OPENBOOK

ABRAXAS the LOVESICK SEA DRAKE

The cat was nowhere to be seen. But Celeste did spot something that caused her to reach for her rolling pin. There, stuck like a lump, in her dough was the fly—a very large fly. The angel's first impulse was to hammer the filthy nuisance with her rolling pin.

“No! Don't!” cried the fly as loudly as it could. “Please—Spare me!”

“Good Heavens!” Celeste put down the rolling pin, cleaned the flour from her eyeglasses, and bent down to have a closer look.

“Don't hurt me . . .I won't pester you,” pleaded the fly offering up a fragile smile as proof.

“Of course I won't hurt you . . .” said Celeste, smiling right back, “. . . provided we can get you out of my cookie dough. And out of my cat's reach long enough to explain how I've gone from talking to myself, to talking with a great big fly.

“I'm not a fly,” said the fly. "I'm actually a prince—and heir to the throne . . . and I'm cursed." After spilling out the gist of it, the fly hesitated to await Celeste's reaction.

She mulled the absurdity of the fly's claim. ''Well, do tell!. . . Think I'll finish kneading my dough . . . And you, Prince fly, can unravel more of your story. ”

“Thank you, Milady, for your indulgence,” said the fly politely as he settled onto a teaspoon and began his tale by introducing himself. "If you please, my proper name is Sir Niles Nettlemoore, Prince of Allstead, eldest son of his Royal Majesty Constantio, High King of all the Middle Realms and heir apparent to . . . to what? . . . What shall a fly ever inherit, but disdain.”

The fly paused. For a moment Celeste thought he might start sobbing. But his eyes were so tiny she couldn't be certain. “Do continue, Your Highness. Perhaps it will be easier if you just laid out the essentials.”

“Very well,” he said. After taking a moment to collect himself, the words came tumbling out. "Some months back I crossed swords with a practitioner of the black arts. A wretched sport, I daresay . . . tightly wound and ready to snap. This twisted fellow was spurned by one of the king's royal courtesans whom he favored. Disgruntled by the rebuff, he absconded with the poor damsel, intent on turning her to stone, or sending her to the nether reaches with a spell. As it happened, I stepped forward on her behalf. I rankled the old warlock unceasingly, until . . . well as you see, it was me he sent instead.