DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [12]
“Knights? There is more than one knight in this chamber?”
Granny Kye nodded. “We don’t know exactly how many, but our resources indicate quite a few.”
Kale’s father! He’s been missing for years. Kale’s mother said he was under Risto’s spell. Perhaps he, too, is in this chamber.
Bardon leaned forward. “How have you acquired this information?”
The minneken piped up. “See, a sensible young man. Thinks things through. Wants all the facts up front.” She pointed a finger at N’Rae. “Take note.”
Granny Kye patted her granddaughter’s arm but spoke to the young squire. “I have been working for years to find the right contacts. You see, Sir Jilles is my son. He was captured by Risto and enchanted. His older brother Joffa went to his rescue. Joffa first intended to transport his own lady and child to a safe haven. However, as the family left their estate, they were attacked, and all were killed.”
“So,” said N’Rae with a sigh, “Grandmother and my mother lost Uncle Joffa and all hope of saving my father.”
Bardon forced himself to remain still. The women’s story made him want to squirm. Or maybe it was the instinct to spring to his feet and vow to avenge the loss of this family that made him squirm. He would not jump into their wild scheme.
“Why not give the information to Paladin?” he asked. “Paladin would take interest in your plight and provide a party to carry out the rescue.”
The old emerlindian nodded her head. “We have petitioned him, and he gave us permission to rescue my son.”
“Gave his permission? He won’t send a questing party?”
“The questing party is now being organized.”
Bardon sighed his relief and sat back. His curiosity toyed with some of the other aspects of his tablemates’ backgrounds.
“N’Rae and her mother were hiding while they lived with the ropma?” he asked.
“Yes,” answered Granny Kye.
“I’ve only met one ropma. His name was Dirt.”
N’Rae smiled. “That is a very common name among them. So are Bug, Stick, Rock, and Leaf.”
“Um…Dirt possessed a very simple mind.”
“They all do,” N’Rae agreed. “And they are easily frightened. But they are generally kind and shared everything they had with us.”
“They lived in houses?”
“More like huts.”
“And clothing?”
“Simple weaving.”
“Food?”
“Vegetarian.”
“And Lady Jilles protected the band as long as she was alive?”
“Yes.”
N’Rae glanced away. “She cloaked our presence so no one could see us except the ropma.”
“And you couldn’t continue after her death?” Bardon asked. “She didn’t teach you how?”
The minneken spoke up in her high-pitched voice. “Singularly untalented, essentially inept, remarkably…clumsy. But we’re working on these shortcomings. N’Rae has made admirable progress.”
Bardon looked with compassion on the young woman. Being raised among the ropma must have been trying. “How did your mother die, N’Rae?”
Her expression saddened. “She coughed all winter and then into the spring. One morning, she didn’t wake up.”
That’s too much for a young girl alone. N’Rae certainly needs to be reunited with her father. Granny Kye should have her son back. Bardon stifled a sigh of resignation.
“All right,” said Bardon. “I’ll join you. Who is in charge of your quest?”
Granny Kye patted his hand. “I believe you are, dear.”
5
QUESTIONS
Wulder, is this a test?
Bardon paced along the shore. Moonlight danced on a path across the lake. Breezes carried the perfume of pines and the sweet mountain flower azrodhan. The vine cascaded over a rocky hillock near the shoreline. Greer dozed, curled up on the grassy bank. And sitting to the left of one of the peaks in the southwestern range, the Wizards’ Plume hung as if immobile for the moment in its climb through the night sky.
He could not sleep, although those in the cabin had gone to bed hours before.