The business empire 6/10

“Fancy seeing you here!” said the horse. “You’re a long way from home, were you hoping to see Sir about something special?”

“I was just wondering what he was up to now that the witches have stopped him using that special door he’d arranged for himself.”

“Well I’m never too sure what he’s doing, but the good times are back I can assure you. Mind you I miss the peasants at Lurbridge, but the locals here are quite friendly once you get to know them.”

The horse began laughing to himself before explaining his thoughts to Jennifer Jane. “I expect you’ve heard how the witches fooled your friend? You should have seen her face when Sir took her to see the dragon and there was one of the lads from the Gate with a dummy dragon’s head, blowing smoke and fire out of Tasmin’s cave. It was worth all the fuss and bother afterwards just for that one moment.”

He stopped for a moment to let her have a good laugh at his story.

“She didn’t half tell off young Gordon as well on the way back, although she was a bit lucky there. Any of the older trolls would have had her for breakfast on the spot! As for Sir and his latest idea I just take him to Timber Creek where he has a chat with a man at the timber yard and then he goes off for a week or so, but I’ve no idea what he gets up to.”

“Do you know when he’s due back from this trip?”

“Any time now really, could even be tonight! I daresay the landlord at the Inn could tell you. He’s very enthusiastic; Sir is really bringing in lots of customers. Some of them have come two or three times and the talk is different after every trip. There’s another thing as well. Nobody laughs at him any more, whatever it is he talks about; they all believe every word. It’s all very strange!”

Jennifer Jane asked the horse not to say anything about her visit then went back to the Swan and returned her glass. She found out that George was due back the next day and made up her mind to be there to see what was so unusual about his lectures in this village.