Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [73]
Dar grimaced. “Totally useless in a fight.”
Kale’s mind went to her meech dragon friend. Regidor slumbered. Kale touched his dream of a table laden with rich foods and dismissed it. She turned to Dar. “So Regidor has parents in exile in the Northern Reach?”
“Yes,” Dar replied.
“Will we rescue them?”
“That’s a problem for another day.”
Bardon put his hand on the hilt of his sword and looked to the manor. “What did Librettowit find out from the Gransfords?”
“That many of the local farmers are having difficulties with their dragon comrades. That is, except the Honorable Mr. Gransford, who claims to have a superior ability to manipulate the dragons. That Mistress Gransford has an unpleasant desire to better herself at the expense of her neighbors. That the girls are empty-headed, vain creatures with no book learning whatsoever. That has disgusted our librarian more than the master-of-the-house’s pride and greed.”
Dar paused. “I suspect we have uncovered a member of Risto’s network to debilitate Amara’s economic structure.”
After a moment, he continued, “The dragons are an integral part of Amara’s commerce. Dragons carry messages and products. For centuries, dragons have worked willingly alongside the seven high races. A dragon’s nature requires it to develop a relationship with one person or one family. This bond nurtures their hearts. Without this connection to someone outside its species, a dragon will become depressed and waste away.”
Kale leaned against the rickety wooden shed, crossed her arms, and stared at the shining white globe in the almost black sky. “I wonder why Wulder did that? Wulder created the dragons, and He created a deep need in them to connect with the high races. He must have a purpose behind His design.”
Dar winked at her. “Wulder always has a purpose. But sometimes His way of doing things is so far beyond anything we can comprehend, we praise Him without complete knowledge. Then there are those things that seem harmful. For those, we must wait for an explanation. And until that day, we trust in His wisdom and goodness.”
Bardon spoke with a flat voice. “Wulder is always wise, always good.”
Dar looked at the young lehman with a furrowed forehead above his shaggy eyebrows. “Very few people are privileged to learn that in their hearts. We almost always learn it in our heads first, and then Wulder reveals it to our hearts.”
Kale turned on Dar. “There! You did it again. Only this time it was Bardon. You heard what he was thinking.”
Dar chortled. “No, Kale. I do not have the talent of mindspeaking.”
“But you knew Bardon was concerned, because he can say the principles of Wulder but doesn’t feel them.”
Dar shook his head slowly. “Kale, some thoughts are common to those who seek to follow Paladin. Each individual tends to think that his problems in understanding his role in life are unique. But no. Wulder has made us similar even in the places that cause us to stumble. For that reason, we are better equipped to help one another.”
Bardon picked up a stick and examined it. Kale watched him, flooded with the feelings that coursed through the proud young man’s heart. The onslaught came too quickly and with too much intensity for her to decipher.
Odd. He looks so detached. So cold. Yet these feelings are fierce. If they were my own, I’d be wailing.
At that moment, Bardon looked over at her. Their eyes met, and she read disapproval. Hadn’t she told him earlier that delving into another’s thoughts was rude? She turned away, unsure if the reprimand had come from Bardon or her own conscience.
She quoted Granny Noon, My thoughts belong to me and Wulder. She shook her head to disperse the confusion of Bardon’s feelings jumbling her mind and tried again. My thoughts belong to me and Wulder.
Paladin had told her she could always talk to Wulder. Wulder? Shouldn’t Bardon’s thoughts belong only to him and You? I don’t really want to be this closely entangled with his mind. What’s going on here?
“Discipline.” Dar’s voice broke through her musing.
Both Kale and Bardon studied