oyfromthepalacesaid,“Oneisenough.”

    Hewasabouttograbthesheetandleave,butIrestrainedhimbecauseIknewfullwell,asIknowmyowhatthesesdrelswouldbegivingupapurseofgoldsforthesehorses.

    IfIillustratethewayIwantto,theywon’tgivemethegold!IfI’twinthegold,mynamewillbetarnishedforever.Istoppedtothink.“Justwait,”Isaidtotheboy.IwentinsideaurhtwoincrediblyshinyterfeitVeiangoldpieces,whichIproceededtogivetotheboy:Hewasafraid,hiseyeswidened.“You’reasbraveasalion,”Isaid.

    IremovedohenotebooksofformsthatIkepthiddenfromtheeyesoftheworld.ThisiswhereIsecretlymadecopiesofthemostbeautifulillustrationsthatI’dseeheyears.Nottomentionthecopiesthatthechiefofthedwarfs,Jafer,ireasurywouldmakeofthebesttrees,dragons,birds,huntersandwarriorsfromthepagesofvolumeslockedaway;thatis,ifyougavehimtengoldpieces,therogue.Mynotebookisexcellent,notforthosewhowanttoseetheactualworldinwhichtheylivethroughpicturesanddecoration,butforthosewhowanttorecallthefablesofold.

    Flippingthroughthepageswhileshowingtheimagestothepageboy,Iselectedthebestofthehorses.Ibrisklypokedholesoverthelihatpicturewithaneedle.,Iplacedasheetofpaperuhestencil.Igraduallysprinkledaliberalamountofcoaldustontop,thenshookitsothedustwouldpassthroughtheholes.Iliftedthestencil.Thecoaldust,dotbydot,hadtransferredthebeautifulhorse’sentireshapetothesheetbelow.Itleasuretobehold.

    Igrabbedmypen.Withaninspirationthatsuddenlywelledupwithinme,Ielegantlyectedthedotswithquiddecisivestrokes,suchthatasIwasdrawingthehorse’sbelly,gracefulneose