Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [120]
She shoved away from the tree. I’ll get right in the middle of that knot of warriors and let them protect me.
“That’s a plan, Kale!” Dar beamed at her. “Your intelligence is a better weapon than your brawn.”
She compared her skinny arms to the muscles rippling over the mariones’ backs and arms. “What brawn?”
“Exactly!” said Dar as he waved her off and headed back to the meeting house.
She took a few steps toward Bardon, stopped abruptly, and turned back. Dar strolled toward the meeting house.
Did you just read my mind?
He didn’t even turn. “Kale, you have more important things to occupy your mind.”
Did you?
“Of course not. Bardon is waiting.”
“Won’t they know we’re coming?” asked Bolley. “That female meech can tell what you’re thinking, right?”
Kale gladly answered. “Regidor can block her ability to know what our plans are.”
Bardon led his men to the potion tent. Without waiting to watch that confrontation, Kale and Regidor entered the fortuneteller’s tent with the minor dragons flying in attendance.
Gilda remained seated and did not move.
Regidor stood by the door. The dragons swooped around the room, inspecting all the darkest corners. Gilda ignored them all.
A surge of impatience rose in Kale. The woman swathed herself in thick clothing, moved only when forced to, spread discontent among people who had done her no harm, and acted as if she were a queen.
But Paladin said the meech dragon must be treated with mercy. She was born into this situation and needs to be rescued. Regidor made an attempt on our last visit. I suppose before we disable her powers, tie her up, and haul her off with us, I ought to give kindness a try as well.
Kale walked around the black table and stood beside Gilda’s still form. “I would like to see your face.”
Gilda didn’t move.
“Really,” said Kale. “I think if I could look in your eyes, I might be able to at least begin to understand you.”
Still Gilda did not respond. Kale put her hand on the female meech’s shoulder, and the clothing collapsed.
Dibl did somersaults in the air, and Metta squealed her surprise.
“Very clever,” said Regidor.
“Where is she?” asked Kale.
Regidor tilted his head and surveyed the room. After turning slowly in a complete circle, he answered, “She’s in this room but not in her own form. Let’s look around and see how she may be hiding.”
“She’s changed herself into something?”
“I don’t know if she has the skill to do it herself, or if this is Risto’s doing. Pick up that pile of clothing and shake it out. See if anything falls to the floor.”
Kale did as Regidor suggested. The hat fell out of the layer of veil. She peeled a blouse from inside the dark purple jacket. Petticoats slipped out of the purple skirt. The half boots contained empty stockings. She sighed with disappointment.
Dibl abandoned his jovial air dance and set to work. He crawled along the floor, nibbling on bugs as he looked for clues. Metta sat on the back of Gilda’s chair. Kale picked her up. The little dragon shivered with dismay over the disappearance of the meech. “We’ll find her, Metta. It doesn’t look like anyone hurt her.”
Kale continued to stroke Metta as she walked around the room. “What are we looking for?” she asked Regidor.
He spoke over his shoulder as he examined a pillow. “Well, I’m looking for that shimmer of light I sometimes see around people. Hers was a particularly disheveled pattern.”
“I’ve never seen any lights.”
“Then I suppose you should look for something that’s out of place, or something that’s here now that wasn’t before.”
“Wouldn’t it be most logical for her to change herself into a living thing, like a cat or dog, a bird or mouse?”
“That would be the easiest transformation, but Risto is above doing something simple.”
“Still, I’d be happier if Dibl would quit eating those bugs. Dibl, stop it. You might eat Gilda.”
Dibl rolled on the floor and bumped into a table leg. He lay there with his sides jiggling as he laughed.
“It’s not funny!” She pursed her lips and tried not to smile at his antics.
“I hardly think she’s a bug, Kale.