DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [43]
He sighed, sent up a quick petition to Wulder for guidance, and gently squeezed N’Rae’s shoulders. “Be careful with whom you make friends, little one.”
“I know,” she giggled. “‘The friendship of a viper is not worth the spit on his tongue.’”
Bardon released her and laughed. “Yes, that is one of the pithier principles.”
Granny Kye nodded to where Holt could be seen walking in front of a cart pulled by an old horse. Big chunks of dull paint had chipped away from the cart’s chassis. A gray and muted-red striped canopy shaded the passenger seat. The upholstery looked handmade, faded but clean.
Bardon picked up most of their personal belongings. With the ladies following, he carried the baggage and bigger parcels down to the pier and onto the broad wooden platform that ran the length of the docks. He set the pieces down. Granny Kye and N’Rae stopped on either side of him. Bardon glanced at the younger emerlindian and saw her eyes trained on the handsome marione. Squire Bardon deliberately turned to study the horse instead of the irksome young couple.
The harness hung on the roan’s bony frame, and someone had put an oversized straw hat on her head. Her ears stuck through holes in the wide brim, and colorful flowers almost hid them.
Holt hurried forward. “Let me help with the luggage. N’Rae, may I carry your basket for you?” He reached for the minneken’s traveling quarters.
“Oh no, Jue Seeno’s quite light.”
Holt pulled back his hand, and a slight frown pinched his features. “Seeno?”
N’Rae’s face flushed red. “I-I s-see no reason for you to carry it. The basket is quite light.” She tittered. “I guess I’m excited. I’ve never been to a harbor city. I tend to talk too fast when I’m excited.”
Bardon heard Granny Kye’s chortle as he handed the bewildered marione two heavy bags. “Here, Holt. I appreciate the help.”
The marione quickly regained his smile and took the luggage. He headed for the cart, with the others following. Bardon carried the smaller bundles in his arms. As they approached the horse, he heard N’Rae’s soft exclamation. She plopped Jue Seeno’s basket into his arms, where it rocked precariously on the cloth-wrapped parcel next to his chin, and then she drew near to the old roan.
Jue Seeno’s high-pitched inquiry reached his ears. “What is that girl up to?”
“It looks like she’s intent on having a conversation with the horse.” He spoke, barely moving his lips for fear someone would overhear him talking to a basket.
“I can see that, Squire. That’s why I prefer to travel in a basket rather than a box. I can see through the woven reeds. And, of course, the air is always fresher. And I can hear better. But what I meant is, what purpose is there in communicating with a horse, this horse, at this time?”
“I think,” said Granny Kye, “that N’Rae likes meeting animals as much as some folks like meeting people.” She nodded at Holt, who nattered away with the driver.
The tumanhofer driver paid particular attention to Granny Kye, treating her with respect and assisting her into the passenger seat before he started with their belongings. Strapping the luggage to the back of the light cart took a few minutes. He took his time to do it properly, all the while regaling his customers with news of the town, the weather, the approaching festival, and suggesting places to visit while they stayed in his fair city.
Since Granny Kye already sat in the coach, the driver had to leave the bags every time he thought of something else he wanted to relay to her in particular. He spouted all sorts of tidbits of information, one of those things being that his wife had found a shop with very good bargains on Canal Street at the northern end of the city. He also mentioned that a small tavern nearby had excellent soups, which might come in handy, as the weather predictors said cold air would soon be turning their days chilly.
“Now, what kind of prediction is that, I ask you?” He laughed and waved a hand at the sky, where light clouds whisked over the city. “It