Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [43]
“Come to me.” A sharp note struck in the command. “Oh, forgive me for my impatience. It has been so long, and still they keep me from you. But I must see you. Kale, I must touch you, and then I can bear the few more days we must wait before we can be together.”
Mother?
“Here, Kale, come quickly. I must return before my absence is noted. There is danger.”
The soft words soothed her doubts away. The urgent plea ran through her like a shiver of fear. She clutched the mushroom cap to her chest and hurried to the shade of the huge trees.
A dark-haired woman stepped from the shadows to greet her. Her elegant white dress shimmered in the sun with the radiant softness of a pearl. Trimmed with royal blue cording, the formfitting bodice sparkled with silver threads. An embroidered high collar caressed the woman’s pale cheeks. Elaborate sleeves puffed slightly at the shoulder, then followed slender arms to a deep ruffle at the wrists. The full skirt rustled as the woman took a hasty step back into the shadows and beckoned Kale to hurry.
Kale stopped in front of the lady. She wanted to throw her arms around her mother, but the absolute perfection of the person before her stifled the urge.
Her thoughts churned, matching the turmoil in her heart. I am far too ill-bred for someone so refined as this woman.
“No, never say so.” The woman touched her cheek with smooth, cool fingertips. Her gray eyes latched onto Kale’s. “I am Lyll Allerion. You were torn from my arms as a babe, but you are nothing less than a noble Allerion. You were born to greatness. Soon we will be together, and together we will follow that road of destiny.”
Kale started to step forward, longing for her mother to embrace her. But the hand that had tenderly cradled her cheek lowered and braced against Kale’s shoulder.
“No, I cannot hold you. You are soiled.”
Kale jerked back as if slapped.
Lyll Allerion tilted her head and laughed lightly. The gesture erased the momentary stern expression. “I must return to the palace, and I would be hard-pressed to explain smudges on my gown when I was supposed to have retired to my room for a moment of rest.”
Kale silently agreed. She’d glimpsed wealthy women, richly dressed, in Vendela. None of them compared to her mother. Her heart squeezed, and she swallowed a lump in her throat. Tears flowed down her cheeks, and she hastily rubbed them away with the back of her hand.
“You’ve left streaks of mud across your cheeks.” Out of her sleeve, the elegant woman pulled an embroidered lawn handkerchief and pressed it into Kale’s grubby fist.
Lyll’s fairylike laugh rang like winsome bells, and Kale’s humiliation increased. Carefully guarding her thoughts as Granny Noon had taught her, Kale fumed. She didn’t want this woman to hear her thinking.
She’s afraid I’ll smudge her fingertips. Granny Noon wasn’t afraid of my dirt.
Granny Noon invited hugs. She lived in a hole in the ground and wore homespun clothing. Granny Noon had trimmed Kale’s hair and provided food, clothing, and valuable tools for the quest. The old emerlindian had given a frightened o’rant girl assurance with her words of encouragement and sage advice. This woman had given Kale nothing.
A smile lifted the woman’s lips. Her eyes shone with affection.
Kale sighed. I can’t give my mother anything. She came looking for me. She wanted to see me. But I’m not much to look at, am I?
She dropped her head and gazed at the tiny points of blue satin shoes peeking from under the hem of the skirt. Blue satin that hadn’t picked up the forest floor’s accumulation of decayed leaves. A hem that showed no signs of dust or dirt.
“Kale.” A male voice boomed over the grove of mushrooms.
Lyll stiffened.
Again the loud call reached their ears. “Kale, where are you?”
Kale looked up at her mother’s face. “It’s Bardon.”
The woman aimed a cold glare of anger over her daughter’s shoulder.
Kale shuddered.
An irritated growl rumbled in her mother’s throat. “I know this boy.” The clipped words felt