Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [114]
Sir Beccaroon ate a small amount, then bid Lady Peg and Tipper good-bye. “I’ve got rounds of my own to make. The seeds Verrin Schope gave us are sprouting and growing faster than anything I’ve ever seen. I must check which field will need harvesting tomorrow.”
The arrival of the ambulance wagon interrupted the cleanup after the meal. Lady Peg didn’t seem to notice six more men at the door plus the driver and attendant. She focused in her absent-minded way on the scrubbing of kitchen, dining room, trays, and dishes.
Several hours passed while Tipper made the men comfortable, saw that they were fed, and supervised more healing with the dragons. Rayn stayed with her, even when she urged him to stay on a soldier with a cramp in his leg.
“What is the matter with you?” she asked.
Rayn didn’t have an answer but called another dragon over to sit on the poor man’s leg. Tipper scolded him twice for being nervous and more in the way than a help.
Just as Tipper sat down on the veranda to have a cup of tea, Rayn announced that Sir Beccaroon was returning.
“Why would he do that?” Tipper stood to see her friend flying in low over the Indigo Forest. His speed alarmed her.
He landed on the stone balustrade that surrounded the extended terrace. “There’s a squad of enemy soldiers approaching. They must have followed the ambulance. I’ll take care of the offensive, but you must have everyone lie down. Anyone standing will be attacked by my warriors. Those in a prone position will be spared. These are the instructions I’ve given them, and if you do as I say, you will be safe.” He flapped his wings. “Go, my girl. Spread the word. The minor dragons must be lying flat as well. Go.”
Tipper ran into the house, leaving the teapot and cup on the glass table outside.
She ran to the kitchen first. “Everyone must find someplace to lie down,” she instructed the women who prepared the evening meal. “Use the empty guest rooms upstairs. Some of you who live nearby can run home.”
“Why, princess?” asked one of the farm girls.
“Sir Beccaroon has spotted enemy soldiers, and he’s bringing in animals, I imagine.” She winced at stating as fact what she had assumed. “To be his warriors. Yes, that must be it. They will attack anyone standing and leave those lying down alone.”
She pulled one girl out of her chair. “Quick, go spread the word to everyone in Byrdschopen. Everyone, go, and then lie down. I’ll find Mother.”
Tipper found Lady Peg in the library, supervising a thorough dusting and the selection of books to be read to the wounded.
Out of breath from running, Tipper panted as she relayed Bec’s instructions. “Everyone, go lie down. Enemy soldiers are coming. Sir Beccaroon has devised a way to keep us safe. But you must be lying down.”
The girls scattered, but Lady Peg stood with her hand on her hip and a stubborn look on her face.
“Mother, we must go upstairs and go to bed.”
“It’s not time for my nap, Tipper. And since we have become useful, I have found I do not need my naps as often as before.”
“Where’s Junkit?”
The dragon crawled out from behind a drapery at the mention of his name. He yawned and stretched.
“Mother, Junkit needs a nap. You must go upstairs and lie down. You’ll be safe up there.” Tipper took her mother’s arm and steered her toward the door. “We’re going to go upstairs, you and I, before those soldiers get here.”
“But, Tipper, you must be down here to make our guests comfortable. You haven’t forgotten your duties as a hostess, have you? That would really be a shame. We’ve been making those poor soldiers feel at home for weeks now.”
“Not our soldiers, Mother. These are enemy soldiers. Enemy soldiers are coming.”
Tipper got her mother through the door and into the hallway. Junkit and Bar Besta flew ahead of them toward the grand staircase.
“Are these soldiers wounded?” Lady Peg asked.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Then why are they coming here?”
“Probably to steal supplies, food, and other things.”
“What other things?”
“I don’t know,