Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [59]
Maxon leaned back to tilt his head up and look into Bealomondore’s eyes. “That wizard gave you the sword?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s teaching you how to fight, and I suppose it’s teaching you words about being a knight.”
“Knight?” Bealomondore’s voice cracked. He stared at the kimen. What kind of craziness was this? “I don’t want to be a knight. I’ve already got a perfectly satisfactory occupation.”
Maxon said nothing.
Bealomondore managed to stand erect, but he still hauled air in and out of his starving lungs. It was hard to talk, but his anger pushed the words out. “I dropped the sword when that marione plowed into me. The inscription must mean hold on to the sword.”
“And if you were training to be a knight, you would be admonished to hold tight to valor.”
“I dropped the sword. That’s all.”
Maxon smiled, looking wise and self-assured.
Annoyed by the patience also exhibited on Maxon’s face, the artist averted his gaze and peered into the gloomy night. “We must catch up to Librettowit and Tipper. Will you go check on Taeda Bel? The last time I saw her, she’d fallen.”
“I’m coming.” She approached them from downstream, a sodden librarian at her side.
“What happened? Where’s Tipper?”
Librettowit shook his arms, and water showered from his coat sleeves. “My pole broke. I fell in the river. Rayn returned to Tipper. We best send Taeda Bel and Maxon ahead to keep an eye on her.”
The two kimens raced off.
Bealomondore took a minute to look at his tumanhofer friend. He couldn’t see much more than his outline. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” Librettowit turned downstream. “We better get going. Hurry, please. I’m nervous about the girl.”
Tipper watched the attack from her perch on the box. She could only yell a warning to Bealomondore. A dip of the raft threw Tipper down on her knees. Then she couldn’t see Bealomondore anymore. The water carried them too quickly away from the fight.
“Rayn, go find out what’s happening.”
The minor dragon objected.
“Go!” Tipper peeled him off her shoulder. “He needs help. I’m safe for now.”
The dragon flew off, and Tipper flattened herself against the rough boards. Water splashed in her face.
The tumanhofer librarian stumbled and climbed back to his feet. He poled against a rock.
“Librettowit, can I help?”
“You can stay out of my way.”
Tipper scanned the opposite bank and finally caught sight of Taeda Bel. “Taeda Bel’s going to be hurt.”
“Not much I can do about that right now.”
“Here comes Rayn and Bealomondore.”
“Good.” Librettowit puffed between each word. “I can use some help.”
“Taeda Bel’s fallen.”
“For the love of tangonut crème pie, I don’t need an update on everyone’s doings.”
“Bealomondore’s been attacked again.”
She heard a snap and a splash. The raft twirled, and she saw Librettowit’s head bob to the surface in the water. Scrambling to the side, she tried to reach him. The current carried her away.
“Stay with the raft, Princess,” the tumanhofer called. “We’ll join you downstream.” He swam toward the bank but turned to yell at her once more. “And stay out of trouble.”
Tipper clung to the boards with her hands clamped to the edge. Her long legs allowed her to tuck her toes over the opposite side, and she curled her feet under as best she could. Without Librettowit and his pole, the raft spun slowly around and around, dipping with the rapid water and bumping into rocks along the banks.
Tipper’s injured foot and leg cramped, and she had to shift to allow the muscles to relax. Queasiness warned her that her body did not take well to the combination of a dizzying ride and the pain in her leg.
Rayn called to her from upriver. She heard him in her mind first, but as he came closer she also heard his concerned chirps. He landed on her back.
“I’m okay,” she told him. “Are the others all right?”
His answer reassured her, and his healing touch calmed her stomach within minutes. The flow of the River Hannit slowed. She rolled over on her back and watched the stars for some time while her racing heart