Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [44]
Kale whispered, “What plans?”
The fiery gaze shifted to Kale’s face, and for a moment Kale withered under its blaze. Then the light under the trees shifted, and with the fickle shadows, Lyll’s expression changed. The tenderness flowing from her mother’s face was so different from the previous venom, Kale doubted she’d really seen hatred in the woman’s eyes.
“Plans for our happiness, dear Kale. We’ve had our share of suffering, haven’t we? It’s time for our reward.”
The woman gathered her skirts and turned away. She took a step into the darker shadows of the forest.
“Tell no one you saw me, Kale. Paladin would be displeased with me for coming here.” Another step, and she was gone. Not just hidden by shadows, but gone. “Soon, dear Kale, soon.”
“Oh good. You found it.”
Kale whirled around to face Bardon.
“Found it?”
“The mushroom.” He pointed to the cap clamped under Kale’s arm. “Be careful not to damage it. Dar would just send you out for another.”
Kale nodded.
“Are you all right?”
“Me?”
Bardon scowled and looked around her into the trees. Kale stepped forward.
“I’m fine.” She took hold of his arm and turned him toward the colorful grove of mushrooms.
Bardon shook her hand off. “You didn’t sample any of this fungus, did you?”
“Of course not.” Kale gave him a push and started back the way they had come.
“You’re acting strange, and you look kind of odd.”
“I haven’t eaten any of the mushrooms, and therefore I am hungry. Very hungry. Let’s get back to the camp.”
She trudged through the shoulder-high mushrooms, no longer admiring the wide variety of colors and shapes. To her annoyance, Bardon made two attempts at conversation.
“The minor dragons came back without you,” he said.
She didn’t answer.
“Wizard Fenworth has been sleeping so much, Librettowit’s worried he’ll turn into a tree and not be able to turn back.”
“Librettowit always frets about something,” she answered and then marched on.
Her mother had said not to get close to Bardon. She wanted to talk to him, to talk about normal things, and avoid thinking about what had just happened. Her mother had said not to tell anyone. Kale wanted most to tell Dar and get his opinion of the episode.
Her mother was beautiful, but that didn’t make Kale feel good. By comparison, she was a worm. Her mother’s eyes had filled with love. But they could also look cold. Her mother’s touch had brought feelings of longing and feelings of dread. Having a mother, having this mother, complicated her life with too many confusing emotions.
Back at the camp, the minor dragons flew to greet her but veered off before they landed on her shoulders. They sat instead in a nearby rootup tree and made mournful noises like doves cooing before the rain. When Kale bit into the tasty meat pastry Dar served for noonmeal, the egg hanging in the pouch at her neck bumped and twisted. Her stomach felt the same jitters, and she put the food down unfinished.
After noonmeal, she helped Dar with the dishes and then, alongside Leetu Bends, busily polished the major dragons’ scales. Celisse stretched out her neck, and the dragon’s deep contentment numbed some of Kale’s anxiety.
“Are you all right?” asked her emerlindian friend.
“Yes!” Kale moved to the other side of Celisse so she wouldn’t have to look at Leetu’s puzzled face. Kale concentrated on her dragon and tried to soak in the pleasure emanating from Celisse.
“Kale.” Dar came toward her with the mushroom cap in his hands. He carried it with the brown side up and stopped just a few feet from her. “What color was the stalk of this plant?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Was it a creamy tan with green veins?”
“I said, ‘I don’t remember.’”
Dar shook his head and looked carefully at the cap. “I don’t think it could have been. This smells like a musk melon, and the mushroom I sent you for should smell more nutty.”
She shrugged and went back to rubbing Celisse’s ebony scales. “Does it matter?”
“One is edible, and another might not be.”
She shrugged again