DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [129]
“Regidor and the mapmaker have been debating about that. Does it mean when it first touches the perpendicular or when it has completely passed under? Hopefully, there will be more clues in the castle.”
“Who are these knights?”
“Granny Kye and N’Rae believe one of the knights is N’Rae’s father and Granny Kye’s son. We’ve found the knights in an abandoned castle. But grawligs have captured our mapmaker and may eat him if I don’t return promptly.”
He stood, and Kale did, too, with dragons taking flight as she moved.
“I’ll go with you,” she said.
“You can’t just come along, Kale. You have responsibilities here.”
“I’m a wizard now, and I can do what I please.”
Bardon cocked an eyebrow at her.
“I am a wizard, Bardon, even if I am not in the class of Regidor. But who could be? Wizard Cam is very well pleased with my progress. Wizard Fenworth thinks I could surpass even Regidor if I just applied myself. Mother says that when she was his apprentice, Fenworth had unreasonable expectations for her as well.”
She looked pleadingly at her friend. “Bardon, I’m so bored here in The Bogs. Regidor has always been able to come and go as he wishes, but I have many more restraints upon me.” She made a face and used a voice that sounded remarkably like the old wizard in charge of her education. “‘You’re a female and likely to get into trouble.’ Ha! Regidor tells me some of the scrapes he gets into. They should chain him to the castle.”
She rubbed Filia’s back, who had landed on her shoulder. “I’ll send a message to Fenworth’s castle so they’ll know where I’ve gone. And I’ll return tomorrow, after we have freed your tumanhofer mapmaker and lifted the sleeping spell.”
Bardon remained silent.
“Please.”
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “All right.”
Kale’s face beamed, and she reached out to squeeze his arm. Then she whistled, and a thrush winged out of a nearby tree to sit on her finger. Bardon watched, assuming she communicated her message to the little brown bird. It took to the air, and she turned smiling eyes to Bardon. He caught his breath, again startled by the fact that this Kale was no child, but a young, charming woman.
“Shall we go?” she asked.
He nodded. “It seems both you and N’Rae can twist me into doing things I think are not the best ideas.”
Kale frowned. “Just how old is this N’Rae?”
He shook his head and shrugged. “How should I know? She’s still pale, paler than Leetu Bends.”
“Is she like Leetu?”
“A warrior?” Bardon barked a laugh. “No, she is more like an inept kitten. She has a tender heart, but not much common sense. She needs someone to look after her.”
Kale’s eyes narrowed, and though he didn’t quite understand why, Bardon thought he had better change the subject.
He waved at the gateway. “Are you going to fix it?”
“Yes, of course.” She stood before the portal but didn’t seem to be doing anything. Her shoulders drooped, and she turned to face Bardon. “Pat and the others are giving me all sorts of lectures. Your fall through the opening only caused a small tear in the corner. The possibility of that insignificant, tiny rent in the fabric causing you a problem is infinitesimal. So I lied to keep you here.”
She paused. “Oh,” she exclaimed as if she had just remembered something. “And I’m sorry I lied.”
Bardon tilted his head as he studied her slightly flushed face. “You have six dragons reminding you what is right and wrong?”
She nodded. “And how to do spells, and when I said I would do something like read a book to Toopka or help Taylaminkadot with dinner. They tell me where I left my shoes and when I need to check on Wizard Fen.”
Bardon groaned. “Oh, Kale, that’s awful.”
She nodded. “You know, it really is.” Then she grinned. “But I love them, and I scold them right back. We make a wonderful team.”
“Shall we go?” asked Bardon.
“Yes.”
“I must warn you, this is a rough ride. At least it was coming this way. Longer than most, and you don’t walk on your own. Rather, you are hurled along.”
“All right. I’m ready.”
“And when you get to the other end, the portal is in the wall