DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [151]
“Twenty-five?”
“People.”
Bardon stopped in his tracks. He took her hand and started back down the hall.
“Where are we going?”
“You need to meet someone. Kale, of all the amazing things we’ve seen, this is quite beyond astonishing.”
He tugged her into the room and over to Granny Kye. There he crouched beside the minneken’s basket, pulling Kale down beside him. “Mistress Seeno, may I have the honor of introducing a special friend to you?”
“In just a minute,” her small voice came to his ears. “If I’m to meet someone new, I’d like to be presentable.”
Bardon grinned, glanced at Kale, and winked.
Don’t use your talent to find out who’s in there. I want this to be a surprise.
“I promise.”
In a minute, the cover of the basket raised slightly.
Bardon said, “Allow me,” and lifted the woven lid.
Jue Seeno appeared, elaborate hat first, with round ears peeking through the velvet brim. Face next, with pointed nose and chin, whiskers quivering, and tiny black eyes inspecting Kale.
“Give me your hand, young man,” she ordered.
Bardon let go of Kale’s hand to offer a platform for Mistress Seeno to stand on. She stepped out with the moonbeam cape swirling about her and one of her most elaborate, colorful belts encircling her waist.
“Mistress Seeno,” said Bardon in a very good imitation of Sir Dar’s cordial manner, “may I introduce Kale Allerion, Dragon Keeper and wizard of The Bogs under Wizard Fenworth?”
The minneken dipped her tiny head, and Kale, kneeling beside Bardon, did her best to curtsy. She inclined the upper half of her body.
“Kale, this is Mistress Jue Seeno of the Isle of Kye.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Mistress,” Kale replied demurely.
Bardon observed the two women inspecting each other without really seeming to. This play of manners occupied much of the time spent at court. He didn’t enjoy it there but found it rather amusing to see Kale perform the art with ease in these unusual circumstances.
Her mother has been training her, as well as Fenworth, Cam, and Librettowit. Good thing too. Who would want a woman around who only knew the crusty behavior of three old men?
Kale’s light laughter flitted through his mind. “There’s Taylaminkadot, too.”
You quit intruding on my thoughts.
“Really, Bardon. Sometimes it is more difficult not to hear what you’re thinking than to listen.” With the introductions over, Bardon moved on to important matters.
“What have you discovered in my absence, Mistress Seeno?”
“That this castle is strangely devoid of active life forms. No cats, bats, rats, or bugs. That there is a level below the cellar that is, to me, inaccessible. That Holt is more fond of N’Rae than he should be.”
As an aside to Kale, Bardon said, “Jue Seeno is N’Rae’s protector.”
Jue Seeno’s eyes narrowed. “Are you going to send that tumanhofer back as soon as the dragons get here?”
“I’ll check with Paladin’s coin, but we may not be forced to expel Bromptotterpindosset from our midst after all.”
“Why is that?”
“Our mapmaker met with enough ‘coincidences’ to be relatively assured of a universal Master’s hand.”
Jue Seeno was speechless, but only for a moment. “Wulder chooses to attract the most irregular people. I certainly wouldn’t have bothered with such a pompous braggart.”
Bardon thought it wise to change the subject. “I trust you will be actively keeping me informed of the things you observe. It’s reassuring to know you’re on duty.”
“Of course. Now if you don’t mind, I must catch up with N’Rae and that scoundrel.”
He placed her on the floor, and instead of rushing out the door, she disappeared through a crack in the wainscoting.
“Shall we go search the library with the others?” Bardon asked.
Kale nodded, and he rose from his crouched position and then gave her his hand to help her rise.
As they passed the ensorcelled form of her sleeping father, she stopped and gazed down at him.
“What are you feeling, Kale?”
She turned and looked into his eyes. The depth of her confused emotions swept through him. With a pull of his hand, he drew her into his arms and for some time just held her.
Do I feel