Dragonspell - Donita K. Paul [98]
Kale jumped as the door to Fenworth’s room swung open and banged against the wall. Her hand closed instinctively to protect Metta.
“Time to go,” said the old wizard. He strode across the small room and charged out the front door.
A burst of light filled the room. Kale doubled over, shielding both little dragons with her body. She heard the wind rip through the wizard’s castle. An eerie silence followed. She felt her body being drawn away from her surroundings.
“No warning!” Kale heard Dar’s complaint.
“What? Not me,” Librettowit hollered.
Chickens clucked. A cuckoo clock sounded three times. Kale smelled apple pie rich with cinnamon. She felt a thousand feathers brush against her neck and back. Cold air made her shiver. Warm air washed over her like a major dragon’s breath.
“Come, come now. Don’t dawdle.” Fenworth’s voice sounded far away. “Oh dear. Tut-tut. Do hurry.”
The wind ceased. The light faded. Kale opened her eyes to view her surroundings. They were in the meadow where they had left Brunstetter and the riding dragons. Lee Ark and the urohm stood staring at the new arrivals.
Kale’s stomach felt queasy from the sudden motion and then the abrupt stop. The kimens, Leetu, Dar, Librettowit, and Wizard Fenworth swayed a little as their bodies adjusted to being still again. All around them, bits and pieces of clutter lay strewn across the grass.
Dar shook himself and muttered something about rudeness. He began to pick up his clothing from among the things on the ground. Kale looked more closely and realized all their belongings had been swept up and brought with them. Leetu’s books lay scattered about. Her bow and arrows and quiver poked out of the foot-high grass. Dar’s cooking equipment was spread out over an acre.
Librettowit stamped his booted feet and shook the quill pen he still held in his hand. “See here, Fenworth. I’m not going on this quest. I’m a librarian. I provide information. I don’t go adventuring.”
With a long, steady stride, the wizard marched over and clapped the smaller man on the back. “Ah yes, friend, but I keep forgetting what you tell me. We are going into the Mount Tourbanaut, and I thought you’d like to visit your mother.”
“Leave my mother out of this.” He stamped his feet again and shook both fists in the air.
“You don’t want to visit your mother? Well, of course, I shall explain to her you were busy. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
Librettowit’s face grew redder. “She will not understand. See what you know about mothers? Nothing!”
“Well, of course. Tut-tut.” The old man shook his head sadly. “So many things I don’t understand.” His face brightened, and he again laid a hand on the tumanhofer’s shoulder. “But then, you’re a scholarly sort. You’ll take up the slack, no doubt.”
He rubbed his hands together and started across the meadow toward the waiting marione and urohm.
“Lee Ark! Glad you’re to join us. Brunstetter! Always good to see you. Let’s get organized, shall we? Got a quest to quest. Got to get moving. Can’t quest while sitting in one spot, now can we? Tut-tut, such a lot of to-do to do, you know. I like questing, generally speaking, except for the uncomfortableness of it all.”
Lee Ark and Brunstetter grinned at the old man. The kimens skipped in the grass, picking up their own things and delivering various items to their proper owners. Dar muttered about the uselessness of ironing when your clothes were transported in such a helter-skelter fashion. Leetu found her quiver first and began to fill it.
Metta crawled up on Kale’s shoulder and lifted her chin to the sun. Out of her tiny mouth came a song. No words formed with the melody, just syllables of smooth tones to match the mellow tune. Kale felt hope rush through her, and joy.
Everyone stopped to listen. It only lasted a few minutes. Joy bubbled in Kale’s heart as the notes trilled through the air. Her spirits lifted and soared, and she thought she would just have