Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [76]
“Yes, Mistress. And the direction?”
“Go to the next corner where the clock tower be sitting in the middle of the road. Turn south four blocks. Turn east two more. That would be Higgert Street’s End. I’m glad it’s your young feet going the distance this late in the day. I ache from my big toe to my elbow.” She sighed and flexed her arm as if working out a kink. “Come back by Dolly Road, and you’ll pass Bless Me Court. It’s all uphill and down. There isn’t a way to get anywhere in this city without stretching your legs.”
“Thank you, Mistress.” Toopka bobbed a curtsy. “I hope you have a peaceful evening by the fire.”
“You’re a dear child. Don’t be wandering the streets by yourself come dark.”
Toopka grinned. “I won’t, Mistress. I have friends.” The little doneel gestured to Kale, Bardon, and Regidor standing in the alley entry.
“Oh my,” the old woman whispered. “That one looks peculiar.”
“He’s a monk, sort of. But he’s no bother. He’s always medicating. Even when he’s walking around, he’s medicating. He just thinks high thoughts and never asks for things the way the others do. And he doesn’t get fidgety when it takes you a while when he finally does ask for something.”
“I see,” said the old woman, keeping her eye on the strange figure. “You staying in number 469?”
“Yes, Mistress. We just arrived today.”
The marione straightened and hefted her bag back on her shoulder. “I best be getting on.”
“Thank you for the information.”
“You’re welcome, I’m sure. You have good manners for a serving girl. You’ll do well.”
Toopka bobbed another curtsy as the woman continued her trudge up the road.
“That was well done, Toopka,” said Bardon as he stepped out from the alley. “The information you gave her will be common knowledge by tomorrow noon.”
Toopka’s head nodded rapidly. “I know.”
Kale tweaked her furry ear. “And since you’ve never once waited on Regidor, it is amazing how much you know about his habits.”
Toopka shrugged. “I have great mag-nation.”
“That’s imagination. And monks meditate. They don’t medicate.”
Toopka hopped up and down in the cold and tucked her hands under her arms for warmth. “I bet some medicate.”
Kale shook her head. “You don’t even know what that means.”
Toopka tossed her a sassy grin, shrugged again, and skipped off in the direction of the market.
By the time the four comrades trooped back down the street with their arms laden with foodstuff, the sun rested on the horizon. A glow still illuminated the western sky, but the first star had appeared in the darkened east.
“Don’t they have a lamplighter in this city?” Toopka asked in disgust.
Kale felt a prickle across the back of her neck. Somewhere in the shadows lurked evil men. She stopped moving in the direction of the house and tried to pinpoint their location.
“Bardon?”
“I know, I feel them.”
“Who?” asked Toopka.
“Thieves,” answered Regidor.
“I told you I needed a weapon,” said Toopka with a stomp of her foot.
Out of the dark alleys came a dozen ruffians dressed in black.
“Toopka,” Kale yelled as she drew her small sword, “go get Dar and Librettowit.”
Toopka dropped her burden, hunched down, and ran between the legs of the attackers. In an instant, Bardon and Kale were back to back, fighting with their swords. Three men swarmed Regidor.
Regidor threw back his cowl. His eyes glowed green in the semidark. He whirled with both arms outstretched and two of the assailants went down. The long brown monk’s robe pulled loose of the meech dragon’s frame, revealing his plain tunic, trousers, and muscular body. Regidor’s tail lashed out, no longer bound to his torso by the belt. The third thief yelped as the thick, scaly tail knocked him to the ground.
Regidor twisted just in time to bash one more man with a fist and a second with his tail. He kicked high as a third approached, landing a foot on the man’s chest and launching his own body into the air. He did a backflip and landed solidly.
Four men with menacing clubs circled the meech dragon. Regidor growled deep in his throat, and the next instant fire