Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [79]
Kale insisted they also practice the proper etiquette for mindspeaking. Regidor often had trouble bending his own formidable will to Wulder’s principles. He challenged the need to respect another person’s private thoughts.
“Article ninety-three,” said Bardon with authority. “‘Preserve dignity by honoring privacy.’”
The three became very adept with their mindspeaking skills, although Bardon’s talent lay dormant anytime he and Kale were separated. Bardon and Kale could meld their minds and work as one, or totally ignore each other at will. She found it much more comfortable than her earlier experiences of being flooded with a maelstrom of his emotions.
In the evening, the companions came together to compile bits and pieces of the information they had acquired. Librettowit had a map on which he recorded their findings.
“Trese is definitely losing the dragons’ cooperation.” The librarian pointed to the center of Trese, near Bartal Springs Lake. “The latest reported incident was at Bealour, a small village on the eastern shore of the lake. Two dragons destroyed crops and disappeared from the area. Five additional dragons flew off to the north and never returned.”
Dar pointed out the last three areas of discontent. “The pattern indicates that someone is moving from place to place. See how they’ve followed this trade road?”
“Shouldn’t that tell us where the meech dragon is?” asked Kale.
“It should, but for one puzzling thing,” said Dar. “No one has reported seeing the meech dragon. And a meech dragon is pretty hard to overlook.”
“So he’s traveling much as I am,” said Regidor. “He’s in disguise.”
“And doing a good job of it,” said Librettowit. “Most people would remember you as the monk shrouded from head to toe in your clerical robes. This meech is disguised so that even his disguise is unremarkable.”
Toopka squirmed on her chair. “Can we go and look for ourselves?”
“No,” said Dar. “First we must gather information from the port. We haven’t yet extracted what news they might have.”
“Humph,” said Librettowit. “The Port of Prushing is dangerous with many unsavory characters lurking about.”
“Exactly!” said Dar with a wide grin.
33
FORAY INTO A DEN OF EVIL
Kale tried to leave the minor dragons at home, but Gymn reminded her that they’d proven useful in dangerous situations. Dibl just took up residence in his pocket-den and would not be dislodged. Librettowit stated he was a librarian and did not approve of dangerous expeditions. Toopka strangely did not object to being left at home with the tumanhofer.
Cool mist swirled around Kale, Dar, Bardon, and Regidor as they trod narrow streets heading toward the docks. The atmosphere differed from the bright and colorful markets Kale had visited with Toopka during the day. The Port of Prushing apparently led two differing lifestyles. The one shown during the day resembled a carnival. At night, the air hung heavy with treachery.
Dar led them to The Horn, a noisy tavern in a ramshackle wooden structure. Loud music and the thump, thump, thump of rhythmic and enthusiastic dancing welcomed them.
Inside, lanterns hung along the walls giving a greenish glow to the smoky air. Numerous round tables crowded the edge, while energetic dancers, including some urohms, stomped and twisted in a central area.
Kimens! And minor dragons! Look, Dar. What are they doing here?
“Hopefully, they will be providing us with some much-needed facts.”
I mean, what would kimens be doing in a raucous place like this? I always thought of them living in quiet, remote areas.
“Don’t you remember that kimens have taken on the role of watchers?”
Yes, and I suppose the best place to observe evil is where evil is active. But Dar, suppose some of these kimens are in league with Risto’s forces.
“Then Regidor will sense it. You probably could too, Kale, if you tried.”
I don’t see auras around people.
“No, but you can enter a person’s mind and observe the kind of things they think about.”
Dar, you don’t know how draining it is to mindspeak. And when it’s with someone who’s evil, I come