DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [122]
After they had walked from floor to floor, Regidor stopped and leaned against a wall. “This raises even more questions.”
“Indeed,” said Bardon. “When was this castle inhabited? And by whom? I see evidence of urohms as well as o’rants, mariones, and tumanhofers.”
“The herb room looked like it had been run by an adept emerlindian.”
Bardon pointed in the direction of the halls holding looms. “Doneels had a hand in the weaving of fabric and fashioning clothes and jewelry.”
“Where were the gardens for food, the pastures for the animals?” asked Regidor.
“Was this fortress occupied five hundred years ago or five thousand?”
Regidor tugged on the edge of a tapestry. “If it was five thousand years ago, why hasn’t it all disintegrated?”
Bardon put his fists on his hips and slowly turned, surveying the room, still amazed by the overall grandeur of this deserted castle. “If it was only five hundred years ago, why are there no recorded histories, no legends passed down through the generations, and not even a mention of it in the ballads?”
“What is the name of this castle?”
“Why was it abandoned?”
The two warriors looked at each other, shrugged, grinned, and said in unison, “We don’t know.”
Bardon sighed. “We still have to find Bromptotterpindosset.”
Regidor reached into his cape and pulled Glas’s diary from the hollow.
“The map clearly shows the grawlig meeting field at the end of that burrow.”
“It doesn’t show a castle?”
“No castle.” Regidor shook his head without looking up.
“We must have been in the wrong burrow all along, or we made a wrong turn.”
Regidor studied the page in the diary and shook his head again as he contemplated what he saw. “There were not that many turns.”
“You said Glas drew that map on hearsay.”
Regidor nodded. “But there must be a tincture of truth to substantiate the drawing, or Glas would not have included it. He seems to have been a meticulous recorder of his explorations.” He snapped the small, leather-bound volume shut. “Let’s keep looking.”
“Where and for what?”
“For answers. I suspect,” he said, pointing to the west wall, “that there is another set of massive doors somewhere.”
“That would lead us into the side of the mountain I could see from the window. It was a vine-covered, sheer cliff face.”
Regidor held a finger in the air and started for the staircase they had climbed. “It looked like a vine-covered, sheer cliff face. Let’s retrace our steps to the doors that lead back to the first part of the castle.”
Bardon followed as Regidor bounded down the wide stairs at a rapid clip.
Regidor called over his shoulder, his voice charged with enthusiasm. “I want to get on the outside of this castle and view it from that perspective.”
When they reached the massive doors, Regidor walked directly across the great hall and began probing the thick layer of vines.
Reluctantly, Bardon followed. He reached between the palm-sized leaves and heavy stems. His fingers touched smooth plaster. He moved over a foot and tried again. His fingertips brushed carved wood. Exploring with his hand, he came to the conclusion he had found the doors Regidor wanted.
“Right here, Reg.”
Bardon got out his knife and began chopping through the heavy vegetation even before the meech dragon confirmed his suspicion. The heavy vines were remarkably healthy. He used his blade to saw through some of the thicker branches. Regidor worked beside him, using a claw to sever each limb. By himself, Bardon would have worked several hours. With Regidor employing some wizard’s trick, in minutes they removed the vegetation barring their way.
Regidor also opened the massive doors by some method Bardon did not quite perceive.
In this wing they found the personal quarters of whoever had owned the castle. Bedchambers, a study and library, a solarium, a hothouse, and smaller parlors occupied three floors.
“You will have to repair the sound barrier on this side of the castle, Regidor. I can barely hear myself.”
“Let’s open a window, then.” Regidor