Vines and flower vines wrapped around the chess tower of the castle where the game was played. The smell of honeysuckle and roses was pleasantly invigorating. Estella thought that some butterflies, fluttering in the flowers, and suspiciously resembling pixies, were whispering a warning.
Is the princess playing with an evil spirit or a demon? We must tell her that she is in danger! But shes not likely to understand our language. People dont usually understand us.
But Estella heard and understood. They must have mistaken Reason for an evil spirit. Should she tell them they were wrong? Or would that be an insult to Reason, who for some reason could not hear them?
He was so engrossed in the game that he didnt notice anything. He preferred to play with black pieces. Estella got the white chess pieces, which had the privilege of making the first move, but it didnt help her. She too often lost to Reason. Only once or twice did he let her win. It was only because he was distracted by looking at himself in the wall mirror. He really did look like hed been dragged out of the furnace like a chimney demon. No wonder why the pixies mistook him for an evil spirit. She didnt like his appearance herself, but she was used to him. For the sake of achievement, it was worth tolerating his ugliness. If it werent for Reason, she wouldnt even know the rules of chess combat.
They say its a game for the clever! Estella remarked, rearranging the pieces. I play it, so I am clever!
It is with my help. Dont you forget! I am your cleverness. Without me you are as without a head, Reason himself dragged the pieces with both paws and hurt Estellas white chess pieces with his tail, so that she regularly had to correct them. Playing with him was really the most amusing thing about it.
And they say Ive been bewitched, so Im stupid.
Theyre comforting you.
What do you say? She almost dropped her queen.
Dont ask me every word, like a dummy. Take more of my advice, and youll get smarter.
Its that simple?
How do you think people learn the wisdom of life?
I dont know. I think theyre born smart.
Estella tensed. Her head felt like it was a mess. Her mind echoed in her head as if someone was pounding on an invisible door inside her mind with a fist. The healer said it happens to all victims of witchcraft. But Reason assured her otherwise.
All men listen to wise counsel, and gain wisdom for themselves, he said. So with me you are on the right track.
But you cause a lot of trouble in the state. The palace has been in turmoil every day since I rescued you from captivity.
Its not my fault. Its the intrigues of those who envy you. They envy you for having me.
Can anyone see you? You said you were invisible?
Silly, they sense that you have something in you worthy of envy. People, even when theyre blind, can smell it and get angry. Its human nature to be jealous.
I didnt know that.
Thats because youre lucky. Theres no one to envy you. Envy isnt for those born princesses.
Thats not true! I have often envied Gisela.
She is a duenna! Reason chuckled nastily. Youd have been better off turning her over to a convent. She has no business in a palace. She has her nose everywhere.
Shes not a chaperone! Shes my tutor.
Shes a prude and a jealous woman, and a hunter for a rich husband. If you were a prince instead of a princess, she would have married you long ago, ignoring the age difference.
But shes so elegant and graceful and everyone admires her manners. I dont know how to behave like that.
So Ill teach you! Reason finished the game and jumped on Estellas shoulder. The white chess pieces were lying heavily scratched on the board. I cant stand white chess, because white troops have long been my enemies.
Reason spit ash on the board, and his black spit burned through it. The white ivory pieces cracked in half.
Was it my winning that upset you? Estella guessed. It must be nonsense that she won and not her mind.
You just talked me out of it and I had to give you a head start, he brushed her off. And what problems in the state were you talking about when I helped you get through the war without any losses.
It is almost without loss of life! She clarified, remembering the dragon-eaten knights.
Feeding a dragon doesnt count as loss, Reason corrected. We have to feed him while he guards us.
Hed rather eat other mens food than our own.
Youre getting smarter, arent you? Next time, well turn him on our enemies. Ill help him change his orientation from our subjects to outsiders. Let him snack on outsiders. Are all our problems solved now?
It is not all! The courtiers have been gossiping about ghosts and evil spirits since you arrived.
Thats their problem, not ours.
Are you sure?
If theyre not right in the head, let them see a physician! Youre not their mother to take care of them.
I see! Youve freed me from my problems.
Estella was glad that Reason had made things so easy. Suddenly he was no longer a problem, but it was hard to carry on her shoulder.
Youre not getting off! My shoulders stiff, and its hard for me.
Itll be even harder without me! Reason said profoundly. Maybe he was right. Maybe he needs to be close to her head, or else hell disappear. And without his advice, it really is hard.
Come on, my polar star.
Where are we going now?
Just walk me around the castle. I want to hear whos talking about what.
You mean listen to the news?
Thats right!
He can hear everything from a distance. How does he do that? The talkers stand far away and whisper barely, but he hears everything clearly and even retells some of it.
In the beginning Estella liked the new entertainment, because Reason retold her all the funny gossip about swaggering ladies and their admirers, but gradually she tired of the monotony of the news.
Theres Lady Frederica plotting against her husbands sweetheart, Reason reported. And that Lady Cassinda ran to the physician in the morning to cure her pimples, but he did not help her. Shes now powdering her rash and whispering nasty things about the doctor to her friends Lady Eden and Lady Fancy. And the Duchess Gloriana is left abandoned by her suitor. These two gentlemen with whom she is whispering now are the bravi, the assassins for hire. She wants to send them to the traitor at night. And these ladies are the ones who are badmouthing everyone who seems more successful than they are. And its all high society! Even the demons would behave more decently if you wanted them to drive the humans out and make them your subjects. Is that what you want, by the way?
Reason clawed nervously at her neck, almost ripping her necklace.
Do you want demons or not?
Let me go! Estella almost threw him off, and Reason scolded. She had to go with him into the alcove, where no one would see them.
Youd better take me to the dragon!
But hes dangerous! Hell burn you!
Are demons not dangerous?
Reason went kind of quiet.
I dont want demons, I want to see the dragon, she insisted, tugging at Reasons tail.
It is all right, all right, Reason struggled to free his tail from her fingernails. When it gets dark, Ill take you to the dragon. But not now! Not when its midnight and all the servants are asleep. Only that he may burn you, you take the responsibility on yourself.
Estella nodded happily.
Girlfriend of the dragon
Up close, the dragon was an unpleasant swamp color. It looked emerald only in the sunlight. In the dungeon, lit by smoldering torches, its hide no longer glowed as brightly. Estella was not disappointed. A real dragon is a miracle, no matter what it looks like.
He slept on kegs of beer and completely ignored the princess. He must have been fed up.