Dragons of the Valley - Donita K. Paul [86]
“Thank you,” said Danto. “You people are different.”
Tipper grinned. “Yes, we are.”
“You’re the princess?”
“Yes.”
“Really the princess?”
“Yes, really the princess.”
“What are you doing out here instead of living at your palace?”
“Well, I’ve never lived in the palace, and I’m not free to say why I’m here instead of in my grandfather’s home.”
Fenworth spoke up from where he sat by the fire, finishing his meal. “Doesn’t matter. She’s not going to be out here much longer doing what she is not going to tell you, as I am relieving her of the reason she is out here. Now where she goes next is an interesting puzzle.” He tilted his head as he looked her over. “My dear, would you like to take a vacation? An island perhaps?”
“Decidedly not.”
34
A Cavern
Hollee clamped her eyes shut as Fenworth started them on their journey. She focused on naming the numerous odors that drifted by in the rush of wind.
Her wizard had taken the two statues from Bealomondore and Tipper and put them in his hollows. He informed Hollee and Librettowit that they were going to build a suitable place for the Trio to be housed. Just before the commotion of whirling commenced, he told his two traveling companions they were going to a cave in the same valley in which Paladin had once lived.
Hollee could see flashes of light from behind her closed eyelids, but as the smells disappeared, the noises ceased, and the sense of air flowing erratically around her came to an end, she opened her eyes to total darkness. Hollee reached into the dark and grabbed Fenworth’s robes.
“Are we in the cave?” she asked. “Should I brighten up?”
“Yes, no, not yet,” said Wizard Fenworth.
“What? Give us a light, Fen,” Librettowit grumbled. “Keeping us in the dark? No good in that. I’d like to see where I’m going to be spending my time.”
“Coming, coming.”
A light flickered above her head, and Hollee saw a sputtering ball grow in her wizard’s outstretched palm. It grew until he had to hold it with two hands. The sight fascinated her so much that she forgot to look around. He placed it on the ground, and it continued to expand until it was as tall as Librettowit. The sphere emitted a series of popping noises and decreased in size.
“Here now,” admonished Fenworth, “none of that.”
A sizzle of complaint came from within the light, but the globe again began to expand.
When it was the same height as the wizard, including his pointy hat, Fenworth smiled. “That will do. Thank you.”
Hollee danced around the light and spoke to it. “You’re beautiful. Beautiful! Oh, you make my clothes feel tingly against my skin. I like you. I do!”
“Entirely suitable,” said Librettowit.
The tiny kimen looked over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of the amazing chamber around them. Color exploded wherever the light hit the walls. She imagined that some collector of fine jewels had come into the plain cavern and embedded his best gems in glorious abandon on every surface. Floor, ceiling, and walls all sparkled as if they stood in a multicolored geode.
Hollee twirled around, trying to see all of the beauty in the crystal cave. Her whole kimen village would fit inside. And if it were possible to stack villages, then it would take ten, maybe fifteen, of her hamlet to reach the ceiling.
When she stopped twirling, she saw Librettowit helping Fenworth remove the statues from his robe.
“Right here in the center, don’t you think, Wit?” Fenworth scooted one statue to face inward.
“Agreed,” his librarian answered with enthusiasm. “Splendid idea, Fen. I can’t think when I’ve been so pleased to be part of one of your schemes.”
“I believe it must have been around four hundred years ago.”
“Ah yes, the castle by the towering waterfall.”
“Exactly. Move Morning a bit to the left, please.”
“Lightrocks! I see what you’re up to.”
Hollee joined them so that she could see as well. “You’re going to put them together around those lightrocks? They weren’t here when we arrived.”
Fenworth grunted as he pushed the farmer statue into place.
“They were here, just not