangerous creatures in those mountains, and some of them wouldn’t care that I’m the King of the Enchanted Forest, even if they bothered to stop for an introduction before they attacked.”
    “But you can’t just leave, Your Majesty!” Willin said. “A formal embassy to the King of the Dragons will take weeks to arrange. You’ll want a full escort, and—”
    “I don’t think there’s time,” Mendanbar broke in, before Willin could get too involved in planning. “Something’s come up, and it needs to be dealt with now . So I’m going today, in another minute, and you’re in charge of the castle until I get back.” In a sudden