Dragonquest - Donita K. Paul [9]
A quick step backward put her in the doorway. She tilted her head and saw the obstruction. Bardon. Lehman Bardon. With a face that would freeze water.
4
SUMMONED
Bardon parted the market crowd with a firm step forward and an occasional, “Excuse me.” Dar ambled along behind, but Kale kept close to Bardon’s back so people wouldn’t converge again before she had a chance to get through.
Toopka slumbered on Kale’s shoulder. The little girl wasn’t worried about what would happen once they reached The Hall and had to face the dean of leecents. Inside Kale’s cape, Metta and Gymn had tucked themselves into their pocket-dens. The minor dragons were content, their bellies full of poorman’s dessert. They hadn’t been humiliated by the scene at the Gander.
Kale, however, was worried about the interview with the dean. Her cheeks warmed every time she recalled the shocked expression on the faces of the people at the inn.
How was I supposed to know the inn had been divided into three parts over two hundred years ago? One side for women, one side for men. I didn’t know the terraced garden is for families. And I don’t think it was obvious, no matter what Bardon says.
Bardon stopped suddenly, and Kale ran into his back. He tipped his hat and bowed to a marione matron, allowing the woman to cross his path. He continued on without a word to Kale.
Manners! He’s got manners for some, but not for me. Why does he treat me like a blattig fish?
She glanced over her shoulder. Dar tipped his hat to the same matron and then to another. The ladies rewarded him with friendly smiles.
Hmm? Dar and Bardon both have manners, but Dar has something else, too.
Kale’s head swiveled back and forth as she tried to observe both young men at once. Dar’s actions were graceful in comparison to Bardon’s stiff movements. The doneel’s face beamed with friendliness and goodwill. Kale couldn’t see Bardon’s expression, but she knew well the determined look about his eyes and mouth.
So does the way Dar acts toward people bounce back at him? He smiles, so people smile in return?
All the way to The Hall, Kale watched the two men interact with those they passed. It kept her from dwelling on the unpleasant reception she expected in the dean of leecents’ office.
Two guards beside a high-arched entry gave them sober nods, signaling them to move on. A footman opened the great front door and quietly instructed them to proceed immediately to the high chancellor’s study.
The high chancellor! Not the dean?
Kale looked back at Dar, hoping he could explain.
Why? she asked, making sure that only he could hear. We couldn’t be in that much trouble.
Dar’s eyebrows shot up, and he shrugged. “I don’t know. Seems to me like a lot of hullabaloo for a simple walk in the city. Let me do the talking, Kale.”
Gladly!
Bardon led them up a wide, curving staircase and into a long corridor. Sunlight streamed through elaborate stained-glass windows, making a mottled patchwork of bright colors on the polished marble floor. Portraits of countless dignitaries from The Hall’s illustrious history looked down on the procession approaching the high chancellor’s quarters.
On either side of one of the many mahogany doors, two men stood waiting. One wore the simple garb of a house servant. The other wore the uniform of The Hall guard. Bardon stopped a few feet from the door.
“We’re expected,” he said. “Lehman Bardon, Leecent Kale, and Leecent Dar.”
The guard remained motionless, but his eyes roamed over the small party. Evidently he saw no reason to challenge them.
The footman bowed and opened the door. In a clear voice he announced their arrival. A rumbling bass answered, one Kale had heard intoning words of wisdom almost every morning at chapel.
“Come in, come in.”
No anger heated the simple command. Kale relaxed and walked into the room, expecting to see High Chancellor Grand Ebeck looking staid and solemn. The black emerlindian had lived long and gathered much wisdom.
“Here they are at last.” The deep voice rolled across the room.
Smiling broadly, High Chancellor Grand