Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [60]
“Trust in what you have already learned, Lehman. Your foundation will serve you well.”
Paladin nodded his dismissal, and the young warrior drew near to the gateway. He hesitated only a moment before striding through.
Kale looked at Paladin, wondering if she would be called next.
The ruler’s face looked unusually stern. “Toopka!”
The small doneel hopped down from Kale’s arms without a word and ran to stand before the ruler of Amara, king to some, bane to others.
She remained silent but looked cautiously at Paladin.
What’s going on? thought Kale. I’ve never known Toopka to be at a loss for words.
“I am not so pleased with you as I would like to be,” said Paladin.
Toopka ducked her head and stared at the floor.
“I commission you from this day forward to walk in truth, not only in spoken word, but unspoken as well. In deed as well as word. Even in your thoughts, for you deceive yourself as often as you deceive others.”
Toopka’s small furry head bobbed in acknowledgment of the command. She sniffed and, with one furry hand, wiped a tear from her cheek.
Paladin scooped the child into his arms and embraced her with a warm hug, kissing the side of her face as she sobbed. Resting his cheek against the top of her head, he said, “You must not use your sad beginning as an excuse to travel the wrong path. Wulder has given you much. Give back, dear child, give back. Don’t hoard in fear that this is all there is. Give freely, and you will be given to. Wulder has an abundant supply.”
He stood her on the floor, pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket, and dabbed away her tears.
He then smiled and kissed her on the top of her head. With a gentle hand on her back, he scooted her toward the gateway.
“You will be fine, Toopka. Trust and be trustworthy.”
The doneel disappeared through the gateway.
“Now, my child and friend, servant and keeper of the dragons, it is your turn. Come forward.” He held out a hand, and Kale stepped forward to take it.
“Tell me what you are thinking.”
“You already know.”
“Tell me.”
“I don’t know my friends as I thought I did. Dar is much more important than he appears, isn’t he?”
“I agree.”
“Toopka and Bardon have secrets, don’t they?”
“Yes. You will need to be a friend to both.”
“Librettowit is tired.”
“As is Fenworth. We are all tired of the fight against those like Risto. But still, we will persevere.”
“What do you charge me with, Paladin? Tell me exactly what you want me to do, and I will do my best.”
Paladin smiled and tenderly cupped the side of her face in his warm hand. “As always, Kale, I ask for you to do the good you see right in front of you. That is all.”
Kale blinked hard, trying to keep tears from spilling down her cheeks. “Why can’t you just tell me?”
“Because then you would know my strength in Wulder instead of discovering your own.”
Not really understanding, she nodded and turned toward the gateway. She hesitated. “Is there anything else?”
“Enjoy the journey.”
Kale took a deep breath, stepped into the thick air exploding with light, and stepped out of the gateway, straight into the arms of Granny Noon.
25
FEAST OF FRIENDS
Kale squealed and hugged the emerlindian, lifting her tiny frame off the floor. “You’re here! You’re here!” She twirled the old woman around and set her down. “Oh, Granny Noon, you’re the very person I wanted to see.”
Granny Noon cradled Kale’s face with her dark brown hands and looked deep into her eyes. The wise woman’s calm joy flowed into Kale, slowing the girl’s racing heart and giving her peace.
Then Granny Noon stepped to her side and slipped an arm around her waist. “Come, we must talk.”
Kale looked around the room she had entered through the gateway.
A marione home!
Her feet slowed, but Granny Noon gently tugged her toward a square door. The memories of reticent mariones she had known while a slave made her uneasy. But she had also met loquacious mariones in Lee Ark’s village.
What type of mariones live here, I wonder. Warm or cold?
Kale breathed a sigh of relief as soon as the heavy wooden door swung open to the sound