Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [30]
Regidor cast her an uneasy glance. “Fenworth is still concentrating on that dehydration spell.”
“Where are the blimmets?”
“Close, but they haven’t broken to the surface yet.”
“The winds are battering our friends.” Kale wrung her hands. “We didn’t think of that. The storm will kill the blimmets, but it might hurt Fenworth and everybody else.”
Regidor squinted as if he could see something far away. “The tornado is moving slowly, slower than the blimmets.”
“How do you know?”
Regidor shrugged his thin shoulders. “I can feel it. I can sense the movement of the blimmets, the commotion at the battlefield, and the tornado’s path.”
“What’s gonna happen?” Toopka squealed, bouncing on her toes and flapping her hands in front of her.
Regidor answered, “Tornadoes travel across the countryside and wipe out what’s in front of them.” He frowned at Kale. “Maybe we could stop it.”
Toopka wailed. “But we were gonna drop the water on the blimmets.”
“We can’t do both,” said Kale. “We can’t drown the blimmets without hurting our friends.”
13
ANOTHER PLAN
Kale ran her fingers through her hair, grabbing hold and pulling as if she could yank the answer out of her head.
“We have to get the water above the blimmets. If the tornado’s above them, maybe the wind won’t blow everyone to smithereens.”
“How? How? How?” Toopka hopped with each word.
“Stop jumping,” barked Regidor.
“Jumping!” said Kale. “Regidor, imagine the tornado jumping! Hopping in the air, like Toopka.” She clamped her hands on his shoulders and gave him a shake. “Think of the tornado jumping into the air over the field and hold that thought. Hold the tornado in the air.”
Kale grabbed on to the image with her mind. As soon as she touched the energy of the storm, she knew it had already weakened. Their skills were not developed, and their minds certainly were not disciplined for such a tremendous task.
“Oh, Wulder, help.”
Regidor squeezed her arm. His clawlike fingernails pricked her flesh. His voice came out in a gravelly whisper. “The tornado is above the field. The blimmets are almost directly below and tunneling upward.”
“Hold the tornado,” begged Kale. She felt the energy of the whirling storm seeping away from her. “We have to control the tornado. Wait until the blimmets break the surface, then release it.” She moaned. “It’s falling apart, unraveling.”
“Hold it, Kale! The blimmets are almost to the top.”
“It’s weakening. I can’t.”
“Just a few more seconds.”
Kale begged Wulder to take over. I can’t do it. I’m not strong enough. Wulder, I can’t.
“Now!” screamed Regidor.
Kale collapsed on the floor and felt the tornado give way to a cloudburst.
“What’s happening?” cried Toopka.
Regidor gave a hoot of triumph. “The blimmets are drowning. As they come out of the dirt, they get hit full in the face with water, tons of it.”
“Tons?”
“Well, maybe not tons.” He looked at the tiny doneel with annoyance, and then his face relaxed into a jubilant grin. He grabbed Toopka and whirled her around the room, dancing a jig and hollering. His long tail knocked over smaller furniture, but the clatter only added to the joyful noise.
Kale took deep breaths and scooted to sit with her back against Fenworth’s chair. She reached with her mind and checked each of her comrades. Everyone was drenched but healthy. She even touched Fenworth, reassuring herself that he was alive, even though she could not delve into his thoughts.
They’re safe. Thank You, Wulder.
A frisson of fear gave her goose bumps.
“Regidor?”
The dragon skipped to her side and plopped down on the floor, sitting in his favorite position with his legs crossed.
“We did it, Kale.”
She shook her head. “Where are the mordakleeps?”
Regidor closed his eyes, and a puzzled expression wrinkled his scaly brow.
“They’re strong. Stronger than before. The hurt ones are well again. Uncut, unbruised.”
Kale dropped her head into her hands. Not wanting to listen, she slid her palms over her ears. She still heard Regidor’s deep voice.
“Everything is wet and that helps them. Fenworth is still working on the dehydration