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THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Kale and her friends mounted the dragons. Paladin took the point, leading them to Brunstetter’s castle. Flying over the countryside reminded Kale that this rolling prairie held animals larger than in any other part of Amara. Traveling on land, they might have seen chickens as large as dogs, dogs as big as cows, cows as tall as horses, and horses she could have walked under without bending.

The sun reached its peak, and the urohm city of Blisk appeared on the horizon. They landed in a dragon field and rode in wagons to the center of the metropolis.

Lady Brunstetter, a dark-eyed, stately woman, served the questing party a noonmeal. Dar and Regidor savored the meal with a good deal of lip-smacking. Kale kicked the doneel under the table after one especially loud slurp of soup.

“Ouch!” He turned to glare at his o’rant friend.

Lady Brunstetter laughed, her eyes twinkling with merriment. “I know exactly how you feel, Kale. But it’s their custom, and doneels think it not rude but complimentary to eat noisily. The problem is when my doneel friends leave after an extended visit. Then I have to retrain our children in the manners of our people.”

As if to prove her point, one of the children took a bite of roasted venison and smacked loudly before dabbing grease from his chin with a linen napkin.

The meal was quickly dispatched. Paladin thanked their hostess for her graciousness and ushered the questing party into a chamber behind the throne room.

A gateway shimmered against a solid stone wall. Kale held Toopka with the little doneel’s arms wrapped around her neck. Librettowit stood in the shadows against a side wall in the small room. Bardon held a position by the door, his posture stiff, his hand on the hilt of his sword, and his jaw rigid. Kale intercepted a glance her way and smiled at him. He looked away without acknowledging her gesture of encouragement.

It’s all right, Bardon. We’re all nervous.

He blinked, but didn’t respond.

Regidor held his tail in one hand. White knuckles gleamed on each scaly finger.

Kale looked at the stone slab floor and wished for Leetu Bends. She isn’t always friendly, but she sure acts like nothing bothers her. On the last quest, I thought I was safe just because she was there.

Paladin nodded for Dar to go first. The doneel diplomat stepped before his ruler.

“I pledge again my loyalty to you, my lord. May Wulder keep me humbly in your service.”

Paladin rested a hand on Dar’s shoulder. “I commission you to stand strong against the enemy of our high and mighty Wulder, to stand true to His word of hope, to stand with wisdom over His warriors entrusted to your guidance, and to seek justice and mercy in this quest.”

Dar bowed slightly and strode through the gateway.

Regidor marched forward. “Do I get a commission? Do I get special instructions?”

“Your commission is like Dar’s. Each member of the party is to uphold Dar’s leadership and to accept his mission as their own.” He looked around the stone-walled chamber to include each member of the questing party. “You may decline at this moment.”

No one moved to take up the offer.

Paladin turned back to the meech dragon. “Regidor, you will grow in knowledge, stature, and maturity in very short order. Do not think that you outpace your comrades. Wulder has placed each one within your circle of influence for your good and for their own. Be mindful of your rank. You are neither the head nor the tail of this expedition.”

“I understand, my lord. We are dependent on each other.”

“Precisely.” Paladin clapped him on the shoulder. “Go.”

As soon as the lights in the gateway faded from Regidor’s passing, Paladin held up his arm as a falconer would to invite his bird to land.

“Come, little ones.”

The three minor dragons crawled out of their pocket-dens and flew to him. They perched on the elegant sleeve and gazed studiously at Paladin. After looking each one in the eye for several moments, the ruler gave his small subjects permission to fly through the gateway.

Kale realized that some of her anxiety had drained away.

I don’t know what he said to them, but it must have been wonderful.

She heard Paladin’s rich chuckle in her mind.

“I told them to behave.”

Kale grinned. That’s all?

“I did remind them that Wulder cares whether they do well or not, and will always be with them.”

Ah, that comforts me as well.

Paladin gestured for Librettowit to come forward. The librarian shuffled to his position in front of the ruler. Paladin placed a hand on each shoulder.

“My friend, you are always the reluctant hero. What would we do without you?”

Librettowit’s head snapped up, and he scowled.

Paladin’s face showed no humor, only sincere respect. “Go, my learned comrade. Mind these young rapscallions.”

Librettowit jerked his head in an affirmative nod and pushed through the gateway.

“Bardon,” called Paladin.

The lehman stepped forward and saluted. “At your command, my lord.”

“Trust in what you have already learned, Lehman. Your foundation will serve you well.”

Paladin nodded his dismissal, and the young warrior drew near to the gateway. He hesitated only a moment before striding through.

Kale looked at Paladin, wondering if she would be called next.

The ruler’s face looked unusually stern. “Toopka!”

The small doneel hopped down from Kale’s arms without a word and ran to stand before the ruler of Amara, king to some, bane to others.

She remained silent but looked cautiously at Paladin.

What’s going on? thought Kale. I’ve never known Toopka to be at a loss for words.

“I am not so pleased with you as I would like to be,” said Paladin.

Toopka ducked her head and stared at the floor.

“I commission you from this day forward to walk in truth, not only in spoken word, but unspoken as well. In deed as well as word. Even in your thoughts, for you deceive yourself as often as you deceive others.”

Toopka’s small furry head bobbed in acknowledgment of the command. She sniffed and, with one furry hand, wiped a tear from her cheek.

Paladin scooped the child into his arms and embraced her with a warm hug, kissing the side of her face as she sobbed. Resting his cheek against the top of her head, he said, “You must not use your sad beginning as an excuse to travel the wrong path. Wulder has given you much. Give back, dear child, give back. Don’t hoard in fear that this is all there is. Give freely, and you will be given to. Wulder has an abundant supply.”

He stood her on the floor, pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket, and dabbed away her tears.

He then smiled and kissed her on the top of her head. With a gentle hand on her back, he scooted her toward the gateway.

“You will be fine, Toopka. Trust and be trustworthy.”

The doneel disappeared through the gateway.

“Now, my child and friend, servant and keeper of the dragons, it is your turn. Come forward.” He held out a hand, and Kale stepped forward to take it.

“Tell me what you are thinking.”

“You already know.”

“Tell me.”

“I don’t know my friends as I thought I did. Dar is much more important than he appears, isn’t he?”

“I agree.”

“Toopka and Bardon have secrets, don’t they?”

“Yes. You will need to be a friend to both.”

“Librettowit is tired.”

“As is Fenworth. We are all tired of the fight against those like Risto. But still, we will persevere.”

“What do you charge me with, Paladin? Tell me exactly what you want me to do, and I will do my best.”

Paladin smiled and tenderly cupped the side of her face in his warm hand. “As always, Kale, I ask for you to do the good you see right in front of you. That is all.”

Kale blinked hard, trying to keep tears from spilling down her cheeks. “Why can’t you just tell me?”

“Because then you would know my strength in Wulder instead of discovering your own.”

Not really understanding, she nodded and turned toward the gateway. She hesitated. “Is there anything else?”

“Enjoy the journey.”

Kale took a deep breath, stepped into the thick air exploding with light, and stepped out of the gateway, straight into the arms of Granny Noon.