Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [130]
Is she telling me how to escape? If she is, she’s risking her life! I hope the guard believes I spoke first, and she answered. I can fix that! Kale sent a thought to the guard. Now he would have a vague memory of having heard Kale say something he couldn’t quite hear right when the tumanhofer woman entered the tent.
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to sleep for another hour or so,” the servant continued, “but after that your mother insists this part of the camp be quiet. She wants her rest, she does. She’s very strict about no one prowling around. You’ll have peace and quiet then.”
She is helping us. Oh, Wulder protect her.
“Thank you, Taylaminkadot.” Kale kept her voice calm. The guard must not suspect anything is amiss. “I don’t need anything else tonight.”
Tayla curtsied, picked up the tray, and left.
“What was that all about?” asked Toopka in hushed tones as she slithered out from under the cape.
“The river is just a few yards from here, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” answered Toopka.
“When everyone is asleep for the night, we’re going on a boat trip.”
A smile spread over Toopka’s face.
“Now let’s get this food out of sight,” said Kale. “My mother may come to tuck me in.”
Kale didn’t regret that her mother did not return for a good-night visit. She believed that some drug had been given to her, for now that she had held Gymn for a couple of hours, the crippling lethargy had left. She felt strong and able to make a good attempt at stealing away.
When the only noises they heard were from the distant tents, Kale slit the small tear into a nice large hole to climb through. With the dragons in their pocket-dens and Toopka held in Kale’s arms with the moonbeam cape wrapped around them both, she tiptoed on bare feet toward the sound of the river. She passed a few tents and a couple of sentries, but the darkness and her cape kept them safe.
At the river they could see a number of boats tied up to docks a hundred yards down the bank. Kale crept along the river, keeping her eyes open for soldiers. She started to get in the first boat they came to, but a hand on her arm stopped her.
“Not this one, Miss Kale.”
“Taylaminkadot?”
“Follow me.”
“You scared me.”
“Follow me.” The tumanhofer servant ran to a larger boat at the end of one of the docks.
“Get in.” Tayla motioned to Kale as she knelt on the dock and held the boat steady.
Kale did as she was told. Tayla scrambled into the boat after her, the mooring rope in her hand. She shoved off.
“You’re going with us?”
“Aye.”
“Why?”
“I would be blamed in the morning whether I helped you or not. Have you ever rowed a boat, Miss Kale?”
“No.”
“Then that’s another good reason for me to go along, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
Kale sat on the wooden seat stretched across the stern of the little craft.
“Where does this river go, Taylaminkadot?”
“To the lake.” Tayla sat on the middle seat and began to ply the oars.
“Is that a safe place to go?”
“If we get there before sunrise.”
“Do you think we will?”
“If Wulder be willing.”
54
ANOTHER MOTHER’S LOVE
The small river meandered in gentle curves. For the first half hour, grawligs could be heard on one side, with their raucous songs and loud snoring. Dibl thought the combination so funny he had to be popped inside Kale’s cape to keep him quiet. On the other side, bisonbecks loomed in the shadows between tents.
When they passed the last tent and slid between banks of trees, Kale’s breathing slowed to a normal pace, and her hands unclenched. A few minutes later, she spotted lighted figures darting along the river. One came to the shore and waved to the passing boat.
“Taylaminkadot, we must speak to the kimens.”
Taylaminkadot steered the boat toward the bank. As soon as they were within hearing distance, a kimen called, “We’ve been sent to bring you to Lyll Allerion.”
“Which one?” asked Toopka.
“It would be Mother Number Two,” answered Kale. “Mother Number One doesn’t associate with kimens.”
Several kimens gathered behind the first. “May we come aboard?” asked the first. “We’ll go down