DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [156]
“I had an adventure,” she said as Bardon pulled her free.
“You did, indeed.”
“Wait till I tell Sitti and Ahnek. They think they’re going to find something in a smelly old dungeon.”
Bardon kissed her cheek. “And you found something in a smelly old wall.”
54
THE DUNGEON
Kale watched Bardon holding Toopka and then turned to see the other wizards huddled over the two books with gleeful anticipation. Regidor had the translation volume memorized. The older, wiser wizards would make quick work of interpreting the newly found book. Kale decided her talents would best be served relieving the squire of the little doneel.
She walked to them with her arms out. “Come with me, Toopka. Let’s go spread the word that the book has been found.”
“And that I found it.”
“Yes. We’ll even go tell the boys in the cellar.”
Toopka jumped from Bardon’s arms to Kale’s. The Dragon Keeper put her down on her feet. “You can walk. I learned a long time ago not to carry you. I get bruises from your wiggling.”
With the minor dragons flying above them, Kale and Toopka went to the library. Everyone who did not have a pressing duty to perform had instinctively gone to help search through the shelves of books.
The doneel child ran into the room, straight to Taylaminkadot. “Are the daggarts done? We get to celebrate.”
“Yes, they’re done. What are we celebrating?”
“I found the book! It was in a hole in the wall.”
Holt and a few of the guard gave a cheer.
Bromptotterpindosset closed the book he was perusing and pushed it across the table. With a look of relief, he pulled a stack of maps from Strot’s collection toward him.
N’Rae sprang to her feet. “Have they already undone the spell? Is my father awake?”
Kale shook her head and felt her chest tighten. No one had promised this miracle would happen before time ran out.
Hope. Now we have a bigger hope, but still it is hope and not fact.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and practiced something Fenworth had taught her. She breathed in, remembering the promise Wulder had made in His Tomes that this world spun toward an end of His design. And she breathed out, purposefully shedding the demand in her soul that everything be made right. Right now, this very instant.
When she opened her eyes, N’Rae stood beside her. The young emerlindian gently placed a hand on Kale’s arm.
“I’m sorry, Kale. I forgot that you’re waiting for your father to wake up too.”
“Thank you, N’Rae. I’ve never known him, yet it would hurt to have this chance to meet him snatched away.”
Toopka bounced beside the two young women and tugged on Kale’s sleeve. “Let’s go. Let’s go to the cellar.” She turned to announce to the others in the room, “We’re going to tell Sittiponder and Ahnek that I found the book.”
Kale took her hand and started for the door. “Yes, we are, and the sooner, the better.”
Toopka pulled her down the hallway, into the servants’ wing, through a maze of rooms, and down a dark, narrow stairwell.
A shiver of dread hit Kale like an icy wind as soon as she stepped through the doorway at the bottom. The minor dragons cooed in slow mournful calls to one another. Gymn landed on one shoulder, Dibl on her head, and Metta on the other shoulder. Filia settled on one arm with Pat below her. Ardeo flew just ahead of her, lighting the way.
“Toopka!” Kale heard the fear in her own voice and wondered what was wrong in this dark basement. The area certainly smelled musty, but it appeared clean and orderly from what she could see. “Toopka!”
“I’m here.” She came around the corner, carrying an armload of lightrocks. “I take as many as I can, because I think it’s creepy down here.” She handed the biggest one to Kale. “This way,” she called as she scurried off.
Kale followed, muttering to her dragon friends. “I don’t like this at all.” She got the impression they liked it even less.
“We’re going to get those boys and drag them up to the castle proper. This exploring for a dungeon has to come to an end.”
“They’re not here!