Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [136]
56
ACTION
A dry bed surprised Kale that night, and so did the blizzard in the morning. Cam seemed a bit unhappy with the view out his dining room window.
“Well, Cam,” said Lady Allerion as she buttered her toast, “you have to expect the wind when you gather together such a storm on short notice.”
“Yes, but let’s subdue it, shall we? I’m sure it’s done its work, and we don’t need it any longer.”
“As soon as I’ve finished breakfast, Cam.”
“What work did the blizzard do?” asked Toopka.
Cam sat down again at his place and poured himself another cup of tea. “The ropmas, grawligs, and schoergs all like their cozy little dens and hovels. They particularly like to be in them when there’s inclement weather.”
“In-clem-at?” Toopka scrunched up her face over the new word.
“Inclement, wet, in this case, wet and cold. I, personally, find inclement weather refreshing.” He frowned. “Wind can be a bit bothersome.”
“So the grawligs and others won’t like the snow?”
“Hate it.”
“What will they do?” Toopka leaned forward.
“Go home.”
“Oh! That’s good, isn’t it?”
“Good for us. Annoying for Risto. He’s not going to be pleasant to work with today.”
After breakfast, Lyll and Cam combined their skills to tame the wild wind. In a few minutes, the company could see farther than four feet out the window. Snow blanketed everything on the shore.
“Listen,” commanded Cam.
From a distance they heard whizzing and thumping noises.
“An eerie sound,” said Lyll, a smile curving her lips.
“What is it?” asked Kale.
Cam smirked, looking pleased with himself. “Hundreds of dragons stirring their blood. If we were on the land, we could feel the vibrations under our feet.”
“I’m sure the bisonbecks won’t like the ground shaking,” said Brunstetter.
“No, they won’t, and the earthquakelike feeling will be the last straw to send the less disciplined warriors home before the battle begins.”
Cam patted his damp beard. “Time for us to make a morning call.”
“Where are we going?” Toopka dogged the wizard’s steps.
“You’re staying here with Taylaminkadot.”
“I amn’t.”
“You can’t say ‘I amn’t.’ That isn’t a proper contraction.”
“Regidor says I can’t say ‘ain’t.’ What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to say, ‘Yes, Wizard Cam, I shall do as I am told.’”
“Aargh!” growled Toopka between clenched teeth.
An hour later, Toopka stood on the front steps of the castle with her hand firmly clasped by Taylaminkadot. The rest of the party shoved off in the skiff and headed for shore at the northernmost end of the lake.
Kale looked back at the castle and started. At every window, at every parapet, an armed soldier stood sentry.
“The castle is manned!”
“Illusion, my dear. Risto will tell his soldiers it is just illusion, but the sight will weaken their resolve. It’s so hard to believe your ears over your eyes, especially when appearances line up with expectations.”
“Will you tell us where we’re going now?”
“Oh, didn’t I say? We’re going to call upon the dragons.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Soon she would touch Celisse. All her efforts to mindspeak to the dragon had been useless.
If I can see her and touch her—if she sees me, I know she’ll want to come back.
The oars pushed through the water, and again she suspected the kimens somehow sped the boat over the waters. When they approached the shale-covered beach at the northern end of the lake, she marveled at the colorful array of dragons. Against the white backdrop of snow, the brilliant colors looked like colored panes in a stained-glass window.
Regidor stood on the shore as the boat skidded across the shallow water and scraped the coarse bottom. He greeted them with a smile. “Mission accomplished, Wizard Cam.”
“Splendid. Lord Brunstetter, Lee Ark, you’ll find your mounts ready to take you back to your troops.”
Lady Allerion shook a finger at her fellow wizard. “This was a ruse, Cam!”
Cam did nothing to hide the smug look on his face.
Kale bounced out of