DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [84]
Squire Bardon watched Sir Dar’s expression carefully as he related the events of his “sabbatical.” The doneel’s face twitched with suppressed humor.
Annoyed, Bardon shifted his gaze to his surroundings. The receiving chamber stretched away in endless opulence.
Surely purple is a bit gaudy. His eyes went back to his host. The dignitary wore satin and brocade, silk and lace. No, nothing Sir Dar designs is anything less than elegant. If I had put purple on a couch, it would have looked tawdry. He chooses the right amount, the right shade, and the right combination. He does this in all areas of his life…and it is disconcerting. He does it with such ease. He thinks life is fun.
Dar’s furry face still sported a crooked smirk.
“I don’t find these misadventures funny, Sir Dar.”
His knight laughed out loud. “No, I suspect you don’t. But it’s so typical of the way Wulder arranges things to challenge our worst weaknesses.”
Bardon stiffened. “Wulder has assessed me as being so weak that I cannot handle women and children and self-centered adventurers?”
Dar shook his head slowly. “Bardon, it takes more strength of character to handle the crew you’ve got with you than it does to face a horde of attacking blimmets.”
The doneel waved his hand as if brushing away a fly. “But we must look at the more serious side of your adventures. I’ll send a messenger to Paladin about the quiss. And I’ll set up a guard beside this end of that derelict gateway.”
“I’m sorry we could do no more to block it, Sir Dar. Granny Kye and I aren’t proficient in such things.”
“No matter. If Crim Cropper and Burner Stox decide to use that portal, they’ll repair it despite its condition. You have at least slowed them down.” He shook his head, the expression on his face serious. “I can tell you I don’t like the idea of these landlubber quiss invading Wittoom.”
A memory of fighting quiss on the dock sent a shiver down Bardon’s back. Quiss attacking at random threatened more than just Wittoom. “Greer’s message from the sea serpent is unsettling, as well.”
“To say the least,” the doneel agreed emphatically. “A hundred quiss in areas that used to have five and small colonies where there were once no quiss!” He tapped his hand on his knee. “And the news about them climbing in and out of the sea at any time…Yes, Paladin must be alerted, and we must recruit men from the East Coast to train our men how best to fight these creatures.”
Bardon shifted in his seat. He had other matters to discuss with his knight.
Sir Dar continued. “I was raised believing they were cold-water animals and that they lived exclusively off the northern coast of Trese. Now they’ve migrated south and across to the western coast and even up rivers. These are dangerous times. We shall need those knights you go to rescue.”
Bardon leaned forward, and Sir Dar cast him a suspicious look. “You wanted to ask me something?”
“Quite a few things, actually,” admitted Bardon. “I thought you might like to come along.”
“Ah yes, I would. But with the threat of quiss and the need for preparation, I don’t feel that it is a good time.”
The squire had suspected that this would be the case and went on to his next request. “Would you equip us with dragons for transportation?”
“Lost your trust in Wittoom Coastal Transport, have you?”
“I hardly think WCT would send a party into the Northern Reach.”
Dar chuckled. “Yes, dragons and provisions can be donated to your cause. How large is your party going to be?”
“I was hoping to leave Granny Kye, N’Rae, and the orphans under your care. A couple of the older boys would love to be put to work on your ships. They were disappointed when the Tobit Grander ended up in dry dock for repairs.”
Dar nodded his head. “The boys will be placed to their advantage.”
“I don’t know if Holt will stick with us. So it may only be Bromptotterpindosset and myself.”
“I’ll assume responsibility for the orphans, but the emerlindian women must go with you. This quest is at their instigation. Paladin has approved of their participation. And the marione Holt Hoddack”—Sir Dar’s eyes