Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [51]
Following Leetu, Kale bumped into a small knot of kimens. They giggled and parted to let her through, watching her all the while. She frowned at them. They giggled more and scurried away. Kale tramped after Leetu. It happened again. A different group of kimens, but the same stares and laughter.
“What’s the matter with the kimens?” Kale asked Leetu.
Leetu put down her load, placed her hands on her hips, and looked around. All the kimens were engaged in the business at hand. “What do you mean?”
Kale scanned the busy campground. No one stood idle, and no one stared her way. Still she protested. “The kimens have been coming by to look at me.”
Leetu’s face tightened. She bent to pick up a bundle she intended to strap on Merlander’s saddle. Hoisting the load, she said, “I doubt it. Why would they want to look at you? That sounds rather ridiculous, doesn’t it?”
Kale didn’t answer. It did seem ridiculous.
Leetu nodded toward the bundle she held against the saddle. “Hold this while I strap it.”
Kale stepped forward to help. She glanced over at a group of kimens dividing packages of food. No, they aren’t interested in me. Why would they be? I guess I just feel odd because of what happened this morning. What would I think of someone who had been lured away by an evil force? Does everybody think I’m some kind of bumpkin who falls for evil trickery?
Kale picked up another pack and held it in place for Leetu.
Suppose it wasn’t an evil force. Suppose Wizard Cam made me think my mother was calling me. Suppose he wanted me to look ridiculous.
“Kale, grab another bundle,” Leetu snapped.
As Kale held another parcel against the saddle, she searched through the crowd and found the short, damp wizard.
He’s arguing with Fenworth. Fenworth doesn’t trust him. He’s probably here to sabotage our mission. If Paladin really sent him, why didn’t he come with Brunstetter?
Kale glanced at the urohms. The giant men stood beside one of the major dragons, but they weren’t working.
Now they’re staring at me. Nobody trusts me anymore, and it’s that wet wizard’s fault.
Kale glared at the warriors. They immediately went back to work.
A quiet voice entered her mind.
“Come to me now, my dear Kale. Everyone’s busy. No one will notice you slip away.”
Kale held the last pack in place while Leetu bound it. Then, instead of following the emerlindian across the camp, she strolled to the trees banking the stream. Gymn and Metta zoomed past her.
I’m going for a walk, she told them. There are too many people here. I’m tired of their staring.
The little dragons circled her head. She flinched and hurried her step.
They do not like me. They think I’m evil.
Their chirrups of alarm raked over Kale’s nerves. “Leave me alone. Go back. I want to go for a walk by myself. Is that so horrible?”
Kale felt the hurt and bewilderment from the minor dragons. Their emotions only intensified the confusion in her heart. She wanted to yell or cry or do both. Instead, she kicked over a foot-high toadstool. She stomped into the forest, leaving behind the fluttering dragons, the warm sunshine, and the smell of wildflowers in the field.
Armagot trees towered above her. Last year’s foliage crunched under her feet, cushioned by an accumulation of decomposed leaves underneath. The springy carpet released an earthy, pleasant fragrance. Sparse underbrush surrounded some of the older trees. Kale wondered if the tales were true that kimens lived in such trees with their doors hidden by the bushes.
As the tree trunks grew more massive, the distance between the armagots increased. Eerie, diffused green light fell among dappled shadows on the forest floor. Kale slowed her steps.
A squirrel scurried down a trunk, across an old log, and up another tree. A bird cooed. She walked deeper into the gathering of ancient armagot, hearing only the shush of her footsteps through the fallen foliage.
“Mother?”
I ought to turn back. She looked behind her. Walking