DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [152]
“Both, I would think.”
I’m sorry I don’t have words to say that would comfort you.
“It’s all right, Bardon. I think words are highly overrated at times.”
He loosened his hold and looked down at her upturned face. She had particularly lovely eyes.
“Well,” he said, clearing his throat. “Let’s get busy doing something. Um…since words—”
“You just missed a perfectly good opportunity to kiss me.”
The words came into his mind with a wistful tone. He stared at Kale, whose face began to glow with a pink blush.
“You heard that!”
Yes. Sometimes it is more difficult not—
Kale placed her hand on the back of his neck. “Words are highly over—”
She didn’t apply any pressure to bring his head down to hers. Bardon felt the pull from his heart, and his kiss brushed her lips just to taste their sweetness. He pulled back and saw his own astonishment flash in Kale’s eyes. Uncertainty touched his feelings, and he saw the question in her expression. An explosion of delight replaced the trepidation, and Kale’s face lit with pleasure. Contentment followed the joy, and he felt satisfaction bounce back from the young woman in his arms. He began to laugh, and she hugged him.
“You realize,” she said, “that you have brazenly kissed me in front of my father.”
He stiffened and looked down at the sleeping knight, then shrugged. “And Wizard Fenworth. And Granny Kye. And eleven other of Paladin’s knights.”
Bardon squeezed her and then put her away from him. “I did not expect a simple kiss to be so powerful. Kale, we shall have to use a lot of words, overrated or not, before we indulge in…”
Kale widened her eyes, mischief alive in her expression. “I agree.” She giggled. “I want to be courted.”
“Courted?”
“Definitely.”
“And I agree. You deserve to be courted.”
Bardon and Kale left Granny Kye to her portrait of her two sons and Wizard Fenworth to his nap.
“Now,” said Kale as they passed through the hall, “tell me about Jue Seeno. She’s a minneken, right?”
“Right.”
“I want to know it all, Bardon. How is she the emerlindian’s protector? Why is that handsome marione Holt a scoundrel? And there was something about a coin given to you by Paladin.”
“Let’s not go directly to the library. There’re too many people there.”
“Way too many people,” they said in unison and laughed.
Bardon coaxed her toward the front staircase. “Let’s go walk in the garden instead.”
She tilted her head. “To talk?”
“To talk.”
53
DISCOVERIES
Bardon kept an eye on his expanded questing party as the day came to an end.
Taylaminkadot fussed about the condition of the linens, but her husband overruled when she wanted to strip the beds and wash the sheets. Librettowit promised she could commence housekeeping the following day. The castle had more than enough luxurious bedchambers to accommodate them all. They did have to thump dust out of the pillows and covers.
Bardon ordered a night watch. Captain Anton insisted this was his responsibility and organized the shifts with two people on duty at a time. Holt surprisingly volunteered to do his part.
The next morning Regidor flew to the west at dawn. Several hours later he returned with the five guard dragons and Greer.
Bardon went out to greet his purple dragon. Greer’s disposition was less than sunny. His squire held on to his patience and tried to make amends.
I know you don’t like being left out of the action. I would have much rather had you by my side, but it couldn’t be helped. The warren had huge burrows, but you would have been claustrophobic…Yes, that’s a word…It has nothing to do with closets. Well, in a way it does, but not as a root word or anything.
Bardon sighed and stroked the scales under the dragon’s chin. You’re not to pout…I’m serious. I need you to oversee the protection of the castle. Keep an eye out for any massing forces. Grawligs are in the area, and they had come to think of the courtyards of this castle as their own personal property…No, I