36
FINDING DAR
At the foot of the gangplank, a sailor sat on a barrel. Another stood guard at the top. The heavy rain must have driven all hands below. The same rain aided Regidor, Bardon, and Kale in their stealthy approach. The three conspirators hid behind a huge crate not more than six feet from the shivering sailor.
“He’s about your size, Kale,” Bardon mindspoke to both.
Regidor scowled at the lehman. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Bardon is going to knock the man out, Kale answered. I’ll put on his coat and sit in his position, so anyone on board will think the man is still on duty.
“And you know this because you and Bardon think together.” Regidor tilted his head. “I really want to know why that is. I haven’t found a thing in the books about such a phenomenon. But I haven’t finished researching.”
The sailor huddled miserably in a large coat, with the collar pulled up around his neck and an oilcloth hat pulled down over his head.
“And what do we do with the man at the top of the gangplank?” asked the meech.
Bardon pointed to the more alert guard. “Go into his mind, Regidor. Distract him with images he can’t resist. Right now I would assume that would be a cozy chair by a blazing hearth with a mug of mulled cider.”
Regidor stared at the man for a moment. “You’re wrong, Bardon. He’d rather be in his bunk below deck. The man’s been too long at sea to be thinking fireplaces and comfortable chairs.”
“Can you distract him?”
Regidor snorted. “Leave him to me.”
Kale edged her way back to where the pier joined the land. She stepped out into the open and approached the first sailor. When the old man noticed her, she projected questions into his mind.
What’s she doing out on a night like this? Where’s she going? Does she think I’m going to let her board?
She smiled and nodded at the befuddled man and strolled on by. As the guard turned his head to follow her movement, Bardon slipped out and grabbed him. With a hand clamped over the sailor’s mouth, Bardon hauled him to their hiding place. Kale followed on the lehman’s heels.
Regidor stood in the shadows, his eyes trained on the figure at the top of the gangplank. Kale wondered what method Regidor had used to trick the man’s mind into thinking nothing unusual was happening on the dock. Sometimes her friend surprised her with something so innovative she couldn’t have predicted his actions at all, and she was supposed to know him better than anyone else. Librettowit said this quality made Regidor a genius.
The meech dragon had matured in a short time. Was she still supposed to “manage” him? She didn’t think anyone except Paladin could actually control Regidor. At least he still listens to me when I reason with him. But he is so much smarter than me, one day my opinions won’t matter. He’s such a stubborn dragon.
The dragon watched the snared man struggle. With one finger, he touched the captive’s temple. The sailor passed out.
Bardon held the suddenly limp form. “What did you do?”
“Put him to sleep.”
“Will he wake up?” Bardon’s sharp tone cut through the air.
“Yes, with a headache.”
“Where did you learn to do that?”
“From one of Librettowit’s old books. But I hadn’t tried it until now.”
Kale felt tension surge between the two. Bardon didn’t appreciate the dragon’s interference. Regidor chafed because he knew he should have consulted the lehman before he knocked out the sailor.
“Enough,” she said. “We have to get to Dar. Give me the hat and coat.”
She settled on the barrel at the bottom of the gangplank. The man at the top remained oblivious to any unusual activity. Regidor obviously controlled his thoughts. She hunched down, assuming the same position as the sailor. She pictured that man in her mind. They’d left him in a heap behind the crate.
One down, one to go. But how many sailors are between us and Dar, once we board the ship?
That thought sent a shiver down her spine.
She waited for Regidor and Bardon to approach the second man. This time Bardon would make the bold advance. Regidor would approach while obscuring the guard’s vision of him through his talent.
Kale shivered. My feet feel like they’re encased in ice. My cape and the sailor’s coat should be keeping me warm. I bet the goose bumps are from nerves. Why are they waiting?
A noise behind her answered the question. Someone had come out on deck. Two men stood about twelve feet behind her and some distance above her head. She heard the mumble of voices.
Dar!
Bardon’s voice entered her mind. “He’s coming off the ship alone. We’ll find out what’s going on once he’s safely away.”
Dar came down the gangplank, his footsteps sounding light on the sodden wood. She peeked out from under the hat to see the doneel diplomat pass by. The transparent shield he used during a fight was up and repelling the rain. He walked away without acknowledging her presence.
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know I’m sitting here.
“Regidor has you covered,” said Bardon. “Come on.”
Kale hopped off the barrel and joined the two hiding behind the crate. She shed the sailor’s coat and hat.
“Let’s go,” whispered Bardon.
“Wait,” said Regidor. He pointed to the crumpled figure at their feet. “We can’t leave this old man out here in the cold.”
Bardon looked down. “What do you suggest we do with him?”
“Take him to The Horn.”
“Why?” The word exploded from Bardon’s lips.
“Shh!” Kale hissed.
Regidor sighed. “Because that would be easier than tucking him into his bunk on the frigate.”
“But why move him at all?” Bardon’s exasperation poured into Kale’s feelings.
She shut them off. She was tired of her friends’ bickering and wanted to go home.
“I feel responsible for him.” Regidor reached down and hoisted the limp figure over his shoulder. “Come on.”
Bardon looked at her for an explanation. She shrugged, pulled up the hood of her cape, and traipsed after the meech dragon.
“Oh well,” muttered Bardon. “Perhaps we’ll find my sword.”
Dar had vanished again.
This has to be the strangest adventure I’ve ever been on. I don’t feel particularly frightened, not with Regidor and Bardon beside me. But what is Dar up to? And Regidor? Why did he start that fight? I sure hope someone is going to explain all this. And I hope it’s soon.
Regidor marched up the two wooden steps to The Horn, tramped over the wooden porch, and pushed in the swinging doors without one sign of trepidation. Inside, most of the clientele had gone home. Several workers were sweeping up evidence of the fight. They stopped and, with open mouths, stared at the three comrades.
“Look here.” The marione who’d taken their dinner order came forward. He carried an unlit, broken candle in his hand. “I don’t want any more trouble.”
Regidor plopped his burden down in an empty chair and rested the sailor’s head on the table. He then turned to the man with a pleasant smile.
“No trouble. Just looking for my robe and my friend’s sword.”
A sudden movement across the room caught Kale’s attention. She’d found the man who’d picked up the sword from the street. She glanced at Bardon, and he nodded.
The marione blocked their way and waved the candle in front of Regidor’s face. “You’re not welcome here.”
The meech dragon continued to smile. “Would you like me to light that for you?” He pursed his thin lips, and with a tiny blow, sent a small stream of fire to ignite the wick.
Regidor stepped around the stunned marione and retrieved his robe from the floor. Bardon crossed to the tumanhofer who had his sword across his knees under the table.
“My sword, please.” Bardon’s voice sounded smooth and polite.
The tumanhofer swallowed hard. His eyes traveled to Kale and then to the meech dragon. Slowly, he pulled out the weapon and laid it on the table.
“Thank you,” said Bardon. He examined the blade, then slipped it into his scabbard.
Kale breathed a sigh of relief. Good! Now we can go home.
One of the doorways to the back rooms opened. Dar emerged, immaculately dressed with only a slight hint of dampness around the bottom of his pant legs. He surveyed the shattered hall.
“Seems like you’ve been busy,” he said.
Regidor stopped with only one arm inserted into his monk’s robe. “No less busy than you, Sir Dar. I think it’s time we had a talk.”
Dar cocked his head. “Ah.” He looked closely at the faces of his three companions. “Yes, I think you’re right. But first let’s find a carriage to take us home. I think we can chat best at our own fireside.”