Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [77]
Sir Beccaroon talked as they worked. “At first I thought the three bisonbecks were just following me. But it has become more obvious, as they have become more desperate, that their goal is to entrap me in some way. On several occasions they have very nearly pulled it off.”
Lady Peg paused. “Now that would be embarrassing.”
Verrin Schope whispered, “Not Bec’s tail, my lady love. The bisonbecks nearly pulled off the kidnapping of our grand parrot friend.”
She went back to spreading the ointment. “I suppose that could be embarrassing too.”
Beccaroon continued. “I’ve received a message today. Unfortunately, a great many of Odidoddex’s soldiers have made it through the mountains of Mordack and are now camped within our borders. And from all accounts, these soldiers are not as incompetent as the ones we’ve been observing.”
Verrin Schope wiped his hands on the soaking cloth as he considered the news. Bec waited for his thoughts on the matter. Lady Peg tidied up, putting things away.
“I think,” said the wizard, “that it is time we uprooted our cozy little information station at the Round Baker Inn.”
“Wonderful!” Lady Peg clapped. “Are we going home or to find Tipper?”
“Which would you prefer, dear lady of mine?”
“Tipper.”
“Then finding Tipper it shall be.”
30
The Calm Before
Tipper’s foot hurt, but she had been doing an admirable job of not complaining. However, her not complaining caused a problem. No one knew how much her foot hurt.
Except Rayn. He rode on her head and sang encouraging marching songs. He’d come out of his unconscious state cheerful and ready to carry on. She couldn’t see him but knew he would be a shade of purple. He couldn’t use his healing ability as long as she kept moving. She longed to lie down under a tree and relax.
When they could ride on the raft, her foot gave her no trouble, but the turbulent water of this part of the river had forced the passengers to walk while Librettowit, Bealomondore, and the kimens manned the barge ropes to keep the craft from breaking away and disappearing downstream. Bealomondore had fully recovered from his near drowning and even from the five indentations in his skull. She was the only weakling.
Wizard Fenworth marched beside her. But he was deep in thought about something and provided no diversion from the pain that shot from her ankle to her hip every time her foot hit the hard dirt.
Finally she spotted the island Taeda Bel and Maxon had reported after a scouting trip. The river pooled around a small mound of earth and spread out to become a large pond. One tree dominated the landmass at the center. Grass and shrubs grew green and lush on the banks of the river. Purple wildflowers covered one side of the island, and the same color scattered over the slopes around the pool.
Librettowit declared a time of rest and refreshment. Tipper sank down under the bentleaf tree while the others tied up the raft and Wizard Fenworth collected windfall from a fruit tree.
Rayn settled on her foot, his insistent chirring captured her attention.
“All right. I’ll take off the boot, but my ankle will swell up, and I’ll not be able to get it back on.”
Taeda Bel helped unlace the boot and ease it off Tipper’s sore foot. She also removed the stocking.
“Oh, Princess, it’s such an angry red!”
Rayn chirred softly and draped his body over the sorest part.
“It will be better in a bit,” said Tipper. “And really, Taeda Bel, please don’t call me Princess.”
Tears surprised Tipper, running down her cheeks. She swiped at her face, but not before her kimen guide saw them.
“You’re tired and hungry. I’ll bring you a cloth to wash your face, and then you’re to lie down until we have noonmeal ready.”
Tipper smiled as the bossy kimen raced to the stream and came back just as quickly with a cool, damp rag. Fenworth sat beside her and gave her a handful of plump doppers. The juicy orange fruit were no bigger than her thumb and had a solitary pit in the center. She pulled the dopper off its stem with her teeth, chewed,