DragonQuest

by Donita K. Paul

  “Surely your name isn’t Tayla. I’ve never known a tumanhofer with such a short name.”

  “Well, that would be right, but my lady doesn’t like to say it all.”

  “What is your name?”

  “Taylaminkadot.”

  “Thank you, Taylaminkadot, for taking care of me.”

  The woman started and frowned at Kale. “Well now, that was nice, and you’re welcome. Are you sure you’re the daughter of my lady?”

  Kale chuckled and rested her forehead on her knees. “I prefer to think I’m not.”

  “Well, I don’t blame you there.” Tayla looked nervous. “I can get you something to eat. Would you like that?”

  “Are my dragons truly in the cook’s tent?”

  “Aye, they are, but I can’t fetch them for you.”

  “I understand, Taylaminkadot. And yes, I would like something to eat.”

  Tayla started to leave, but she turned back to warn Kale. “There’s a nasty bisonbeck guard at the door,” she whispered. “Don’t try to go anyplace.”

  Kale nodded even though she hardly heard the words. She concentrated on the servant’s mind. She had done this trick before. She could pick up the images the woman saw. As the woman walked from the tent and then through the maze of the camp to the cook’s tent, she marked her progress. By the time the tumanhofer servant came back with a bowl of soup and some bread, Kale had a pretty good idea where the tent was located. She also knew her dragons were healthy but locked in cages.

  “Now,” said Tayla, nervous again, as if being in Kale’s presence was a dangerous thing, “if you’re feeling all right, and don’t need anything, I’ll be going about my other chores.”

  “That’s fine, Taylaminkadot.”

  The woman curtsied, gave her a pitying look, and rushed out of the tent.

  “Well, it’s about time.” Toopka crawled out from under the moonbeam cape.

  “Toopka!”

  “Shh! Didn’t she say there was a guard right outside?”

  “How did you get here?”

  “I’ve been with you all along. In a hollow. In the cape. Really, Kale. Quit staring.”

  “You were in there for hours!”

  Toopka went to the small table and picked up the spoon. After taking a slurpy taste of the soup, she grinned at her.

  “Why not? It’s a little stuffy, and you bump into things, but other than being too dark, it’s not all that bad. You can’t hear very well in there though, so I had to keep poking my head out to find out what was going on. This is not a good situation you’ve gotten us into, Kale.” She broke off a bite of bread and popped it in her mouth.

  “Well, I didn’t do it on purpose.”

  “And I don’t like that woman who is ‘my lady.’ Who does she think she is, anyway?”

  “She thinks she’s my mother.”

  “Nah, take the wizard that hangs around with Cam and Fenworth. She’s much better.”

  “I think I will, if I can get back to her.”

  Kale stretched her aching muscles. A fatigue enveloped her, and she found any movement a strain. If only she could feel wide awake. If only every single speck in her body weren’t so very tired.

  Toopka took another lip-smacking scoop of soup. “As soon as I finish this, I’ll go get the dragons.”

  “And how do you propose to do that?”

  “I’ll borrow your moonbeam cape. No one will notice me cause I’m so sneaky and short. It might be a problem to locate the little dragons though. This is a big camp.”

  Kale smiled. “I know exactly where they are.”

  53

  GATHERING TOGETHER

  Kale monitored Toopka’s progress. The doneel child slipped from one hiding spot to the next without ever raising an eyebrow from any of the many soldiers roaming about the camp. Sometimes she moved only one step at a time, letting the cape’s camouflaging ability hide her from people standing within a few feet of her. Kale held her breath and marveled that Toopka didn’t shake in her boots.

  I’m nervous enough for both of us, Toopka.

  “Don’t be silly, Kale. None of these bullies are any worse than Henricutt Tellowmatterden.”

  Oh, I think they are. I think they’re killers, every last one of them. You be careful.

  Something jolted Toopka, and she sidestepped between two stacks of wooden crates. Kale heard someone swearing.

  Toopka?

