DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [15]
N’Rae looked down at her plate, a pale rosy glow rising to her cheeks.
After eating the last pastry and draining his mug, Bardon shoved his chair back from the table and rested his hands on its edge. “We must make plans.”
The three women looked to him attentively.
“We need a map and transportation. Greer cannot carry us all. And unless we have an idea of where we are going, there is no sense in departing. We shall acquire the map, then decide the best means of getting there.”
The women nodded their heads in agreement.
“Fine.” Bardon clasped his hands on his knees. “How soon can you ladies be ready to go?”
“An hour,” answered Granny Kye.
“What place does this gateway take us to?”
“The city of Norst, a small tavern.”
“I’ve never visited Norst. Would there be a mapmaker there?”
“No,” said Granny Kye. “But I know of a mapmaker in the coastal town of Ianna.”
N’Rae shook her head. “What about Greer? He won’t fit through the gateway. We can’t just leave him behind.”
“He’ll fly. I’ll tell him to meet us near Ianna.”
N’Rae followed Bardon out of the cabin. Her head came up to his shoulder. The sun touched her hair, igniting the fair locks so they shone like a candle flame. The hair framed a typical emerlindian face. He thought her large eyes, tilted eyebrows, pointed nose, and small mouth appealing. She had none of the coquettish airs of the women at Castle Pelacce. After all his years of guarding his feelings, Bardon felt strangely comfortable in her presence, even more comfortable than when he was with Kale.
“You can mindspeak?” she asked.
“Only to Greer,” he answered as he strode down the slope. “Well, that’s not strictly true. I can mindspeak with Kale Allerion.” He stopped speaking before telling her that when Kale was around, his abilities multiplied.
“I can’t mindspeak at all. Grandmother thinks it is peculiar. Mistress Seeno thinks it is disgraceful.” N’Rae trotted a few steps to catch up. “You know the Dragon Keeper?”
“Yes.” Bardon shortened his stride so his companion could keep pace.
“Do you think she could come with us on our quest?”
“No,” said Bardon with a sigh. Having Kale along would be good, but the thought of perhaps rescuing her father on his own, as a sort of tribute to their friendship, had an appeal. “She’s studying under the Wizards Cam Ayronn and Fenworth. I doubt she has time to go on a quest.”
“You didn’t have time to go on a quest. You were supposed to decide whether you will become a knight or not,” she said. “Grandmother explained to me just what a sabbatical is. But you’re going on the quest instead. Maybe the Dragon Keeper could go with us instead of studying.”
Bardon stopped and faced her. “Do you have a particular reason that I should know about? Is there a reason why we would need a Dragon Keeper on this quest?”
N’Rae shook her head, sending her blond hair flying. “No, but I would like to meet the Dragon Keeper.”
He started walking again, an image of Kale in his mind. He would like to see her. She must have changed some in three years. They’d each written about six times. The letters chronicled their advances in their respective studies. Kale had included anecdotes about the colorful people she lived with. She mentioned that Toopka never sat still for lessons but loved following Taylaminkadot around doing household chores. Regidor sprouted stubby wings and didn’t like being teased. He did his best to hide them. Her mother visited often. Fenworth slept through most days. Cam had trained a fish to jump through a hoop. She didn’t say why the lake wizard had bothered to do such a thing.
Bardon had never been able to think of something worthy of relating when he had a pen in his hand. He knew his letters bored Kale. How could they not?
N’Rae interrupted his thoughts. “Are you going to take all of your things with you? You brought a lot of books. I’ve only seen a few books, but I can read. My mother taught me.”
Bardon pressed his lips together before answering. The emerlindian sure had a lot of questions.