Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [134]
“Will he attack today?” asked Bardon.
Cam looked old and sad. “If he wanted to win just this battle, he would. But he’s smart enough to know we’re amassing a fair-sized army to block him. If he waits a day, instead of crushing five thousand men, he can crush ten thousand.”
Kale twisted the pouch hanging around her neck. “We have to rescue the dragons. If I talk to Celisse, I know she’d come back.”
“Invading the enemy camp would be too dangerous, Kale,” said Lyll Allerion. “I’m hoping Wizard Cam will have a trick or two up his sleeve. After all, he is a lake wizard. And Bartal Springs Lake just happens to be his home lake.”
Cam nodded. “We’ll go to my castle under cover of darkness.”
“What are we going to do all day?” asked Toopka.
“Sleep!” said Cam. “At least some of us. Others will mingle with the new recruits, bolster their spirits and squash rumors.”
“Am I one of the ones who gets to squash rumors?”
“You’re one of the ones who gets to sleep.”
“I slept some in the boat.”
“You’ll sleep more in a bed.”
“I could—”
A bucket of water appeared over the little girl’s head and dumped its contents.
Toopka sputtered.
“That was warm water,” said Cam. “But you shall soon be cold. A nice warm bath and a snuggly bed are the best thing for you at the moment.” He turned to address the tumanhofer servant. “Taylaminkadot, would you be so kind as to escort this little doneel to the tent that’s been made ready for Kale? See to her needs, if you will, and don’t let her out of your sight! Not even when you think she’s sleeping.”
“I won’t be able to sleep,” protested Toopka as she was led away.
Kale didn’t think she would be able to sleep either, but a warm breakfast of porridge and hot mallow, a soothing bath, and a cozy bed invited slumber. She woke up hours later with no more aching muscles, no headache, and a hearty appetite. Gymn rested on her shoulder. When he saw her awake, he perked up.
“Heal their minds?” Kale sat up and contemplated her green dragon. “Whose minds?”
Gymn trilled and the explanation unfolded in Kale’s mind. “The other dragons. They are deluded, and you think it’s an illness. Maybe it is, Gymn. We’ll try almost anything to get them back. How would you treat an illness like that?”
Gymn hummed in his throat and squeaked as he thought.
“Isolate the bad and nourish the good?”
Kale spied a new set of clothes. Forgetting about Gymn’s theories, she jumped out of bed and raced to put them on. The pants and tunic reminded Kale of her mother’s outfit she’d worn to fight the mordakleeps, except they weren’t a flashy pink. The supple boots were black. Creamy soft material made a formfitting undershirt. The breeches and tunic were an earthy brown like the uniforms of The Hall.
Toopka stood in the doorway, pouting. “You’re supposed to come eat.”
Behind her Taylaminkadot nodded approvingly. The tumanhofer followed Toopka with the air of someone who would pounce if the child strayed so much as an inch. Kale grinned to herself as she watched the thwarted mischief maker march to the dining tent.
They rushed through supper. The winter sun had already set, and dusk shrouded the camp. Kale and Bardon, Dar and the two wizards, Brunstetter and Lee Ark, Taylaminkadot, Toopka, and several kimens marched down to the lake. The hike covered at least three miles of rough path through timber and rocky hillside. No one spoke unnecessarily, but concentrated on where to place the next step.
Two kimens guarded the boat tethered to a shoreline pine. Azalone took the point position, sitting astride the prow.
Dar sat on the next seat with Dibl on his knee.
Kale sat with Wizard Cam.
Brunstetter took the rowing bench and wielded one oar while Lee Ark and Lehman Bardon plied the other.
In the back sat Taylaminkadot with Lady Allerion and a half-dozen kimens.
The remaining kimens on the shore untied the line and shoved the boat out onto the lake. Gentle waves rocked the boat.