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I m not the one who needs protecting, objected Sittiponder. I m supposed to watch after Toopka.
She s the one who will face danger.
Gilda rolled her eyes.
Regidor took her hand but addressed the children. We will all do our best to protect you.
Kale put her arms around the boy. You re still shivering. She turned to Brunstetter. It s late. I think
they should go to bed.
Right. Rising with more agility than one would expect from such a large man, the urohm swooped down
on both the boy and girl. He tucked each child under one of his huge arms and lugged them off to his tent.
Toopka squirmed and giggled, but Sittiponder hung limply without the mock protesting that usually
accompanied this bedtime ritual.
Kale bit her lower lip. I hope nothing s wrong with him.
Gilda took a large breath and let it out slowly. Nothing is wrong with the child, she said patiently, that
a good night s sleep won t cure.
Kale turned sharply to cast an irritated glare at the meech lady.
Gilda hiked a shoulder and looked down her nose. Before Kale could speak, she snapped, I am more
aware of children now that I carry my own. Those two have vivid imaginations and take an element of
truth and stretch it into something that suits their fancy. It s mostly done to gain attention, I presume.
Bardon felt annoyance bubbling in Kale. The rejoinder she formed in her mind had something to do with
Gilda taking scraps of legends and stretching her conclusions until the meech colony was the seat of all
knowledge and culture. He quickly moved to Kale s side and put an arm around her waist. I m tired
too. Good night, Sir Dar, Regidor. Pleasant dreams, Gilda.
He turned toward the tent and relaxed when he felt Kale give way to his guidance. A principle came to
his mind.
A shield of kind words deflects arrows thrown by the wounded.
I don t want to pity her.
You don t want to add to Regidor s burdens, either.
Inside the tent, Kale sat down on her pallet and gathered the minor dragons into her lap.
You know what I think, Bardon?
Sometimes.
Right now I m thinking I resent the fact that Gilda is going to have a baby. And being a meech dragon,
she ll feel a thrill of accomplishment and then no further need to nurture the child.
It is odd that they deal with offspring in such an inattentive manner. But from what I understand, the child
is the concern of each person in the community.
I don t think I could share my baby with everyone.
Considering how you felt about letting your father take over your duties with the dragons at home, no, I
don t think you would.
Kale sighed heavily. I don t suppose my ability to share the responsibility of raising a child will be a
problem anytime soon.
Bardon sat beside her. Immediately, the dragons spilled over into his lap and began a game of chase,
using the two of them as a playing field. Someday we ll be parents. Bardon dodged Filia as she dashed
across Kale s shoulder. He managed to plant a kiss on his wife s cheek before Dibl crash-landed on
Bardon s head, digging his claws into his scalp. He winced and shoved the yellowish dragon back into
the air. You, Kale, will be an overprotective mother. I will be an obnoxiously proud father. And all these
critters will be guardians and playmates.
Artross jumped onto Bardon s head. Metta challenged him for possession of the prized perch and
knocked the glowing white dragon into Bardon s lap.
Enough! said the Dragon Keeper s husband. Settle down and go to bed.
Kale giggled, but Bardon thought her eyes still held a wistful look.
They made plans to visit a town just before they crossed into the Northern Reach. With Mikkai s help,
they located a small village on a trade route that would be an adequate resting spot. They also desired to
gather more information about the heart condition of the people in the area.
This has been a rather tame quest, has it not? said Sir Dar as he dished out stew that evening.
Be careful what you say, warned Regidor.
We ve had a little rain, but other than that, more than a week of easy travel. Sir Dar sat back on his
haunches and dipped his spoon into the savory broth. But I ll be glad for a meal at a table and a real
bed tomorrow night.
Kale put her hand on her heart. Then why do I feel so tired here? Why am I sad?
Brunstetter grunted his agreement. At night my dreams are filled with gloom. And even the children are
clearly downhearted. When was the last time we heard Sittiponder sing? Toopka does not chatter from
sunrise to sunset.
Most assuredly, that is not a bad thing, said Gilda.
Kale gave Gilda a sympathetic look. You ve been depressed too.
I m with child and tired. Also, the delay in accomplishing our quest is a wretched situation to deal with
day after day. I wish Regidor and I had undertaken this journey alone.
We would not have traveled any faster, my dear. Regidor soothed his wife.
Annoyance flashed across her face, but she did not speak.
Kale and Regidor lifted their faces to the southern sky at the same time.
Lee Ark is about to join us, announced Regidor. He stood and moved toward the field where the large
riding dragons rested.
He s troubled, said Kale.
Is he hurt? asked Toopka.
Kale frowned and searched the shadows by the tent until she spotted her ward. You re supposed to be
in bed.
I m not tired, and Sittiponder won t talk to me.
Regidor lifted her to sit on his shoulder and strode toward the meadow. No, little one. Lee Ark is weary
of soul. Perhaps your fuzzy, funny face will chase away his gloom. Let s go greet him.
25
ONE MORE TO QUEST
I ve hidden my family and sent my troops into the hills to stand ready to fight. Lee Ark strode up the
hill, accompanied by Sir Dar, Kale, Bardon, and Regidor with Toopka on his shoulders.
I almost missed you in this rugged terrain. He gestured to the rock outcroppings and a steep cliff. My
mount sensed the presence of your dragons and guided me here. He continued up the hill without any
indication that the strenuous exercise taxed his muscled body. You know these Followers don t like
dragons. More proof of their misguided theology. Is there anything left from your dinner? asked the
marione general. I m starved.
Enough for one serving, answered Sir Dar, puffing a bit from the effort to keep up. But I ll throw some
more biscuits in a pan, and that should fill you up.
Ah! Sir Dar s biscuits baked over a campfire. That s worth traveling a thousand miles.
General Lee Ark, I admit you re pushing my curiosity to the limits, said Bardon. Why are you here?
What compelled you to come so far?
I m fleeing the country.
What? Kale exploded.
Yes, I m a criminal.
Kale let go of Bardon s arm and rounded on Lee Ark. She grabbed the material of his jacket sleeve and
stopped him. Why?
He shrugged, the pleasant expression on his face never slipping. Let s see if I can remember it all.
Ignoring orders, redirecting delivery of goods requisitioned by the government, arresting an elected
dignitary and thus detaining him long enough to miss an important meeting, releasing prisoners destined
for the docks to be shipped to penal colonies, and a couple other charges that made absolutely no sense
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