  “I’m all right. A bisonbeck oaf bumped into me from behind. I didn’t see him coming. His friend says he tripped over his own feet. They can’t see me. I’m all right.”

  Kale heard the slightest bit of a quiver in the little doneel’s voice.

  Toopka, you can turn back anytime you want to. We’ll find another way out.

  “I’m all right. Really.”

  Kale bit her lower lip and tried to send Toopka some courage through her talent, but she wasn’t feeling very brave herself.

  You’re almost there. Turn to the right. The other way, Toopka. That’s your left! Good, now—

  “I can smell it, Kale. I found it.”

  The cages are right inside the front door.

  “You told me that already.”

  I’m sorry.

  “Just a minute. I’m going to walk in behind these three soldiers.”

  Be careful.

  “You’ve told me that a hundred times already.”

  Kale watched the inside of the tent appear as Toopka slipped through the front door. She chose to hide in a corner.

  “This is impossible!” complained Toopka. “The dragons are like a sideshow at a carnival. The cages are right where everyone can come and gawk at them.”

  I have an idea, Toopka. I’m going to tell the dragons to make a lot of noise, then I’m going to tell the cook to cover them to make them be quiet. You have to pick out which man is in charge. Can you do that?

  “Sure. Wait a minute.”

  Kale watched as Toopka’s eyes swept the room, examining each of the men who worked in the tent.

  “Him.”

  Kale told the dragons to set up a ruckus. The four hooted, shrieked, trilled, and squawked. They flapped their leathery wings as if they could break the bars of the cages.

  “What’s all this?” Through Toopka’s mind, Kale heard the cook holler. “What’s got into them?”

  “Cover ’em like you would chickens. They’ll settle down.” Another voice gave the suggestion Kale had intended to put in the cook’s mind.

  With satisfaction, Kale and Toopka watched the man bring out a large cloth and drape it over all four cages. In only a few moments, Toopka crept under the edge and began picking the locks on the doors. One after the other, she freed the dragons. Each one climbed into a pocket-den in the cape. Toopka finally started the perilous return journey to the tent where Kale waited.

  Toopka crawled under the back of the tent and opened the cape to let the dragons fly to Kale. Gymn, Metta, Dibl, and Ardeo did not go to their usual perches. All four dragons landed safely in Kale’s arms.

  “Now,” Toopka whispered, “how do we get out of here?”

  “I don’t know.” Kale cuddled the minor dragons. She eyed the opening in the front of the tent where a guard stood sentry, then examined the small opening at the base of the tent.

  Could we cut that tear to make it larger? They took my sword, but I have a small knife in one of the hollows. Then of course, we could just walk out of here. Could we? With the cape? If only I weren’t so tired.

  Kale patted the mattress beside her. “Come sit with us. You’ve had a trying evening.”

  Toopka rolled her eyes and hopped onto the bed. She undid the cape and laid it inside out next to her. “I brought some more food.”

  She reached into a hollow and pulled out loaves of bread and hunks of cheese. She smiled at Kale. “I thought we might get hungry.”

  “When did you get this? I didn’t see you reach for anything.”

  “I told you I was sneaky.” Toopka’s grin sp
read over her face.

  A noise outside the tent caught Kale’s attention. She heard Tayla speak to the guard.

  Kale lifted the moonbeam cape and turned it over so the pockets were underneath. “Everybody under and don’t move!”

  “I’ve come to see if you need anything else for the night,” said Tayla as she pushed the tent flap aside and came in. Her eyes went immediately to the loaves of bread and cheese. The tumanhofer servant looked at the partially eaten food on the bed, the empty bowl on the tray, and then Kale’s face.

  “No, Miss Kale, I don’t know anything about the hills around here. My father was a fisherman. To me, a boat is the only way to travel.”

  Kale stared at the woman for a moment and then blinked her eyes.

  Is she telling me how to escape? If she is, she’s risking her life! I hope the guard believes I spoke first, and she answered. I can fix that! Kale sent a thought to the guard. Now he would have a vague memory of having heard Kale say something he couldn’t quite hear right when the tumanhofer woman entered the tent.

