Dragonspell - Donita K. Paul [121]
Don’t go in with me, Metta, Gymn. Fly away, hide. There’s no reason for you to be caught as well.
The soldiers ahead spotted her. They lowered their spears to ready position.
“Halt!” one ordered, but she was helpless to do as he commanded.
Metta began to sing, a slow melodious tune, soothing and peaceful.
Thank you very much, Metta. But my nerves are beyond succumbing to your ministrations. I’m about to be killed, I think.
The second guard took a step forward. “Halt!”
I’m trying. Believe me, I’m trying.
Metta crooned.
Why did Paladin choose a singing dragon? A fighting dragon, a fire dragon, an invisible dragon would have been useful.
Metta flew forward and circled the heads of the guards. They did not seem to notice her but stared at Kale’s approach.
Maybe Metta is invisible.
Gymn gave an excited flip in the air and landed back on Kale’s shoulder.
Neither guard challenged her again. Kale walked up to them and studied their faces as she passed. They breathed, but they did not blink. The pupils of their eyes were mere dots. Their gazes were locked on some point down the hallway where she had been moments before.
They don’t see me. They don’t hear me either? Metta continued to fly slowly around them, singing her soothing syllable-song. She entranced them.
Gymn somersaulted in the air. Kale turned her head to observe the room she entered.
Who will be here to greet me? More guards? More mesmerized guards, I hope…No one?
She searched the corners of the room with her eyes while she continued to step toward a wooden cabinet. Her palms itched to open the elaborate carved doors set in the opposite wall. Her hand went up to the knob, twisted, and pulled as soon as she reached it. The door swung open noiselessly.
Inside, a huge egg sat in a velvet-lined basket. It was twice as big around as Kale and as tall as she was from her waist to the top of her head.
Gymn chirruped a note of victory.
Kale put her hand tentatively on the hard shell. The surface shimmered with a pearlescent luster. Don’t be so happy, little friend. How am I supposed to lift something this big?
45
THE VOICE OF EVIL
“Gymn, now I have to go get the others. Brunstetter could carry this, but I can’t.” Kale rubbed the cold surface of the giant meech egg with her fingertips. Colors surfaced on the glossy white shell and rippled like oil in a rain puddle.
Gymn flew into the huge cupboard and circled around the egg. His eyes glowed with admiration, and he voiced his excitement with a constant stream of trills and chirrups.
“It is beautiful,” Kale agreed. She tried to step back from the meech egg to get a better look. Her feet did not respond and her hand stuck to the shell.
“No!” She pulled again. She grasped the stuck hand with her other and yanked. The palm resting on the egg burned as if she were ripping off her skin.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Is this a trap? Do I have to stay here until Risto comes?”
“Ah! The o’rant girl.” A deep voice filled her mind. A gloating laugh followed the words. “I suspected ten years ago that your existence was a myth. I’m actually gratified that you have come to me.”
Who are you?
“Wizard Andor Tarum Risto, and you are Kale, the last of the Allerions.”
For one second, Kale wanted to ask him about the Allerions. But she realized that evil had access to her mind, and Granny Noon had warned her about the dangers of communicating with the wicked in any form.
I stand under Wulder’s authority. As she repeated the words the old emerlindian had given her, she felt Risto receding from her thoughts. I stand under Wulder’s authority. She heard his sinister chortle before his presence completely left her mind.
“I stand under Wulder’s authority.” She looked quickly around the room, expecting the evil wizard to appear.
“We have to get out of here. Surely, he’s coming.”
She pulled away from the egg and fell over, sitting down hard on the stone floor when her hand was released. She tried to jump to her feet, ready