Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [13]
“He didn’t say he was mad.” Kale turned down the hall leading to the main staircase.
“He’s still mad.”
“Yes, probably. But he doesn’t want us to know.”
“We know anyway.”
“Yes, but let’s pretend we don’t. I think he’s embarrassed as well as disappointed.”
Kale and Toopka reached the bottom of the grand staircase and crossed the wide foyer to the front doors, where a footman bowed them out of the building.
Outside, the sun shone brightly on the azure towers. The translucent globe floated fifty feet in the air, unmoved by the breeze fluttering the banners on each of The Hall’s turrets.
“Can I have new clothes?” asked Toopka. “I’d like new clothes.”
“I don’t think we will have time.”
“A bath? I’d like a bath, inside, with smell-good soap. Maybe pink soap.”
“As soon as we get to Wizard Fenworth’s castle. He has a nice tub. Actually, it’s a huge wooden bucket. But hot water comes out of a reservoir in the treetop. The sun warms the water. I don’t know about pink soap.”
“I was thinking I didn’t want to leave Vendela. I have friends here, you know. But maybe this will be fun. I’ve never been on an adventure.”
“We are not going on an adventure. Adventures are not fun,” said Kale as they crossed the courtyard. “I know. I have been on one.”
She walked briskly to the dormitory, aware of the curious glances from fellow students. Once within the doors, she sprinted down the empty hall, up three flights of narrow stairs, and into the room she shared with five other girls. No one was there.
“I guess that’s good.”
“What’s good?” asked Toopka. She craned her neck around, trying to see everything.
“No one’s home, so I don’t have to explain why we’re leaving. Sit here, and don’t touch anything.” She deposited the little doneel on her own cot.
“Is there anything to eat?” Toopka slipped off the bed and headed for a chest of drawers.
“Toopka!” Kale snatched her up and put her back on the cot. “We aren’t allowed to have food in the rooms.”
Toopka squirmed toward the edge again. “That doesn’t mean there isn’t any.”
“Stay where you are. I’ll find you something to eat but not right now. I have to pack and get to the tower.”
Toopka’s face folded into a grumpy frown. Kale ignored her and opened a drawer. She stuffed clothes into the hollows of her cape. When she glanced at the doneel again, she saw Toopka’s eyes had grown large, and her mouth hung open.
“You’re putting all those things in that pocket I went in?”
“Yes.”
Kale dropped to her knees and pulled a shallow box from under the bed. Toopka lay on her stomach and peered over the edge. Kale continued to pack. When she’d emptied the box, she stood up and pushed it back under the bed with the toe of her brown boot.
“Let’s go.”
“Aren’t you going to take the books?” Toopka nodded toward the clutter on the desk beside the bed.
“No. Wait until you see the castle. It has rooms and rooms full of books.”
A sharp rap on the door sent Kale to answer.
“Dar!”
“I brought some clothes for our little friend.”
He entered the room and placed a folded stack of clothing on the bed beside Toopka. She squealed with delight and rummaged through the pieces, cooing as she shook out a white shirt embroidered with an ivy vine. Metta and Gymn emerged from the cape, flew to her side, and examined her new possessions.
Kale studied the furry face of her friend. “What did Grand Ebeck want to talk to you about?” she asked.
“Oh, he wants me to attend a dinner tonight. A doneel diplomat will be trying to influence a regional governor to increase trade with their district. Dull, political stuff.”
“I don’t think I like Grand Ebeck as much as I did before.”
“He doesn’t particularly care whether you like him or not. He was more interested in softening your attitude toward Bardon.”
“What?”
Dar plopped down on the bed beside Toopka and helped her lace up a boot she’d found.
“Diplomacy. He detected your dislike of Bardon and set about constructing a situation in which you would side with him.”
“That’s sneaky.”
Dar shrugged and concentrated for a moment on getting Toopka’s tiny foot into the other