Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [34]
“Of course we do,” said Regidor.
Librettowit shook his head. “Maybe not.”
Both Toopka and Regidor stopped to stare at the tumanhofer, disbelief written clearly on their young faces.
Librettowit cleared his throat. “Remember Fenworth said we had company and more company coming. He could intend this for our guests when they arrive.”
Toopka leaned across the table, eyes bright and a grin touching her black lips. “Who’s coming?”
Librettowit cast a sidelong glance at the sleeping wizard and lowered his voice. “He hasn’t said, but it stands to reason that if you’re about to embark on a dangerous quest, Paladin would send warriors.”
Bardon dropped his book in his lap and sat up with a jerk.
Fenworth’s snores ceased abruptly. Without opening his eyes, he spoke. “Supposition. What need have we of Paladin’s warriors? We have a wizard, two apprentice wizards, two strong, able men, and a librarian.”
“Not me,” objected Librettowit loudly. “Count me out. I’m staying with the books and the comfort of home. I’m not going questing.”
Kale remembered the fiasco of their attempt to create and control a tornado. The creating part had gone all right, but nothing afterward had gone as planned. “Pardon me, Wizard Fenworth, but I think your two apprentices are inexperienced.”
“Nonsense!” Fenworth stood, stretched, and turned to the table. He came across the room and stood, patting his beard. “Tut-tut, you have no confidence in yourselves. You’ve already had your first lesson in wizardry.”
Toopka’s face folded into a fierce scowl. “Baking a cake is wizardry?”
“Oh dear, oh dear, I see you don’t fully comprehend.”
“It’s just a cake,” said Toopka. Her words directly reflected Kale’s thoughts.
“Harrumph. Toopka, when you turn and look at the counter, what do you say then, dear little doneel?”
All eyes shifted to the plain wooden counter along the kitchen wall. There sat another cake, the exact duplicate of the one they had just made.
Fenworth’s eyes twinkled as he watched the expressions on their faces. “And then there’s the cake on the table in front of Bardon.”
Again, everyone in the room turned as one to see a third cake, which had appeared out of nowhere.
Regidor harrumphed. “That still doesn’t mean Kale and I can make cakes appear all around the room.”
“It doesn’t?” Fenworth tilted his gray head to one side as if considering the matter. He stood that way for almost a minute, long enough for a vine to shoot out a tendril from his beard. “Are you sure, Regidor?” He considered the young meech dragon. “Have you tried?”
Regidor’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. He shook his head slowly.
Fenworth clapped his hands together, a smile breaking across his wrinkled face. “That does it, then. You must try. Tut-tut. Can’t say you can’t until you’ve tried. Kale, come here and stand next to Regidor.”
Kale hurried across the room and stood shoulder to shoulder with her fellow apprentice.
Now he’s going to teach us! She grinned at Dar across the room.
“Close your eyes, both of you,” commanded Fenworth. “Picture in your mind the milk and eggs being stirred into the flour and baking powder.
“A batter forms. Since this is one of Wulder’s principles, there is nothing you can do to stop this particular combination from turning into cake batter.”
Kale heard Bardon come to stand behind her. She inhaled the citrus smell of another o’rant. All her people carried the same tart fragrance.
Do all my people have an innate ability to perform wizardry? Could Bardon be an apprentice too?
“Tut-tut, your mind is wandering, Kale.”
Kale squelched the annoyance she felt. Bardon’s presence had distracted her. She paid strict attention to Wizard Fenworth’s deep, rough voice.
“Imagine pouring the mixture into pans and placing them in the oven. Yes, yes, that’s right. The heat causes the batter to rise and solidify, another handy edict from Wulder.
“Think, think, children. What comes next? Oh dear, oh dear, don’t jump ahead to the frosting, Regidor. Cool your cake.”
Kale heard Bardon expel a breath of air and felt the hair on the back of her head stir.
I will