Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [123]
“Are you coming?” Librettowit called to Fenworth. “I can do this myself if you’re too tired.”
“Tired? Harrumph! I only did a third of the work building these gates, and I could have done it all. Of course I’m not tired.”
Fenworth got to his feet stiffly. Mice, lizards, and bugs skittered out of his hair and beard. He took no notice of their departure, but smiled warmly at a large blackbird flying through the widely spaced trees. He landed on the bog wizard’s shoulder.
“There you are, Thorpendipity.” Fenworth lifted a shaky hand to stroke the bird’s glossy back. “I’d begun to think you’d taken up with some other wizard. I’ll be needing you. Glad you came.”
Fenworth strolled to the smaller of the two shimmering gateways and stepped through, still talking to the bird.
Librettowit addressed Cam and Lyll. “I’ll try to keep him in the background, but you know there’s no bending that will of his once he’s decided to do a thing.”
Cam’s jaw clenched before he spoke. “We shall hope he doesn’t think of leading the forces on the battlefield.”
Lyll wrung her hands. “Try to convince him of the importance of gathering reinforcements. He’s too frail for the rigors of war.” She pressed her lips together and blinked rapidly.
Librettowit put his hand to his hat and tipped it slightly. “I’ll do my best, my lady.” He entered the gateway and disappeared in sparkling light.
Wizard Cam turned to the large, unfinished gate.
“What do you think, Lyll? Can we finish this off?”
“I think we need help.”
Cam and Lyll turned to look at Kale, Bardon, and Regidor.
“Come,” said Lyll, “we need you three apprentices.”
Regidor and Kale stepped forward quickly, but Bardon hung back.
“Excuse me, my lady, but I am not one of Fenworth’s apprentices.”
“Be that as it may,” said Cam, “come, my friend. You may observe.”
Kale’s head jerked around to see Bardon’s reaction. Wizard Cam had said almost the exact words Fenworth had once said when he wanted Bardon to take part in a wizardry lesson.
Bardon wore his inscrutable expression, and when she reached to his mind, he had a block up that should have had a sign reading, “Go away, Kale!”
She made a face at him, and of course he didn’t respond.
Lyll touched Kale’s arm. “Stand by me. Regidor, you go next to Cam, and Bardon, take the middle position.” She waited only a moment for them to follow her instructions. “Now, look at this wall on the right side. Do you see the threads that have not yet been woven together?”
Kale’s mouth dropped open as she nodded. Always before she had concentrated on the center of the gateway where the air seemed to ripple, distorting the image meeting her eye. Now she could see long, thick strands of almost transparent color dangling as if the edge of a huge cloth had frayed.
She felt Bardon’s excitement surge and knew he saw the threads. His reaction overtook his determination not to share this experience with her, and his guard fell.
“Now watch carefully, children, as Cam and I weave the loose cords. You can join in and help as soon as you see the pattern.”
Regidor joined in first, followed by Kale. She knew Bardon saw the pattern soon after. But he hesitated, because he didn’t quite believe he could do it.
It’s like the beat of a drum behind the music, Bardon. Just react to the rhythm.
He didn’t answer, but soon she felt his energy flowing in time with the others in the group. When Lyll tied off the last strand, the five let out a collective sigh. The feeling of working in harmony dissolved, but Kale felt a sense of satisfaction. She turned to see if Bardon felt the same way.
His face had taken on the stonelike expression she hated. She almost yelled at him. Can’t you just enjoy something? The question tried to leave her tongue, but she clamped her lips over it.
“How can that happen?” he demanded. “How can I be part of something like that?”
“It isn’t such a mystery,” said Wizard Cam.