Dragonspell - Donita K. Paul [126]
“You see, they don’t even appreciate what you’ve brought them.”
“I stand under Wulder’s authority.”
Both Fenworth and Leetu’s heads turned sharply as she uttered the phrase with anger.
“Risto?” asked Fenworth with an eyebrow raised.
Kale nodded and then realized he probably couldn’t see more than her nose and mouth from where he stood. “Yes,” she admitted.
“He’s been badgering you?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“How like him.” Fenworth shuffled off to the others, carrying parcels of food in his arms.
Leetu moved closer to the hole and leaned forward. “Kale, you haven’t been talking with Risto, have you?”
“No!” Kale shifted uncomfortably. “Not much.”
The frown disappeared from Leetu’s face and compassion registered in her eyes. “Are you all right?”
Kale took a big breath. “I think so.”
“He lies.”
“Yes.”
“It sounds like truth.”
“Yes.”
Leetu grinned and winked at Kale. “If you were an emerlindian, you’d be a shade darker.”
Kale’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut before Leetu could say something about her not knowing anything or having a lot to learn.
Dar sprinted across the prison cell, waving his harmonica.
“Kale!” He reached a hand through the opening to touch the one she had resting there. “You are a sight for sore eyes, what little I can see of you. You have the meech egg?”
She nodded.
“She needs to take it out of here.” Leetu sounded practical and gruff again. “We have our weapons. We can escape. You go on before us. Don’t wait.”
Kale shook her head. “I’m getting nowhere. I need help.”
Lee Ark joined them. He no longer held one injured arm cradled against his chest. “I agree with the o’rant girl. Leetu, you assume too much. Her talents are strong, but she is untrained. Paladin chose her, which certifies her ability, but he also chose us to accompany her. We are stronger together.”
Dar looked into Kale’s eyes and gave her another wink. He turned to Lee Ark and nodded pointedly at the hole through which Kale stared. “It seems to me that we have a problem in this togetherness thing.”
Their marione commander gave a decisive nod and walked back to confer with Brunstetter. The little dragons flew back to the hole and squeezed through. Both were exhilarated over their success. They chattered to each other until Kale interrupted.
“I don’t think Brunstetter can move any of this rock.”
Metta and Gymn both cocked their heads and inspected the wall of granite as they sat on her shoulder. They muttered to each other, and Kale got the gist of their thoughts. People had the strangest notions of how to spend their time.
“They want to get out of the dungeon,” she explained. “Can you look further down this tunnel and see if there is a way out?”
They darted off without responding. Brunstetter looked the hole over. Fenworth examined it as well.
“Tut-tut. Some things can’t be moved easily. I could make Kale smaller if you want her in here with us,” he offered. “But it would be more to the point for us to go out there with her. Can’t say I like these accommodations. Food is inedible as well.”
“They haven’t brought us any food,” said Librettowit at his elbow.
The wizard jumped. “Don’t scare me like that, Wit. Why aren’t you at your books? Proves my point though. Can’t very well eat food that isn’t served. Therefore, it is inedible.” He turned and whispered to Dar in a voice loud enough for all to hear. “Sneaky, quiet fellows are librarians. One moment he has his nose in a book, the next he’s dragging a decent, respectable wizard off on a harrowing quest. No respect for my age and station in life. Librettowit’s useful, I have to admit. Still, he can’t cook. He’s my friend, though, and you have to make allowances for friends. None of them are perfect. Very few of them can cook.”
“Harrumph!” grunted Librettowit and tramped away. The wizard, shaking his head in befuddlement, watched the tumanhofer stomp across the cell.
Kale’s attention caught on the flutter of leathery wings. Metta and Gymn had returned.
“They’ve found Shimeran and Seezle,” Kale told Lee Ark. “I’m going to go see