Maddie & Rebecca audio

Alexandra and Peter arrive home to find a fire, supper, and extra place settings. They had been caught skipping lessons to visit an old hermit in the forest. Melenso, their caretaker, scolds them for believing in creatures like elves, wizards, dwarves, and dragons. She says they should have learned better from Brother Cardashan. A fire was already laid in the hearth when Alexandra and Peter finally arrived home. Supper was on the table and Melenso was just starting to pour some wine into a simple iron goblet at the head of the table. Peter noticed there were two extra place settings, each sporting a goblet of wine. There was also an intricately carved white hazel wood staff cradled in the stand next to the door. The staff sported a bronze wolf's head pommel, brightly polished and well worn on the top. He knew what this meant, they both knew. Oh, there you two are at last, Melenso said, appearing a bit more annoyed than they felt she should be. I thought you would both go to bed hungry this night, you stayed at the abbey so late after lessons. Melenso was a large woman, not obese but clearly someone who enjoyed eating good food. Her silver hair was pulled back and tied with a scarf, as always. Peter knew immediately they had been caught. We did not stay late after lessons today, he said quickly. We did not go to the abbey this morning, we were out in the forest, near to the Silverstream waterfall. Were you out in the woods with that old hermit again? Melenso asked pointedly. Neither of them could lie to her, she could read it in their eyes, and besides, she wouldn't really care. Yes, we went to visit Carol, Alexandra spoke up. We wanted to spend some time with him before the harvest begins. We did not mean any harm, we just wanted to hear some more stories about the old days, before the world was broken and the great rift was formed. From the time when there was still magic in the land, and there were elves, and wizards, and dwarves, and dragons, and griffins, and enough! That will be quite enough of that, Melenso barked, glancing quickly towards the closed kitchen door. I will not have you speaking such prattle. Brother Cardashan will be disappointed that you two have not learned your lessons better than this. There were no such creatures as dwarves or dragons, there never were, and there will be no more such talk in this house.