Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [141]
Wizard Fenworth twitched, sending a scurry of beetles out of one sleeve. “I’m retired, you know.”
“Yes, I had heard that. Who will teach wizardry skills to Kale and Regidor?”
Cam raised a finger. “I’m not overly occupied at present.”
Paladin winked at the wizard. “Do you wish to stay in your castle or at Fenworth’s?”
“Here now!” exclaimed Fen. “Pesky cousin. A distant cousin. Ninth cousin, twenty-two times removed, at least. He hasn’t been invited.”
“Yes,” said Paladin in a reasonable tone, “but if he were there to handle the small things that come up, you could enjoy your retirement more fully.”
Fenworth harrumphed but did not voice any further objections.
Cam smiled at his cousin. “I’ll spend some time with Fenworth in The Bogs. I’m sure he’d miss the hubbub if he found himself alone with only Librettowit and Thorpendipity. But I will take the students on field trips. Nothing like on-the-spot instruction.”
Paladin nodded and raised an eyebrow in Regidor’s direction. “I haven’t forgotten Gilda.”
Regidor’s hand dropped to cover a spot on the side of his robe. “She’s safe.”
Paladin’s eyebrow rose a notch. “Do you mean she’s safe to be around, or she’s safe from harm in your pocket?”
Regidor’s thin lips puckered. He looked Paladin in the eye. “I would like to be responsible for her. She bonded to Risto, and now Risto is dead. I feel I can help her.”
“So be it,” Paladin said and turned to address Kale’s mother. “Lady Allerion?”
“I should like to travel. I didn’t really enjoy being restricted to that dungeon. And I might just uncover a way to free Kemry.” She laid a hand on Fenworth’s arm. “I do hope you will allow me to visit often, Fen. I would like to get to know my daughter.”
Fenworth arched an eyebrow at her but did not answer.
“Thank you.” Lyll leaned forward and kissed the old man’s brow as if he had graciously invited her to come at any time.
“Harrumph! Seems I neglected that lesson for you as well. Your daughter hugs me. You kiss me. Not at all the thing. Wizards must be held in great respect. Unapproachable. Awe-inspiring.”
A mouse slid out from under his hat and scrambled down his sleeve, across his lap, and down to the floor.
“Nothing,” said Fenworth, “should detract from a wizard’s dignity.”
Paladin stroked his chin with his long fingers as he nodded solemnly. “I couldn’t agree more, Wizard Fenworth.”
He turned to the warriors. “Lee Ark and Lord Brunstetter, where do you wish to go?”
“Home,” they said in unison.
“So be it.” Paladin’s eyes held sympathy. “Dar?”
The doneel took the harmonica from his mouth long enough to answer. “Home, Wittoom.”
“And Bardon?”
Kale held her breath and looked down at the daggart in her hand. Where could Bardon go? He didn’t answer, and she peeked across the table in time to see him shrug.
Paladin drummed his fingers on the table for a moment before he spoke. “I think you’ve learned what Grand Ebeck wanted you to know when he sent you from The Hall. Are you ready to begin training as a knight?”
Bardon jerked up straight in his chair. “Yes sir.” He bit his lips and blinked. Kale saw his hand move as if to reach up and pull the locks covering his ears, but he stilled the movement.
Was he supposed to learn something about his mother and father as I have? Was he supposed to learn to accept his roots? Because if he was, I don’t think he did!
Bardon sat a little straighter. Kale watched the familiar resolve sharpen the contours of his jaw.
“Sir, I don’t know what it was that Grand Ebeck expected me to learn.”
Paladin smiled the slow, relaxed smile that somehow made Kale trust him and his wisdom. “I’m not surprised. Often the lessons in life that are the most meaningful are the hardest for us to sort out. Wulder blessed you with a great potential. He used your parents to gift you with unique traits. Grand Ebeck saw those inherent talents bound by your rigid adherence to rules. He threw you out of the austere environment of The Hall so that you would have a chance to become more flexible.”
Paladin swung his arm around, his sweeping gesture