Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [49]
“Then I shall say I am friend.”
Regidor gave a small nod, and his mouth spread in his toothy grin. “I think you have told the truth.”
Librettowit sidled up next to the meech dragon. “What is this, my boy? What talent?”
Regidor’s attention shifted to his mentor. “I’ve discovered if I squint a certain way, I can perceive a haze around living organisms. The haze shimmers with different hues and varying distinctions of clarity. I believe this rainbowlike apparition reflects the purity of the being’s soul.”
“Incredible.” The librarian’s face lit with enthusiasm. “That talent is, of course, mentioned in ancient writings, but we’ve always assumed the ability was myth rather than fact.” He hooked his arm in the dragon’s, and they walked off, heads bent together. “What are you doing to measure different degrees of attributes? For that matter, how many attributes do you think you can distinguish?”
Kale shook her head. Just a short time ago, I woke up to hear Metta singing nursery rhymes to a young meech dragon. Now he’s developing skills that amaze even Librettowit.
Regidor and Dar set to work fixing breakfast. Bacon fried in one skillet, mallow brewed in a tin pot, and Dar dropped mullin dough into a kettle of hot lard. Kale’s stomach grumbled loudly in response to the delightful aromas.
“Look,” called Toopka. “They’re coming this way.”
She ran to Kale with her arm stretched out and a tiny finger pointing to the eastern horizon. Kale shielded her eyes against the morning sun and saw black specks like flying geese. She first protected her mind from any evil influence and then concentrated to determine what might be approaching.
Her face broke into a grin. “Brunstetter.”
“Kimens and urohms,” Leetu Bends announced at the same time.
Five beautiful greater dragons, loaded with supplies and warriors, landed in the field. Even after a year of seeing dragons almost daily, Kale marveled over the beauty of these graceful creatures.
Brunstetter threw his leg over the arching neck of his milky white steed, Foremoore, and slid to the ground. In a cascade of bright colors, five kimens alighted from the same dragon.
Brunstetter looked the part of a noble. He wore a crest upon his leather vest, and a circlet of gold held his blond hair back from his patrician face. He bowed formally to the elders of the quest. Shimeran, a leader among the kimens, stood at his ankle, looking equally dignified.
Decorum could not contain the other four kimens. Seezle, Zayvion, Veazey, and D’Shay tripped lightly over the grass and surrounded Kale and Dar. Kale grinned at the kimens she had not seen for many months.
“Who is this?” asked Seezle, patting Toopka on the arm.
Zayvion shook Dar’s hand vigorously while Veazey danced around Kale. “Do you have any more hatched dragons? Do you have eight now?”
Kale introduced Toopka and explained how she and Dar were the little doneel’s guardians and that another egg was incubating. The rapid-fire questions and the kimens’ eager responses made Kale forget for a while that she had been feeling uncomfortable in this bizarre setting.
Brunstetter went off with Lee Ark for a conference, but the rest of the assembly gathered around the cooking fire where Dar and Regidor busied themselves making more of everything. The smells of bacon and fresh frying mullins filled the air. Kimen laughter rivaled the birds’ songs in merry notes of pleasure. The sun warmed them as the breeze played among the visitors, fluttering Dar’s fancy coattails and lifting the kimens’ wild hair.
Kale poured another cup of mallow, stirred to cool it, and carried it to where Toopka sat next to Wizard Cam.
Out of the pleasant peace of the morning came an urgent voice.
“Kale.”
Mother?
“You must come to me.”
We have visitors, and I can’t just walk away. Not without anyone knowing.
“Come.”
Kale handed the cup to Toopka and noticed Wizard Cam’s piercing blue eyes examining her. She smiled awkwardly and turned her attention to the little doneel, hoping to hide her confusion.
“Toopka, be careful. It