Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [0]
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Map
Vendela Surprises
The Goose and The Gander
The Mural
Summoned
Expectations
Attack!
Poison
Regidor
Paladin’s Visit
Research
Left Behind
Joining the Battle
Another Plan
Lesson One
The Company Assembles
Wizardry Lesson Two
Peace?
Mother
Hidden Talents
A Mixed Bag of Comrades
Two Tricksters
A Different Direction
Last-Minute Changes
The Journey Begins
Feast of Friends
Ambush
Stranded Travelers
Quartered with the Enemy
Dirt
Meech Dragons
Prushing
Getting Down to Business
Foray into a Den of Evil
A Brawl
Missing Person
Finding Dar
Good News, Bad News
Legend of the Past
Ardeo
A Light on the Subject
Homecoming
Mother?
Good Night
Morning Surprises
Breakfast
A Peaceful Interlude
Wayfarers
Confrontation
Plans to Proceed
Building the Gateway
In Enemy Territory
Mother’s Love
Gathering Together
Another Mother’s Love
Treachery
Action
Test of Fire
Where Is Home?
Glossary
About the Author
Praise for Dragon Quest
Copyright
This book is dedicated to these first readers, who “test” my work for me:
Mary and Michael Darnell
Jason McDonald
Alistair and Ian McNear
Claire and Rachael Selk
Amy Stoddard
Sarah White
Michael and Rebecca Wilber
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Because iron sharpens iron:
Margie Barritt
Dudley Delffs
Evangeline Denmark
Jani Dick
Michelle Garland
Dianna Gay
Cecilia Gray
Michelle Griep
Jack Hagar
Beth Jusino
Christine Lynxwiler
Chip MacGregor
Paul Moede
Sandra Moore
Jill Nelson
Shannon McNear
Jeanne Paton
Kathryn Porter
Armin Sommer
Faye Spieker
Stuart Stockton
Case Tompkins
Ahneka Valdois
Brenda White
Laura Wright
1
VENDELA SURPRISES
“We’re going to get in trouble,” Kale muttered. She’d lost sight of her doneel friend Dar in a Vendela market. Amara’s capital city teemed with people from each of the seven high races. Kale found the throngs fascinating and intimidating.
She inched past two women, a marione and an o’rant, haggling over the price of a brass candlestick, then ducked as a man swung his arm out, gesturing to three men listening to his tale. She bumped into a kimen, said, “Excuse me,” and moved to the middle of the street.
I should have stayed put. I should have turned away and marched right back into The Hall. But no! Dar says let’s go explore, and I follow him.
Kale detoured around a fruit cart. As an o’rant, she was taller and slimmer than the mariones in the crowd. Much taller than the kimens. A good two feet taller than Dar. But her height hadn’t helped her keep an eye on the doneel.
She shook her head at the confusion in the street. People seemed either in a hurry to get somewhere or else planted firmly in one spot so she had to squeeze around them.
Dar’s nimble ways are to his advantage in these huge streets. I keep getting jostled and shoved aside.
Dar! she shouted with her mind. She listened, expecting him to answer with a thought as clear as if he spoke in her ear. Mindspeaking was a gift she had recently developed, and it still surprised her. It also puzzled her that Dar technically could not mindspeak. She talked to him and listened to him with her mind, but he could not start a conversation.
Kale spotted Dar’s furry head, ears pricked up in excitement and a grin spreading across his face. He stood on something, she couldn’t tell what, and waved his hat above the crowd. He’d found a long red feather and two creamy white ones to stick into the dull brown band of the leecent hat.
Heads turned to size up the image of a somberly clad leecent wearing jaunty feathers. Some smiled. Her own uniform was partially hidden by her moonbeam cape.
“We’re going to get in trouble,” she grumbled again.
Dar dropped out of sight, and Kale zigzagged through the milling shoppers, trying to get to him. The carts full of trinkets, clothing, and gadgets caught her eye, but she didn’t stop. She must catch up and persuade Dar to go back to The Hall.
Of course, he said I didn’t have to come with him. But when he headed out the east gate instead of through