  “I’m afraid you won’t be able to sleep for another hour or so,” the servant continued, “but after that your mother insists this part of the camp be quiet. She wants her rest, she does. She’s very strict about no one prowling around. You’ll have peace and quiet then.”

  She is helping us. Oh, Wulder protect her.

  “Thank you, Taylaminkadot.” Kale kept her voice calm. The guard must not suspect anything is amiss. “I don’t need anything else tonight.”

  Tayla curtsied, picked up the tray, and left.

  “What was that all about?” asked Toopka in hushed tones as she slithered out from under the cape.

  “The river is just a few yards from here, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” answered Toopka.

  “When everyone is asleep for the night, we’re going on a boat trip.”

  A smile spread over Toopka’s face.

  “Now let’s get this food out of sight,” said Kale. “My mother may come to tuck me in.”

  Kale didn’t regret that her mother did not return for a good-night visit. She believed that some drug had been given to her, for now that she had held Gymn for a couple of hours, the crippling lethargy had left. She felt strong and able to make a good attempt at stealing away.

  When the only noises they heard were from the distant tents, Kale slit the small tear into a nice large hole to climb through. With the dragons in their pocket-dens and Toopka held in Kale’s arms with the moonbeam cape wrapped around them both, she tiptoed on bare feet toward the sound of the river. She passed a few tents and a couple of sentries, but the darkness and her cape kept them safe.

  At the river they could see a number of boats tied up to docks a hundred yards down the bank. Kale crept along the river, keeping her eyes open for soldiers. She started to get in the first boat they came to, but a hand on her arm stopped her.

  “Not this one, Miss Kale.”

  “Taylaminkadot?”

  “Follow me.”

  “You scared me.”

  “Follow me.” The tumanhofer servant ran to a larger boat at the end of one of the docks.

  “Get in.” Tayla motioned to Kale as she knelt on the dock and held the boat steady.

  Kale did as she was told. Tayla scrambled into the boat after her, the mooring rope in her hand. She shoved off.

  “You’re going with us?”

  “Aye.”

  “Why?”

  “I would be blamed in the morning whether I helped you or not. Have you ever rowed a boat, Miss Kale?”

  “No.”

  “Then that’s another good reason for me to go along, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Kale sat on the wooden seat stretched across the stern of the little craft.

  “Where does this river go, Taylaminkadot?”

  “To the lake.” Tayla sat on the middle seat and began to ply the oars.

  “Is that a safe place to go?”

  “If we get there before sunrise.”

  “Do you think we will?”

  “If Wulder be willing.”

  54

  ANOTHER MOTHER’S LOVE

  The small river meandered in gentle curves. For the first half hour, grawligs could be heard on one side, with their raucous songs and loud snoring. Dibl thought the combination so funny he had to be popped inside Kale’s cape to keep him quiet. On the other side, bisonbecks loomed in the shadows between tents.

  When they passed the last tent and slid between banks of trees, Kale’s breathing slowed to a normal pace, and her hands unclenched. A few minutes later, she spotted lighted figures darting along the river. One came to the shore and waved to the passing boat.

  “Taylaminkadot, we must speak to the kimens.”

  Taylaminkadot steered the boat toward the bank. As soon as they were within hearing distance, a kimen called, “We’ve been sent to bring you to Lyll Allerion.”

  “Which one?” asked Toopka.

  “It would be Mother Number Two,” answered Kale. “Mother Number One doesn’t associate with kimens.”

  Several kimens gathered behind the first. “May we come aboard?” asked the first. “We’ll go down the river toward the lake and join Lady Allerion.”

  The kimens jumped into the large rowboat as soon as it scooted into the shallow water. Tayla and the kimens propelled the boat to the other side where five more kimens hopped in. They bombarded Kale with their names, politely introducing themselves to her and referring to her as the Dragon Keeper. She remembered clearly the name Azalone and connected it with the one she thought might be the leader.

