DragonLight (3 page)

         
3
         

A V
ACATION?

With Toopka on her heels, Kale rushed through the lower rooms of the castle, following the irregular path created by her parents. Up three stairs, forward a half-dozen steps, turn right, dash across a storage room, through a door, turn left, up one step, enter the creamery, weave through the vats, duck to exit through a short door, cross the platform, up six steps, turn right into the herb cellar, and out the door on the opposite wall. After two more twists in the long corridor, Kale and Toopka finally emerged in the kitchen.

A tumanhofer child squealed, lifted her arms, and wobbled on chubby legs toward Kale. She scooped the toddler into her arms and nuzzled the baby’s neck. “Taracinabloo, you’re a precious gal.”

The child’s mother looked up from stirring a pot on the stove. “Don’t let her pester you, Lady Kale. She’s bored and wanting someone to play with her.”

“Don’t worry, Taylaminkadot.” She kissed the little girl on each cheek and then deposited her on the floor. “I’m on my way through to find Bardon. I’ll leave Toopka here to tell you what we found in the cellars and to keep Taracinabloo out of your hair.”

Toopka stuck out her lower lip and aimed a frown at her guardian. Kale strode to the door, ignoring the doneel’s pout and the toddler’s whine.

“Lunch smells delicious,” she called to Taylaminkadot and passed through the doorway before Taracinabloo’s protest could escalate to a full wail. Kale glanced back to see a smiling Toopka pull the small girl toward a pile of toys.

“Sing with me,” Toopka said. “I’ll be the farmer, and you be the animals.” She picked up a wooden cow and placed it in Taracinabloo’s hands.

Kale grinned and scurried down the hall. Her stomach had roiled at the smell of evil in her cellars, but fresh air and the scent of vegetable soup had blocked the nausea.
I wasn’t cut out to be a warrior. Dragon Keeper is good enough for me.

Her special bond with Bardon told her exactly when her husband approached, returning from a morning visit. She headed to one of the doors at the back of the castle. As she hurried through the maze of halls, she transformed her clothing into something more feminine than her fighting garb. Her sword bumped against her thigh. Without slowing her pace, she shortened it and its sheath to the length of a short dagger.

The large wooden door silently swung back as she pushed it open to reveal the equestrian stables. Bright sunshine flooded the cool, dark passageway around her. She stepped out and breathed in the aroma of the flowered meadow, sun-warmed stacks of hay, and fastidiously groomed horses. Kale paused, closed her eyes, turned her face upward, and soaked in the beauty of her surroundings.

“I love this life,” she whispered. “Thank you, Wulder.” Her eyes popped open. She blinked, rubbed her nose against a tickle, then briskly sprinted past the stable yard, the barns, and training ring to the sloping grassland beyond. Flowers dotted the hill, and bushes resplendent with colorful blooms marched up the knoll in uneven patches. She slowed her pace, a little winded but still anxious to get to the dragon landing. Above her, minor dragons swarmed in the air, circling their Dragon Keeper’s head in a noisy greeting.

Kale returned their welcome with a laugh and a few friendly words, then told them to go about their business, which at this moment was to enjoy themselves.

A riding dragon approached, sailing through scattered, puffy clouds. Her contented smile stretched into a broad grin. Greer’s wings flashed blue, and his purple scales glinted as he banked for landing. Bardon waved from the saddle as Kale lifted her skirts and ran to greet him.

As soon as the majestic beast folded his cobalt wings against his amethystine sides, Bardon swung his leg over the horn of the saddle and slid to the ground, grace and ease in his movements.

Thanks to Wulder, the treatment he’d received that morning had been successful. Kale carefully guarded her thoughts and feelings in order to not distress him. He’d groaned with pain most of the night. The herbal potion she had given him when they retired kept him asleep, but she knew the extent of his suffering.

For a moment, Kale took up again with Wulder the subject of Bardon’s health.
Why stakes, my Creator? Why a childhood disease that could cripple him? He has seasons of health and then weeks of increasing pain. Why not increase the seasons of health and completely eradicate the stiffness and pain?

Kale remembered the many times she and Gymn had eased Bardon’s discomfort but never succeeded in pushing it completely out of his system.
We’ve failed, Wulder. Even when we feel closest to You, we have failed. This morning the suffering sent him to the kimens. And he looks better. But why not just cure him, Wulder? Is there anything I can do to bring this blessing to my husband?

Kale forced a smile to her lips as Bardon strode forward. Mikkai rode on his shoulder but flew into the air as she approached. She ran into her husband’s arms, and he swung her off her feet, spinning while she laughed with relief. His strength had been renewed.

He plopped her down and gazed into her eyes. “Guess who I saw at Minasterloan’s castle.”

Reading his mind, Kale shrieked, “Regidor and Gilda!”

He tilted back his head and laughed, then pulled her to his chest, rubbing his chin through her hair. He hadn’t shaved before his brief journey, and the bristles tugged in a soothing way. Silver hairs streaked the black hair above his slightly pointed ears. Laugh lines spread out from his blue eyes, but deep creases accented his mouth where pain was often registered by his clenched teeth. Kale closed her eyes against the evidence of his struggle. She nestled her ear to his heart while she absorbed the details of his journey to their closest neighbor.

As he remembered, Kale joined his train of thought. She could see Gilda’s gown and cape, and Kale marveled at how elegant the meech dragon looked. Gilda belonged in the grandeur of a castle. Not in the rooms where work oiled the smooth functioning of the household. But in the formal rooms where discussions covered art, travel, spiritual enlightenment, expanding knowledge, politics, and fashion.

