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Wulder. There, that’s it. My thoughts belong to me and Wulder.
“You are coming around, aren’t you, dear? Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of you.”
Kale opened her eyes to gaze at the beauty of the perfect face so close to her. Mother
Number One definitely outshone Mother Number Two in exquisite elegance. Kale looked
into the cold gray eyes and turned her head.
“Are you in pain, dear Kale? The medicine I put in the water should have eliminated any
discomfort.”
“Where’s Gymn?”
“Having a resplendent supper. The others are as well. They’re in the cook’s tent. Can you
sit up, dear?”
Kale struggled to rise on her elbow. “My cape?”
“Really, Kale, I haven’t stolen it. You were filthy when the men brought you to me. You
have a fresh gown, and you’re clean. You could say thank you.”
“Thank you.” The cape wouldn’t be dirty. It sheds dirt. And at The Goose and The
Gander, Magistrate Hyd said a moonbeam cape cannot be stolen. Where is it? “Where is
it?”
“Now I know you aren’t well. Fussing over such a petty detail. The cape is in the covers
with you.”
“Why?”
This impressive and autocratic Lyll Allerion stood abruptly. “Why?” Her voice shrilled.
“Because the nasty thing stings anyone who tries to touch it.”
She turned to the door, her skirts rustling with the swift movement. “I have work to do.
Tayla, call me when my daughter is in a better mood.”
Kale sat up and contemplated the servant. The tumanhofer looked old enough to have
children but not old enough to be a grandmother. But a tumanhofer’s age was hard to
determine.
“Could you bring my dragons to me?” Kale asked.
“Not and live to see tomorrow, Miss Kale.”
“I want to get dressed. Where are my clothes?”
“Burned. My lady didn’t like them. She’d have had the cape, too, but as she said we
couldn’t get it.”
“My boots?”
“Burned as well.”
So I am without clothes and shoes. She pulled her knees to her chin and surveyed her
very nicely furnished prison. She didn’t see an obvious means of escape. Beyond the flap
of the tent, two sturdy legs stood at attention. They probably belonged to a guard. And my
muscles feel like noodles. I wonder if I’ve been drugged to keep me out of trouble. I don’t
think Tayla can help me without risking her life. And I don’t want that.
“Surely your name isn’t Tayla. I’ve never known a tumanhofer with such a short name.”
“Well, that would be right, but my lady doesn’t like to say it all.”
“What is your name?”
“Taylaminkadot.”
“Thank you, Taylaminkadot, for taking care of me.”
The woman started and frowned at Kale. “Well now, that was nice, and you’re welcome.
Are you sure you’re the daughter of my lady?”
Kale chuckled and rested her forehead on her knees. “I prefer to think I’m not.”
“Well, I don’t blame you there.” Tayla looked nervous. “I can get you something to eat.
Would you like that?”
“Are my dragons truly in the cook’s tent?”
“Aye, they are, but I can’t fetch them for you.”
“I understand, Taylaminkadot. And yes, I would like something to eat.”
Tayla started to leave, but she turned back to warn Kale. “There’s a nasty bisonbeck
guard at the door,” she whispered. “Don’t try to go anyplace.”
Kale nodded even though she hardly heard the words. She concentrated on the servant’s
mind. She had done this trick before. She could pick up the images the woman saw. As
the woman walked from the tent and then through the maze of the camp to the cook’s
tent, she marked her progress. By the time the tumanhofer servant came back with a bowl
of soup and some bread, Kale had a pretty good idea where the tent was located. She also
knew her dragons were healthy but locked in cages.
“Now,” said Tayla, nervous again, as if being in Kale’s presence was a dangerous thing,
“if you’re feeling all right, and don’t need anything, I’ll be going about my other chores.”
“That’s fine, Taylaminkadot.”
The woman curtsied, gave her a pitying look, and rushed out of the tent.
“Well, it’s about time.” Toopka crawled out from under the moonbeam cape.
“Toopka!”
“Shh! Didn’t she say there was a guard right outside?”
“How did you get here?”
“I’ve been with you all along. In a hollow. In the cape. Really, Kale. Quit staring.”
“You were in there for hours!”
Toopka went to the small table and picked up the spoon. After taking a slurpy taste of the
soup, she grinned at her.
“Why not? It’s a little stuffy, and you bump into things, but other than being too dark, it’s
not all that bad. You can’t hear very well in there though, so I had to keep poking my
head out to find out what was going on. This is not a good situation you’ve gotten us into,
Kale.” She broke off a bite of bread and popped it in her mouth.
“Well, I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“And I don’t like that woman who is ‘my lady.’ Who does she think she is, anyway?”
“She thinks she’s my mother.”
“Nah, take the wizard that hangs around with Cam and Fenworth. She’s much better.”
“I think I will, if I can get back to her.”
Kale stretched her aching muscles. A fatigue enveloped her, and she found any
movement a strain. If only she could feel wide awake. If only every single speck in her
body weren’t so very tired.
Toopka took another lip-smacking scoop of soup. “As soon as I finish this, I’ll go get the
dragons.”
“And how do you propose to do that?”
“I’ll borrow your moonbeam cape. No one will notice me cause I’m so sneaky and short.
It might be a problem to locate the little dragons though. This is a big camp.”
Kale smiled. “I know exactly where they are.”
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GATHERING TOGETHER [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]