Hungry meets a King...

​It wasn't long before Hungry and the bees at the honey hive were sitting down to eat.  Rave didn't even have to work very hard to get the bees to share when they saw the Wish Dragon.  Immediately the bees had decided that they were honored to have a Dragon as a dinner guest (With Hungry's small wings for the size of his body being bee-like  made the bees feel like they were related)...  So, Rave just  slipped away totally unnoticed.  He knew  the Gooblin King would be waiting for his report in his chamber.  He was so excited to finally be able to tell him that he had found the Wish Dragon.

Hir'aeth was so filled with anticipation when his minion told him where Hungry was that quickly he dismissed the other retainers who were waiting for a word from him at his royal court.  Quietly he got up and slipped out a secret doorway that only Rave and him knew about.  "You have done well Rave," the Gooblin King said as the quickly walked in the direction of the honey hive.  "My other spies reported to me that stupid troll calling himself the Troll King still is waiting for his minions to find both the Dragon and the tablet.  Druzzy will be furious when he finds out that I have met Hungry first," chuckled the Gooblin King.  Soon they approached the honey hive to find Hungry smacking his lips and telling the bees that this was the best treat he had ever eaten.

"Your honey is better than anything I have eaten at the Sugar Plum Bakery," said Hungry to the queen of the bee hive.  Remembering his manners (one of those classes that Efem had given him) he attempted to bow and added, "your majesty" as he gave a slight bow to the little royal queen.  As Rave watched he was again surprised by the Wish Dragon.  "If I live to be a thousand,  this will be one sight I will probably never see again.  Who knew a honey bee could blush," he thought.  Glancing at the Gooblin King though made Rave realize that Hir'aeth saw only one thing before him - The Wish Dragon.

​​It was then that Hungry noticed Rave and the Gooblin King watching him.  Making sure that he did not have any honey dripping from his chin (a quick swipe with his tongue took care of that), Hungry walked over.

"Thanks Rave.  You are a true friend!  The snack was great and the bees tell me that they must be cousins of mine because of our wings being similar."  Holding his hand near his mouth so the bees could not see, Hungry whispered to the mechanical bird, "but Dewin told me that not how it works."

Realizing that the Gooblin King was beginning to get impatient, quickly Rave introduced the King to the Wish Dragon.  "Hungry, I am here to make friends with you and to ask your assistance," Hir'aeth told him.  "I understand that a Dragon tablet has been found and I am asking if you would read it for me?"

At first Hungry did not understand the question.  "What is a Dragon tablet?" he asked. 

"It is a book or scroll that one of your ancestors wrote to leave us a message," replied Rave before the Gooblin King could answer. 

​"Oh, I have seen some of those in my classes," answered Hungry.  "I am being taught how to read but haven't quit mastered it yet."

Rarely was the Gooblin King caught unawares.  Kings do not stay kings long if others can outmaneuver them.  This was one of those times!  Not expecting this answer, the Gooblin King did not know what to do.  As Rave talked more to the Wish Dragon, it finally dawned on Hir'aeth that it did not matter what was written on the tablet.  He was just wanting to make sure that Druzzy did not get it.  "Hungry, help me get the tablet and I will give it to you.  Consider it a present to start your own library," Hir'aeth told the Dragon.

"I don't know where it is," answered Hungry.  "Do you?"  This time the Gooblin King was ready for the question and had an answer.  "I do and I will have Rave take you to it."  Now Hir'aeth did not know where it was (exactly), but he did know where the Troll King's minion, Drat, was and if anyone was close to the Borrower with the Dragon tablet, it would be Drat.  Whispering to Rave what to do, the Gooblin King bide them goodbye and started back to his throne room so he could put the rest of his plan of embarrassing the Troll King into motion.

​"Rave, do you know if there will be food where we are going?  The honey was nice, but it doesn't seem to be keeping me filled very long," asked Hungry as he licked his lips again.  The mechanical bird (if he could have) would have shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.  Instead he only said, "Follow me" and leaped into the air.

When everyone left and only the buzzing of the bees still remained, the little Flutterby that had been sitting unnoticed on a nearby flower listening to the entire conversation slowly lifted into the air and started flying away.  It knew it needed to tell the Dowager what it had just heard.