Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [50]
“Come, Kale.”
Can’t it wait? Just a few minutes.
“In the forest, by the mushroom glade, in ten minutes.”
Kale sank down abruptly on one of the logs they used for seating. She smoothed her sweating palms across the knees of her pants, then clenched her trembling fingers in a tight curl. If she left right at this moment, she could get to her mother by walking quickly. Another minute or two and she would have to run.
“Come.”
Kale looked around at her friends and the soldiers. They sat in groups, talking, laughing, enjoying the breakfast. Brunstetter and Lee Ark sat somewhat apart, but they too were conversing in an easy manner. No one seemed interested in what she was doing.
She stood. A wave of dizziness swept over her. She didn’t move for a moment as the feeling subsided.
She looked around once more. No one seemed to notice. Except the lake wizard. She turned her face away from him and strode over to Celisse. She patted the dragon’s neck. A shiver coursed down Kale’s spine, almost causing her knees to buckle.
“Come.”
Celisse jerked under her touch, and her huge head swerved around to look Kale in the eye.
Kale ducked her head. “Nothing’s wrong,” she answered the unspoken question.
Metta and Gymn flew to her, but instead of landing on her shoulders, they circled her head. Their frantic, jumbled thoughts bombarded her. She waved her hands at them as if to brush them away.
Kale saw Wizard Cam rise to his feet and take a few steps in her direction. She scurried to the other side of Celisse, using the dark dragon’s prone figure as a shield.
“Come.”
I’m trying.
Brunstetter’s deep voice resonated across the camp. “I have news from Paladin. News of more peril in the land.”
Kale shook violently. She turned to look at the distant forest.
The urohm noble’s message kept her from moving. “We have our mission at last. We will—”
“Come now. Come, before all is lost.”
Kale stepped toward the open field. A hand fell on her shoulder and turned her back. Wizard Cam stood before her, his eyes boring into hers. Directly behind him, Fenworth stood rigid and unsmiling. A guttural noise rumbled from matronly Celisse. The minor dragons swooped and called in agitation around her head.
“Come!” the voice shrieked through her mind, making her cringe. The pressure of the old wizard’s hand tightened on her shoulder.
He’s going to stop me. He’s going to do something to stop me. I stand under the authority of Wulder. I call upon His protection!
Her mother’s urgent call dropped into silence. The light dimmed around her, and she fell to the ground. Sobs tore from her throat as she grabbed a handful of grass and pulled it from the dirt. The sweet smell of the broken green blades acted as a tonic. She inhaled deeply and looked up to see the others in a circle around her.
“What happened?”
The doneel put a furry hand upon her other shoulder. “We almost lost you.”
Wizard Cam helped her stand. “Something evil lured you away.”
“No.” Kale stepped away from him and Dar. She backed into Bardon’s solid form.
She turned and jumped away from him. She didn’t like the expression on his face. He looked sorry for her.
“No!” she said again, louder.
Leetu came forward and laid a calm hand on her arm. “You used the name of Wulder to banish it. You’ll be all right now, Kale.”
No, they don’t understand. I broke the spell Wizard Cam had on me. It isn’t Mother who is evil. It must be him.
She looked at the smaller wizard’s face, his eyes filled with kindness, his mouth barely curved in a reassuring smile.
Or that wasn’t Mother calling.
She shivered and let her head drop. “Thank you for helping.” Her teeth sunk into her lower lip as she forced the flow of tears to stop. Just who am I thanking? Who tried to control me, and who made it stop?
21
TWO TRICKSTERS
Kale went through the motions of preparing for the next leg of their journey. She followed Leetu Bends, redistributing the new supplies among the dragons.
Brunstetter assigned the warriors. Three troops would enter Creemoor, each from a different direction, and trap a