Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [117]
Tipper had often heard her mother’s theory that pigs were the smartest of the barnyard animals, but she couldn’t fathom the connection to the soldiers. “How is that, Mother?”
“Have you ever heard of a pig getting into a battle with snakes and wildcats?”
The sounds from below gradually died away, making Tipper itch to get out of the bed and survey the damage done by Odidoddex’s men. Bar Besta raised her head, listened, then darted under the covers.
“Do you think they’re gone?” she asked her mother.
“No. I don’t trust them to be gone when they should be.”
“The lady is right.”
Both women startled and looked at the door. A bisonbeck warrior filled the frame. One hand held a sword and the other a large knife. Tipper suspected the knife was from their kitchen.
“Remove yourself from my bedroom!” Lady Peg sat up and pointed a finger at the soldier. “I know you don’t have proper manners, but even a lout knows not to intrude on a lady’s boudoir.”
Ignoring her, he stepped into the room. He looked around with narrowed eyes. He seemed too stoic to be the nervous type, but a twitching muscle in his hairy ear betrayed him.
Satisfied that no beast would pop out at him, he came to the bed.
“You are the owners of this estate?”
“My husband is.”
“Where is your husband?”
“Experimenting with ways to exterminate vermin.”
He pointed the sword at Lady Peg. “Where?”
“I don’t really know.” She waved a hand about. “Somewhere.”
“Not here?”
Lady Peg looked carefully around the room. “No, not here.”
“Do not rile me, woman. Your pets have caused enough havoc.”
“Oh, most of the animals you encountered are friends of Sir Beccaroon, the local magistrate. We don’t keep pets. We have farm animals and dragons.”
The man jerked at the word “dragons.” “Where are these dragons?”
“In bed with us.” Lady Peg patted the covers.
Tipper watched the man’s expressions change. He eyed the bed, then the older woman’s face, and gave up on the idea of searching through the sheets. He opened his mouth to say something but grunted instead and fell over on his back.
“Whatever is the matter with him?” asked Lady Peg.
Tipper rolled over, apologized to the disturbed minor dragons, and peered over the edge of the bed.
“The snake’s got him ’round the ankles.”
The soldier thrashed, trying to sit up and reach his captor. Another snake slipped out from under the dresser. The quick, slim attacker wound around his throat. The bisonbeck dropped the sword and knife to grab the snake and tried to unwind it. His prying fingers couldn’t get hold of the thin serpent.
The first snake, long and with massive muscles, dragged the bisonbeck toward the door.
Lady Peg sat up and leaned over her daughter. “There are two of them.”
“Did you see two come in?”
“No, but I’m very happy to see two leave.”
The snakes removed the intruder from the room and turned toward the stairs. In a few moments, the ladies heard the thud, thud, thud of the bulky soldier’s uncomfortable descent.
“How long do you think we’ll have to stay here?” asked Lady Peg.
“I’m not leaving until Bec gives the word.”
“Me too,” said Lady Peg. She leaned back. “I’m quite comfortable. Hand me that book on the nightstand, dear. I’m at a very intriguing place where the villain is plotting to steal a necklace.”
Tipper handed the book to her mother. “Isn’t this the book you were reading last summer?”
“Yes, it is, and it seems to take the author a long time to get anything done. I’m glad your father, Bec, and Paladin are fighting our villains. They should have it all under control in a matter of a few weeks. It’s taken months for this writer to get the necklace and the villain in the same room.”
46
Encounter with Truth
Bealomondore gazed in the mirror and decided he looked infinitely better than when he’d arrived at the hotel the day before.
First, his complexion no longer held the tinge of green that overcame him every time he flew on the back of a dragon. He looked over his shoulder to where Laddin and Det rested on a pillow. He’d placed the cushion in the