Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [75]
Donkeys brayed, street hawkers shouted the merits of their wares, harnesses jangled as people hurried to their destinations without a kind word or greeting to anyone they passed. Mostly mariones and a surprising number of bisonbecks walked the streets. Kale saw only a few tumanhofers and o’rants and not one urohm or kimen.
With every breath, she reminded herself that the sea breeze blew over the city. But in the canyons of gloomy streets, the putrid air almost choked her.
Bruit drove them straight to the house they were to occupy. He unloaded them quickly and bade them good fortune.
“What’s your hurry, Bruit?” asked Toopka.
“City life don’t suit me,” he explained. “I’d as soon be out the gate and down the hill to a little tavern I know outside the Port of Prushing.”
“I’ve never been to a port,” said Toopka. She cast a hopeful look at Kale.
“Boats come into the docks on the Pomandando River,” Kale pointed out.
“But that was river traffic,” Dar responded with a wink to Toopka. “The boats in the Port of Prushing come from all over the world.”
Kale tried to imagine the deep harbor with ships from different nations, flying flags she’d never seen before. No clear picture came to her mind. She smiled at Toopka. “We’ll go soon. But I don’t think it will be today. Let’s explore the house.”
The square mansion was built around a grassy courtyard with vine-like flowers climbing the walls. On the first floor facing the street, four rooms and an entryway served to welcome guests. In the back, along the alley, the kitchen and three servants’ rooms offered sturdy, comfortable furnishings. Upstairs, more bedrooms and a study made up the square. Dar, Regidor, and Librettowit would sleep there, while Kale, Toopka, the minor dragons, and Bardon would sleep on the ground floor.
The comrades congregated in the spacious kitchen.
“There isn’t a stable,” observed Bardon looking out a back window.
“There isn’t a cook,” objected Toopka with her arms crossed over her chest.
Dar examined the pantry. “Worse than that, my dear Toopka, there is no food.”
Toopka jumped onto a three-legged stool beside a table. “Kale and Regidor can make us cake. They’ve had that wizardry lesson.”
Kale looked to the meech dragon, who had pushed his cowl back from his face. He shook his head. She nodded agreement, and then looked with sympathy at the little doneel.
“Regidor and I can’t do that without the ingredients, Toopka. We’re apprentice wizards, after all.”
Toopka hopped down and smoothed her blue apron over her black servant’s dress. “Then let’s go to the market. We’ll need food. And I think we should get more servants. This is a big house. I don’t want to do all the dusting and washing and scullery things by myself.”
“More servants is an excellent idea,” said Dar.
“I want to go to the market,” said Regidor, putting his cowl back over his head. “I’ve never been to one.”
“It’s not going to be as nice as the ones in Vendela, I can tell you that.” Toopka grabbed her short woolen jacket from where she’d thrown it earlier and shoved her arms into the sleeves. She headed for the back door and stopped before she turned the handle. “Who’s coming?”
Regidor, Kale, and Bardon followed the little doneel into the alley. Toopka skipped down the dingy passage to the front of the house, taking no notice of the debris and clutter. At the main street, she stopped and looked both ways. Without hesitation, she approached the nearest person strolling down the broken pavement.
“Excuse me, Mistress,” the little doneel addressed the marione matron. “Could you tell me where the nearest market is?”
“That’d be High Hill, but you’ll be cheated there, that’s for sure.” The old woman stopped and pulled her thick, knitted shawl closer around her bulky figure. With a mittened hand she gestured down the road. “Best to go down a ways to Higgert Street’s End. The prices are better, and the produce fresh from the countryside. But don’t buy your fish or poultry there. Go to Bless