Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [118]
“I learned nothing except I’m no good at diplomacy.”
Dar touched her arm. “Often the results of our confrontations do not materialize immediately. You more than adequately engaged her interest while our meech friend did his best on our behalf. Regidor?”
“Risto has gathered an army of bisonbecks and grawligs to the west of Bartal Springs Lake. Over five hundred dragons have joined his forces. He intends to swoop south three days hence. His goal is to annihilate anyone who gets in his way.”
Kale stopped in her tracks, seized Regidor’s arm, and forced him to face her. “Where and when did you get all that information?”
Regidor smiled. “Directly out of Gilda’s sweet little mind while you were first speaking to her. She could barely contain her glee, knowing soon your annoying little person and your senseless prattling would be eliminated forever. She’s got a heart of lead, that one does.”
“Humph! I couldn’t get past the block she had on her mind,” Kale admitted. “You followed up with a mighty pleasant speech for one who knew what she was thinking.”
Regidor shrugged. “Well, Paladin expected us to try to persuade her away from Risto.”
Fenworth spoke up. “And what would you say was your level of success in that endeavor, my boy?”
“Next to nil.”
They began walking toward the tavern once more. The minor dragons flew about Kale’s head, trying to draw her attention. She ignored them.
This means a battle.
“So after we have a delicious meal,” said Fenworth, smacking his lips, “and a round of relaxing entertainment—music, I think—”
What kind of forces do we have to meet such an army?
“—and perhaps a few good tales and a good night’s sleep—”
Fenworth said the mariones would turn out as an army to defend their land.
“—what do you fine comrades suggest we do with this startling information?”
Cam patted his damp beard. “Oh, I think we should go stop Risto’s army, don’t you?”
Stop them? Just us? What about the marione army? What about Paladin? Where are Brunstetter and Lee Ark?
“Quite,” agreed Fenworth. “There’s nothing like a mission to save the world to liven up a vacation.”
“We aren’t on vacation, Fen,” said Cam.
Vacation! Ha! And this isn’t exactly a quest, either. For a quest, you go find something and, hopefully, bring it back.
“No, that was last week, wasn’t it? Or perhaps the week before?”
“Last century, maybe.”
“Was that before or after that uncomfortably cold spell, Cam? I do have to say my memory is getting worse.”
“Could it be that you are getting old, Fen?”
Senile! Both of you!
“Never!”
49
PLANS TO PROCEED
“The problem,” said Lady Allerion to the group crowded into the River Away meeting house, “is that once we’ve made a gateway, there’s no way to seal it up. And the size of the gateway we’re proposing…well, hiding it is going to be a problem.”
“And what about those peddlers?” interjected Master Meiger. “We don’t want them here, causing more problems. We need to concentrate on our defense. With the peddlers and that fortuneteller in our midst, we’d have to keep an eye on them.”
Regidor nodded. “We should take Gilda and her cohorts with us to the battlefield.”
Kale sat at the head table, quietly observing her former neighbors. The assembly consisted of mostly men and older boys, but a few women had turned out to hear Master Meiger define the threat and recommend following the leadership of Ambassador Dar.
With their propensity for long discussions, Kale feared the mariones would talk for days and not get to the point before the invading forces were at the door. But the people had surprised her. Once convinced of the danger, they took action. The boys grabbed the charge to ride throughout the country, raising the alarm and delivering a message concerning where the volunteer army was to assemble. Baking and packing occupied the women not at the meeting. Older men, who would not be going to the front, promised to care for the women and children, property