Through Bardon’s memories, Kale heard Regidor’s throaty laugh and watched as the meech husband and wife exchanged a look of understanding. In a rush of information, she learned the two dragons had determined to search for the hidden meech colony. She heard Bardon’s voice enter the conversation.
“Kale and I will join you on your quest.”

She squealed, jumped out of his embrace to dance a jig, and then lunged forward to hug him again.

“Whoa!” he objected. “You’re going to squeeze me in half.”

She released him, all the excitement draining out of her.

Bardon placed his hands on her shoulders. “What’s the matter?”

“I can’t go. I’m busy all day long, and no one else can do some of the things I take care of.”

Bardon chuckled. “The indispensable Dragon Keeper.”

Kale pulled away, crossed her arms over her chest, and grimaced at him. “Don’t you laugh at me.”

“I’m not mocking, and you need a respite from your responsibilities.” He held up a hand as she sputtered a “but.” “I know you enjoy your work, but enough is enough. It’s time for some fun, some adventure. It’s springtime, and Amara is bursting with new life. Flowers abound. Little lambs are kicking up their heels in the fields.” He waved his hand at a nearby trang-a-nog tree. “Birds are hatching and all that.”

She giggled. “Yes, but we will have to enjoy all that in our own backyard. I have dozens of eggs ready to quicken.”

“And that’s why I sent for your father and mother.”

Before she could ask how he had done that, he continued. “Actually, Regidor did the communicating.” He grabbed her arm, pulled it through his, and started toward their home. “We’ll just tell Librettowit and Taylaminkadot that we’re on our way, and be off.”

“Just like that?”

“Your parents will be here within the hour.” He sidestepped to avoid a flock of heatherhens chasing an unlucky drummerbug.

“Doesn’t my father have his own Dragon Keeper’s castle to maintain?”

“He says his organization marches with such precision that he need only check in once in a while to deal with an odd problem or two.”

“Oh, he does?” Kale bit the side of her cheek as she mulled over this bit of information.

Bardon squeezed her shoulders. “Which dragons will you bring with you?”

She answered promptly. “Gymn and Metta.”

“Of course.”

“Pat and Filia, Crispin and Tieto, Dibl and Artross.”

“Artross may not like being taken from leader of his watch and put under Gymn’s authority.”

“I’ll ask him, of course. He doesn’t have to come if he doesn’t care to.”
And there’s a big hint in there, dear husband, if you would only catch it. I don’t mind going, but I don’t like being rushed. It’s not like you to sweep me into a plan without considering my situation.
She opened her mouth to speak, but Bardon spoke first.

“Artross will come. There isn’t a dragon here who wouldn’t jump at the chance to travel with you.” Mikkai swooped over their heads and flew off again to mingle with his kind. “Of course, Mikkai will come. He’ll be a great help.” He winked at Kale. “Summon your choices now. It won’t take but a minute to inform Librettowit and Taylaminkadot of our quest.”

“Taylaminkadot has lunch ready by now.”

“Umm…” Bardon rubbed his stomach, another sign that he felt better if his appetite had returned.

Kale breathed a sigh. Even when he exasperated her, she loved her husband and wanted health for him.

“We’ll eat and then depart,” declared Bardon.

Kale exhaled her frustration in a huff of forced air. What had gotten into Bardon? He usually deliberated and gave her plenty of time to adjust to any plans he made. Her shoulder and neck muscles tensed in rebellion. “I need to pack.”

Bardon stopped and stepped away from her.

She frowned and felt the reaction within her husband. He wasn’t chastised by her expression of disapproval. He thought she was cute.
Cute!

He placed his hands on his hips and looked her over from head to toe. She squirmed under his gaze. She knew that expression. He was thinking of her attributes, not her attire.

He grinned. “You look ready to me. You just need to pick up your moonbeam cape.”

“Bardon—”

“What? You change that outfit into anything you want to wear. You do the same for my clothes. The hollows of your cape hold everything from a toothbrush to ten gallons of parnot juice. You have books, herbs, jewelry, hats, food—”

Kale snapped her fingers. “Herbs and food! I should check to see if I have enough, and fresh food would be welcome. I haven’t restocked those hollows in…”

Bardon cocked an eyebrow. “In?”

Kale shrugged. “Well, it was the end of last week, but I should check to see if I missed anything, and I need to tell Father some of the things he should know about—”

Bardon took her arm and started toward the castle once more. “Your father is a Dragon Keeper. He knows what to do.”

“Yes, but he doesn’t always use the same methods I do.”

“And what would happen, lady of mine, if you waited to tell him the way you want him to do things?”

“He’d listen, agree to everything, and then do it his way as soon as I’m out of sight.”

“Precisely. And will his way harm your dragons?”

“Not exactly.”

“Not at all.”

Kale sighed. “Right, not at all.” She gripped his arm more tightly and gave it a shake. “But, Bardon, it isn’t my way.”

He didn’t respond.

Why are you being so bossy?

“Why are you dragging your heels? Don’t you want to see Regidor and Gilda?”

Of course I do.

He patted her hand clenched to his arm. “Everything will be just fine.”

Kale tried to dampen her annoyance, but she only thought of more arguments.

“Who’s going to do your duties? The school for the boys won’t run itself. They need your training.”

“Sir Grant has volunteered to come over.”

The minor dragons came to greet him.