Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [67]
The mother introduced her girls, Miss Adel Gransford, Peony, and herself, Mistress Gransford. Kale watched as the young ladies tossed flirtatious glances at Bardon.
Librettowit explained their journey to Prushing.
“I’m in search of a rare book I heard has been seen in Dottergobeathan’s Antique Emporium. My traveling companion Abbot Gidor remains in the carriage. I beg you to forgive this apparent discourtesy, but he is a religious man from the Northern Reach. He goes about with his head covered and barely speaks.”
Mistress Gransford cast a disapproving look to the closed carriage. “What possible business could the man have in Trese?”
“His monastery produces fine glass dishes and articles of art. The trade of these items supplements the income of their modest community.”
The woman’s eyes lit up, and Kale received an impression of greed. Librettowit had unknowingly touched on a source of Mistress Gransford’s pride. She collected fine dishes.
She twirled her parasol and looked at her older daughter before speaking. “Prushing is another day’s travel. You will be too late coming into Broadfiord to find an inn. Since aiding us has caused your delay, may I offer you the hospitality of my husband’s manor? It is but two miles away, once we turn at the next crossing.”
Kale stared at the back of the doneel’s head, seeing his ears tilt forward at the woman’s suggestion. Dar, is this good?
“Yes. We might as well start gathering information from the people about any unusual activity among the dragons. Tell Librettowit I’m in favor of accepting her hospitality.”
Kale conveyed Dar’s message to Librettowit, and the librarian graciously accepted the invitation.
“I don’t like this,” said Regidor, mindspeaking to Kale alone. “The glow that surrounds the girls and the driver seems to indicate nothing unusual, but the mother’s luminescence is tinged with a dark undertone.”
Tell Dar.
“I did.”
And what did he say?
“Be wary.”
28
QUARTERED WITH THE ENEMY
“Bring me some food!”
Kale jumped when Regidor’s voice bellowed in her mind. She glanced around the spacious kitchen to see if any of the manor servants had noticed. The mixture of mariones, o’rants, and tumanhofers worked side by side in a friendly atmosphere. They had made Kale, Bardon, and Toopka welcome around their plain wood table.
Kale addressed her meech friend. You don’t have any food?
“A crust of bread, a hard hunk of yellow cheese, and a tankard of watered-down cider.”
She felt the meech dragon’s disgust as if it were her own. She knew immediately to whom Regidor attributed his meager meal, therefore, his rant didn’t surprise her.
“Dar told them my order of monks rarely eats meat or vegetables or such luxuries as salt and sugar. Only the plainest of food would meet my stringent dietary restrictions.”
Kale grinned, imagining the pleasure Dar got from his orneriness. She saw Bardon lift an eyebrow in her direction.
“What are you scheming?”
The question came into her mind along with the realization that she had not initiated the conversation.
You’re a mindspeaker, Bardon!
“I am not. I merely respond to what you say.”
But I didn’t say anything. You asked a question.
“You were looking at me and that opened the communication.”
You’re stubborn.
“You’re wrong and don’t want to admit it. That’s stubborn.”
Regidor’s voice bellowed into her thoughts. “And while you argue pointlessly, I’m starving!”
From within her moonbeam cape, three more voices radiated to her mind. The minor dragons wanted food too.
All right, all right!
She stood and marched out of the kitchen, not bothering to explain her sudden departure. Quick steps through the cool night air brought her to the stable. She entered the barn and nodded to Bruit sitting with the manor’s stablemen around a table lit by a lantern.
Climbing the wooden ladder to the loft, she mentally told Bardon to