DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [6]
Bardon pushed wet locks away from his eyes and studied the emerlindian. A granny?
She smiled. “Yes, a granny. Granny Kye.”
Annoyed that she had heard his thought, Bardon carefully guarded his expression. He could also guard his thoughts after working with Kale on his mindspeaking abilities while they had been on a mission together three years ago. His talent was minimal next to hers. He put the guard in place so that this granny would not know how frustrated he was by the presence of these women.
He struggled to his feet, tried to stamp some circulation back into his numb leg, and straightened his tunic. Chagrined that in spite of all his training, a girl and a dragon had just rescued him, Bardon bent in an awkward bow. The court polish of three years deserted him.
I am not a callow lad, and I will not stutter words I’ve repeated many times before.
He smiled with all the charm he could muster. “I’m pleased to meet you, Granny Kye.”
“And I, you. I have been expecting you.”
The younger emerlindian, her pale skin still flushed, turned unbelieving slate blue eyes on the older woman. “Grandmother, you never said.”
Bardon almost missed her words as he watched those thickly fringed eyes grow as dark as storm clouds.
Granny Kye chuckled. “I don’t tell you everything, infant.” She turned to Bardon. “This wild child is N’Rae.”
Bardon turned to N’Rae. Her beauty astonished him. Even in plain clothing, she outshone all the fair ladies of court. He straightened his tunic again and managed a more polished bow. “My pleasure.”
She glanced away, then down. Bardon decided she was younger than he’d first thought. Probably a little younger than his friend Kale. But where Dragon Keeper Kale Allerion had a determined expression about her eyes and in the tilt of her chin, this fair maiden resembled a lost kitten. Splashes of dark purple blood covered the front of her homespun dress, looking incongruous on someone who radiated such innocence.
Bardon wanted to see the unusual color of her eyes again and spoke softly, hoping she’d glance up at him. “Thank you for saving my life.”
She did look up. A moment before, the hue of her eyes had reflected stormy clouds. Now the vivid blue matched the sky above. “I didn’t know what to do. I hate snakes!”
Bardon felt a shudder of agreement from Greer’s mind, and he glanced over at the dragon to see him giving N’Rae a nod of approval. At the moment, Bardon wasn’t too fond of snakes, either. And he’d never been too fond of people. Even a fetching female and a wise old woman were more company than he desired. He turned to the granny.
“I am Bardon, squire to Sir Dar of Castle Pelacce, in Dormenae, Wittoom.”
“A squire?” N’Rae almost looked impressed, but she shook her head, causing her long, white-blond tresses to swing. With a sigh that took the stiffness out of her shoulders so they drooped in defeat, she stared again at the ground. “It’s a shame you aren’t a knight. We could use a knight.” Her chin lifted, and she looked to the granny. “Actually, we could use Paladin’s army, but Grandmother says we are to accomplish our task with the resources Wulder provides.”
The old woman nodded. “And Wulder has provided Squire Bardon.”
“Wait.” He held up a hand and slowly shook his head. “I’m entering into my sabbatical. I’m charged to devote myself to meditation. I cannot undertake to aid you in any endeavor at this time.”
N’Rae turned away from him, gave a little gasp, and pointed a finger at Greer. “Oh dear, that was dinner.”
The dragon lifted his nose from the dropped baskets of berries by the forest edge. His long, blue tongue licked the last of the smashed purple goo from his lips. He blinked and focused on his rider.
Bardon frowned at Greer but turned a pleasant face to the two ladies and delivered the message his dragon had impressed into his mind. “Greer wishes to offer his apologies. When it comes to food, he has very little willpower. We have provisions we will gladly share.”
His thoughts turned back to the