Dragonspell - Donita K. Paul [97]
“The beginning of any new life is wonderful,” answered Leetu in a soft voice. “Dragons are said to carry the heart of Wulder.”
Kale wrinkled her brow. “That doesn’t sound right.”
“It isn’t,” agreed Leetu. “There are a lot of things said that are not true. It sounds nice so people repeat it. Actually, that bit of untruth originated in a fairy tale.”
“How are people supposed to know the difference between fact and fable?”
“Those in Paladin’s service make it a point to study the true tales of Amara. Once you have learned the truth, you begin to hear the false note in a legend of ersatz.”
“Ersatz? I’ve never heard that word.”
“But I’ll bet you have heard many ersatz stories, particularly in the tavern on a Saturday night.”
“The tales told by the traveling minstrels? I thought those were based on true history.”
“Some of them are. That is where the danger lies. Enough truth is mixed with deceit to make the deceit sound truthful.”
Kale shook her head at Leetu’s words, but her eyes remained on the crack widening along one side of the egg.
Leetu lowered herself gracefully to sit cross-legged on Fenworth’s tattered rug. “When you go to The Hall, you will mingle with people who have followed Paladin for many years. You will read works written by those caught up in quests like ours. You will hear tales from master storytellers, and these tales will be the uncorrupted versions. As you begin to know who Wulder is by the evidence given you, your heart will become sensitive to His truth, the only truth. You will then know when someone is trying to deceive you for an evil purpose.”
Kale frowned and looked down at her hand. The egg rocked gently as the dragon within struggled to hatch. Leetu’s ideas all sounded too complicated. Kale could hardly believe she had been entrusted with the care of minor dragons; now it seemed she was expected to discern between good and evil.
“I am just an o’rant slave girl, Leetu.”
“Nay, Kale.” Leetu’s whisper was strong with conviction. “You are chosen by Paladin. You have a destiny.”
Kale cupped her hand a little tighter around the soft, leathery egg. It had been a long time since she’d thought of her destiny. Once she thought it was to live in The Hall, wearing pretty clothes, learning from wise and wonderful scholars. Mostly she had thought of what it wouldn’t be: cleaning out chicken coops, walking squalling babies, peeling vegetables, gathering rushes from the banks of the river. She figured if she was to wash dishes, at least in The Hall they would be beautiful china plates, silver cups, and golden bowls instead of the earthen pottery of River Away homes.
Gymn scooted up her arm, circled her neck, took a moment to rub his cheek against her chin, and then raced back down her arm to take up his vigil over the hatching egg. She chuckled in response to his hurried affection.
Part of the shell fell away, and Gymn’s thrum became higher and louder. He stomped his hind feet against her skin.
“Purple,” Kale announced as she saw a bit of the dragon’s skin.
“A singer,” said Leetu.
Kale nodded. The book had said purple dragons sing. “But I don’t see why Paladin would choose a singer. How will a singer help us on our quest?”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Leetu shrug. “Perhaps Paladin didn’t choose this dragon with our quest in mind. Perhaps one of us needs the ministrations of a singing dragon.”
“Ministrations?”
“A singing dragon can heal emotions much the way the healing dragon cures a cold.”
The baby dragon kicked a chunk of shell out of her way and stretched her tail and hind legs across Kale’s fingers. Gymn’s thrum changed to encouraging chirps. Kale held her breath as Metta used her tiny front legs to push the rest of the shell off her head. Gymn leapt into the air and gave a triumphant cheer that sounded like the caw of a blackbird. Even without appropriate fanfare, little Metta shoved the covering off her face. Her newborn eyes focused on Kale and then on Gymn. Gymn settled down, lying along Kale’s forearm