Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [6]
Ha! He was way too busy to be interested in her. And she, of course, was going to be way too busy protecting the statue to even think about him.
Her father had not told her how long she and the statue would be banished from Amber Palace and the city. He simply said to follow the kimen.
Tipper splashed through another puddle, resisted the urge to groan, and kept an eye on the light in the distance. Taeda Bel had forgotten her promise to stay close.
Tipper picked up her pace and gained on the little kimen. Her friendly guide must have stopped to wait for her. When she reached Taeda Bel’s side, a breath of warm, dry air greeted her.
The kimen’s shine decreased. “We’re leaving the caverns now.” She stood inside the lip of the opening with her back pressed against the rock wall. “I won’t use my light as we slip through the woods. There’s almost too much moonlight for proper darkness to keep us hidden.” Her voice trailed off as if she were talking more to herself than to Tipper. Taeda Bel looked sharply at her charge. “Can you keep up with me?”
“Yes.”
Taeda Bel’s dim glow extinguished.
The sudden darkness radiated with soft sounds. Tipper held her breath. She heard tree frogs, night birds, and the breeze rattling leaves in trees and bushes. Slowly she released the air in her lungs and took a step out of the cave.
She leaned to whisper in the kimen’s ear. “There’s something in the forest besides creatures of the night.”
“I know.”
“Do you know what or who?”
By the light of the moon, Tipper saw the kimen nod. “Who and what.”
Tipper bit back a sarcastic reply. “Then tell me.”
“A band of mariones and bisonbecks.”
“Bisonbecks? The mountain tribe of renegades from the land of Mordack? They’ve never come to Chiril.”
“And they wouldn’t now except they come at the orders of King Odidoddex.”
Tipper did a quick survey of her knowledge of the neighboring countries. The mountains of Mordack contained wild creatures, namely three of the seven low races—ropmas, grawligs, and bisonbecks. The region stood as a territory of unrest, with no government and no order. None of the bordering lands would claim it under their jurisdictions. Travelers skirted around the dangerous mountains. Only a few outlaws dared to hide with the crude rogues of the hinterland.
Tipper cocked her head. “Mariones from Mordack?”
“No, mariones under the rule of King Odidoddex.”
Tipper scrunched her forehead, picturing the country tinged with brown and green on the map she’d seen as a child. “In Baardack?”
“No, in our backyard.” Taeda Bel pushed through thick bushes, releasing the fragrance of sweet bumberlilies. “The Baardack army is still tramping through the mountains. They intend to capture Ragar and take over the throne on behalf of Odidoddex.”
Tipper turned back to the dank cave. “My family!”
The kimen grabbed her fingertips. “Your family will be all right. Our task is to keep the villains from getting their hands on all three of your father’s statues.”
Taeda Bel stilled as if listening. Then her image faded so that even with the moonlight Tipper strained to see her outline. Had the kimen moved?
“Come,” Taeda Bel commanded.
“There!” a harsh voice ripped the calm.
“Run!” Taeda Bel’s light brightened just enough for Tipper to be able to follow.
Someone crashed through the underbrush behind them. Tipper abandoned any attempt to move quietly and ran. Soon she heard exclamations from different directions. It sounded as if they were surrounded. Voices growled commands she didn’t understand but assumed meant they were bent on capturing her and Taeda Bel. In a breathless race to escape their pursuers, Tipper kept her eyes on the kimen and hoped the small creature knew where to go.
Taeda Bel’s thin voice sounded in Tipper’s mind. “Hide!”
Tipper fell to the ground and scrambled under the bushes. The sound of Taeda Bel’s voice in her head had hardly faded before heavy boots clomped by. Tipper started to inch out of her cover as soon as the soldier had moved on, but again her small guide gave a mindspeak command.
“Stay there!”
Tipper