DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [93]
“It can get very chilly in the higher altitudes,” explained Bardon. “If you feel like you might go to sleep, there’s a strap to put across your waist. The buckle is over here. You can wear this belt all the time if you like.”
“Excuse me, Squire Bardon,” said Ahnek. “What does erratic mean? Does it mean ‘dangerous’?”
“Erratic?”
“You said to hold on when the dragon’s flight became erratic. What does erratic mean?”
Bardon remembered using the word when he described the parts of the saddle. Ahnek had a very inquisitive mind. The boy would do well in life. Bardon put his hand on the lad’s shoulder as he explained. “When a dragon is chasing something or being chased, he will make sharp banks, soar upward, or plunge downward. That’s an erratic flight. Also, the belt can be useful when the wind is rather forceful.”
“How will Granny Kye fare in such a seat?” asked Sittiponder.
“She’ll travel in a basket, as will Bromptotterpindosset. Wizard Fenworth says that old bones don’t bend to fit right in a dragon’s saddle.” He looked over to where N’Rae settled her grandmother in the woven contraption. “The basket has a special name, doohan. It looks like the cab of a single-seat buggy, doesn’t it? The doohan is tightly woven out of small reeds. This makes the enclosure warm for the passenger and light for the dragon. It rides on the side of the dragon rather than perched on top like a saddle. This is for the dragon’s ease. Usually, it’s balanced with an equal load on the other side, sometimes another doohan.”
“I wouldn’t like to ride like that,” said Ahnek. “All closed-up like. I couldn’t see.”
“I wouldn’t like it, either,” said Sittiponder. “I couldn’t feel or hear or smell.”
Bardon laughed. “You shall soon feel and hear and smell a great deal, young Sittiponder. Get yourself settled. We shall depart very soon.”
“What’s that smaller basket, Squire?” asked Ahnek.
“Homing waistcoaters. Sir Dar wants us to keep him informed of our progress.”
He left them to make his way around the field, checking on each rider and dragon. Satisfied that all was well, he bade farewell to Sir Dar.
“Wulder be with you, young Squire.”
“And with you, my knight.”
He vaulted into Greer’s saddle and gave the signal to rise. With huge colorful wings sweeping through the air, the entourage of six dragons ascended into a clear blue sky and headed north.
Nothing untoward occurred during the morning flight. They landed, ate, and rested at midday. During the afternoon, clouds began to accumulate.
What was that, Greer? My mind was wandering…Frost says that Sittiponder says that the voices say there is bad weather ahead? Relay a question to Bromptotterpindosset. Is there shelter nearby?
Bardon waited for a few minutes.
Seagram says his rider, Pont, says that the tumanhofer mapmaker says The Caves of Endor are the closest?…I, too, find our passing of messages amusing, Greer, but I think not as much as you do. Your chortling is jiggling my saddle…
I am learning a sense of humor, but just now I am leading a questing party into foul weather. I think it imperative to see to their safety…I never claimed to be a people person if that means, as I think it does, that I relate well to people…I’ve never claimed to be a dragon person, either…
Oh, enough Greer! Just tell the other dragons to inform their riders that we are changing our course to reach The Caves of Endor. Pont’s dragon shall take the lead. Tell Seagram to have Pont secure directions from Bromptotterpindosset.
Greer, my saddle is jiggling again.
31
THE CAVES OF ENDOR
Lightning forced them from the sky, but not