  With a dozen kimens in the boat, you’d think we’d be going slower. She studied the small people sitting around her. What are they doing to make us go faster?

  She never solved this puzzle and determined to get Regidor to think it through. If anyone could find the answer, he could.

  “Azalone?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you know what has happened to my friends, Regidor and Bardon? Regidor was with me when the grawligs attacked.”

  “Both men went back through your gateway. They returned with many mariones, Wizard Cam Ayronn, and Wizard Lyll Allerion. Lady Allerion sent us to find you.”

  “The mariones are not a large enough force to face Risto’s army.”

  “More have come. An army under General Lee Ark. Our friends the urohms, led by Lord Brunstetter. Dragons are coming as well. Some through this gigantic gateway. Those who are close enough, fly in.”

  They glided downstream for many minutes before Azalone spoke again. “We are close to the field in which your Celisse awaits. You must hurry now to the camp of your comrades. Your mother is injured and requires you and the healing dragon.”

  “Injured?” She spun around on her seat, rocking the boat. “How did she get injured?”

  “The wound is serious, but not life-threatening. When she heard you had been taken, she rushed out to save you. She charged into a trap, facing Risto and Burner Stox without assistance. Wizard Cam and the meech dragon Regidor soon arrived. It is likely Lady Allerion would have died without their assistance.”

  She turned quickly away. Tears stung her eyes, and she found it hard to breathe.

  Toopka took her hand and squeezed. “It’ll be all right. You and Gymn can make her well.”

  Kale peered ahead, trying to spot the place where they would land. Tayla’s short, muscular body blocked some of the view. Her shoulders strained as she pulled even harder on the oars. Kale sensed the tumanhofer woman wanted to help Kale get to her mother quickly. The woman had done much for a stranger, an o’rant girl who had done nothing for her except expose the servant to danger.

  “Taylaminkadot, will you be all right? Do you have someplace to go?”

  “I was hoping to go with you, Miss Kale. I’d like to be your servant.”

  Kale turned to Azalone. “Can you escort Taylaminkadot to our camp?”

  “We will go w
ith her downstream. It is a shorter distance to walk from the lake to your camp.”

  “Can you protect her?”

  “We will try.”

  The boat pushed ashore where the trees thinned to reveal a meadow. Celisse paced over the winter pale grass, wearing a path. The moon reflected off her silver scales. She lifted her head and greeted her rider with a low call.

  Kale leapt from the boat, waving good-bye to the others. The minor dragons flew ahead of her. Toopka pumped her little legs to keep up.

  After a swift hug around the dragon’s neck, Kale scooped Toopka into her arms and clambered on board. As soon as her knees were snug in the saddle hooks, she gave the signal to fly. Celisse flapped her large wings and vaulted into the night sky.

  A cold wind blew in Kale’s face. Not at all partial to frigid temperatures, the minor dragons hid in the moonbeam cape. Kale bent her legs back as far as she could and pulled the cape down over her freezing feet.

  From the sky, she could see the sprawling Risto encampment, Bartal Springs Lake, and a camp just forming. Celisse banked and headed for the new settlement of warriors.

  Celisse gave the warning. Behind them a dark dragon raced toward them. The smaller dragon flew at a faster speed and would soon catch up. With horror, Kale saw a stream of fire bolt out of the dragon’s mouth.

  Kale reached with her mind, trying to send a clear message.

  Bardon, Regidor, I need help. Dar, Wizard Cam, can you hear me? I’m being followed. Regidor, I need help. I’m being followed by a fire dragon, and it’s catching up to Celisse. Regidor, can you hear me?

  She looked over her shoulder. The dragon was gaining. She couldn’t make out a rider on its back, but she remembered that the twelve fire dragons who had confronted Paladin were riderless. Celisse abruptly banked to the left. The other dragon kept close on her tail. She shot up, flying higher. So did the pursuing dragon, and he spit a blaze as if to say he was annoyed.

  Bardon, help! There’s a fire dragon after us.

  “I’m on my way, Kale.”