Song of the Saurials - Kate Novak [60]
Give me the sword, but put your robes back on over the armor. You may need its protection, Dragonbait signed.
"How much protection can it possibly offer?" Zhara asked, unstrapping the sword's sheath from the metal girdle about her waist. "There's nothing to it.
Besides, what will Alias wear?"
Don't be fooled by the chain mail's looks. It's heavily enchanted, Dragonbait explained. Alias can wear her spare armor. Remember what I told you, he warned as she donned her robes, once you are across the bridge, hide in the woods until you see us pass. Wait awhile longer be fore you follow. Look for strips of white or blue cloth. Here, take this cloak, he ordered, handing her one of Alias's old cloaks. Cover your head with the hood-a veil will attract too much attention.
Handing her a small sack of dry rations, he signed. This is all the food I could collect, but we will pass several farm fields. The farmers will not object if you glean from them. Take care, lady, until we meet again.
Zhara grabbed Dragonbait's tunic. "All those things you said about Alias in the tower… I am not like her. I'm not nearly so brave or so talented or so beautiful. I do not think I can do this," she whispered anxiously.
Dragonbait stroked Zhara's arm, and the priestess felt the blue brand on her arm tingle just as it had when he had touched it before. It was an oddly comforting feeling.
You are different from Alias, the paladin signed, but you can do this. You must and you will. The smell of garlic surrounded them, the scent of the saurial's determination. Without another word, Dragonbait gave Zhara a light shove toward the road. The woman hurried toward the bridge and passed by the sentries stationed on the near side. In the drizzling rain, they didn't find it unusual that a traveler should keep her face covered under the hood of her cloak. When Zhara had reached the opposite side, the lizard strode back to the tower, carrying his and Alias's packs and the sack containing the swordswoman's spare armor.
The guards at the gate exchanged confused looks as Dragonbait returned to the tower. "Forget something, Dragonbait?" one of them asked.
The saurial nodded and strode past quickly.
The guards shrugged as Dragonbait raced down the hall toward the tower storerooms.
The paladin followed the trail of Alias's scent until he found her standing beside Mourngrym in the armory, examining longbows. Dragonbait shook the sack of armor to attract her attention.
"Just a minute, Dragonbait," Alias said, choosing a hornwood bow and handing it to Mourngrym.
"You change," Mourngrym said, picking up a quiver of arrows. "I'll take this out to your horse and make sure Breck doesn't bolt off without you." His lordship left the storeroom.
When they were alone, Alias asked the saurial, "What took you so long?"
Dragonbait set the sack of armor down and signed, I went to say good-bye to Zhara and to try to reassure her about Akabar.
"Tymora! You are so naive," Alias chided. "Zhara doesn't need any comforting.
That woman doesn't care anything about Akabar. As far as priests are concerned, gods come first; husbands and wives place a poor second," she declared.
You are wrong, Dragonbait signed. She is a good woman.
"She's a fanatic," Alias countered.
So are you, the paladin signed. K›u denied everything she and Akabar said without considering it carefully.
"Moander is not coming back," Alias snapped.
You argue from emotion, not reason, Dragonbait signed. You cannot change the truth by denying it. Moander is returning, Alias, and Akabar must destroy him.
"Why Akabar?" the swordswoman cried. "Why should he have to fight Moander again?
Why not someone else?"
I don't know, the paladin signed, but you are not helping him by insulting his wife and his faith.
Alias lowered her eyes,