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FORAY INTO A DEN OF EVIL

Kale tried to leave the minor dragons at home, but Gymn reminded her that they’d proven useful in dangerous situations. Dibl just took up residence in his pocket-den and would not be dislodged. Librettowit stated he was a librarian and did not approve of dangerous expeditions. Toopka strangely did not object to being left at home with the tumanhofer.

Cool mist swirled around Kale, Dar, Bardon, and Regidor as they trod narrow streets heading toward the docks. The atmosphere differed from the bright and colorful markets Kale had visited with Toopka during the day. The Port of Prushing apparently led two differing lifestyles. The one shown during the day resembled a carnival. At night, the air hung heavy with treachery.

Dar led them to The Horn, a noisy tavern in a ramshackle wooden structure. Loud music and the thump, thump, thump of rhythmic and enthusiastic dancing welcomed them.

Inside, lanterns hung along the walls giving a greenish glow to the smoky air. Numerous round tables crowded the edge, while energetic dancers, including some urohms, stomped and twisted in a central area.

Kimens! And minor dragons! Look, Dar. What are they doing here?

“Hopefully, they will be providing us with some much-needed facts.”

I mean, what would kimens be doing in a raucous place like this? I always thought of them living in quiet, remote areas.

“Don’t you remember that kimens have taken on the role of watchers?”

Yes, and I suppose the best place to observe evil is where evil is active. But Dar, suppose some of these kimens are in league with Risto’s forces.

“Then Regidor will sense it. You probably could too, Kale, if you tried.”

I don’t see auras around people.

“No, but you can enter a person’s mind and observe the kind of things they think about.”

Dar, you don’t know how draining it is to mindspeak. And when it’s with someone who’s evil, I come out of it with a nasty feeling.

“No, I guess I don’t know anything about it except what I’ve read or been told.”

Kale glanced sideways at her friend.

Along with the minor dragons sitting among the patrons of The Horn, other animals sat at a few tables.

What an odd assortment of pets. Some look bored, and some look more intelligent than their owners.

Kale identified two monkeys. A few dogs sat in their masters’ laps, and some curled up asleep under the chairs or tables. One bisonbeck had a massive, catlike creature on a leash. Large, colorful birds perched on shoulders. And animals Kale could not begin to identify also accompanied a few of the rougher-looking men in the room.

Kale stepped closer to Regidor where she felt safer. The meech dragon had shown reassuring skill in numerous forms of combat.

From the band in the corner of the room, a drumroll drowned out most of the chaotic noise in the spacious hall. A large curtain across one wall parted in the center and opened in short, jerky movements. Kale saw a stage and knew this entertainment would not be like anything she had ever seen at the tavern in River Away.

“Let’s find a table and order some supper,” said Dar. “Kale, ask the minor dragons out so they can gather information too.”

They sat at the only table available with four vacant seats. Two bisonbecks occupied the other chairs, but they had surrendered to a multitude of hefty tankards of strong ale. One snored, and the other drooled on the table. After the questing party had seated themselves, a urohm came over and hoisted the two bisonbecks out of their seats. He dragged them to a side door and tossed them out. A quick and efficient marione mopped up the table with a limp, grimy rag. Right behind her came a marione wearing superior clothes.

“Rosey, bring a clean rag and wipe this table again. These are fine gentlemen, come from Greater Prushing, no doubt.”

He bowed before Dar. “What would be your pleasure, sir? We have fish from the ocean, beef from the pastures of Trese, a duckling purchased only yesterday.”

Dar ordered a meal for all of them.

Kale knew Regidor would have been better pleased had their seating been more in the shadows. He could have loosened his tail from the belt that confined it. And he would have been able to eat more comfortably without exposing his reptilian-featured face.

The minor dragons crawled out from the moonbeam cape but didn’t venture forth to explore this loud and colorful new place. They sat on Kale’s head and shoulders and scowled at their surroundings. Even Dibl hunched his shoulders and dug his tiny claws into Kale’s scalp.

“Ouch!” Kale lifted the yellow dragon from her hair and gave him to Bardon to hold.

The performers came onto the stage. Three singers harmonized well and sang loud enough to be heard over the continued chatter of the patrons.

Metta slid off Kale’s shoulder and stretched out on the sleeve of her blouse. The little dragon relaxed. Her tail swept back and forth, and her head bobbed to the beat of the music.

Metta! You are not to remember the lyrics to this song.

The end of the purple dragon’s tail twitched in annoyance.

Of course you can help it! insisted Kale. Think about something else.

Metta sat up and glanced over her shoulder at Kale.

I know the tune is catchy. Why don’t you make up words we can share with Toopka while you listen to the music?

The little dragon stretched out her neck and nodded. Then she returned her attention to the stage.

Kale breathed a sigh of relief. Metta did not take correction easily. Kale congratulated herself for steering the stubborn minor dragon away from learning the lurid lyrics sung by the three on stage.

Next, jugglers threw plates, balls, painted clubs, and knives in the air with dazzling skill.

“I’m going to try that,” murmured Regidor.

A row of dancers kicked their heels up behind a man singing. Then another man with a female assistant came out on the stage with dogs that performed amazing tricks.

The noise in the room fell during the singing but gained strength during the animal act. Kale had to lean close to Dar to speak in his ear. “Toopka would love this.”

“What?”

I said, Toopka would love this.

Dar nodded. “But soon we should get down to business.”

Kale’s heart sank. She’d almost forgotten their mission for the night. Talking to the maids in the safety of the house they had rented did not frighten her. She asked probing questions without one thought of being challenged on her inquisitive nature.

Once she had the young women thinking along the lines that might reveal an important fact, Kale often used her talent to gather any other information that never reached the maids’ lips. She found most of the relevant facts flitting through the girls’ minds. A cousin moved to town because labor was hard on a farm where the dragons refused to cooperate. No cloth had come from the factory town of Nordante because the dragons would no longer carry the market wares.

But here in this rowdy crowd, Kale dreaded approaching strangers to strike up conversations. She knew she could not probe the minds of so many people with her talent. Such an endeavor would exhaust her.

Regidor reached across the table to put his scaly hand over hers. “Don’t worry about dealing with this riffraff. I’ll take care of going from table to table. Probing minds doesn’t drain me the way it does you.

What can I do?

“You keep an eye on the minor dragons.”

Dar scooted his chair away from the table. “I’m going to join a card game in one of the back rooms.”

“How do you know there are card games back there?” Kale asked.

“My dear, there are always card games in places like this.”

“Oh.”

Dar winked and strolled to one side where a number of doors led out of the hall.

Bardon stood. “I’ll order a drink at the bar.”

Kale watched him weave through the tables to a long counter where men served standing patrons. She turned to find her meech friend, meaning to mindspeak with him. She found him alive with curiosity and determined to examine every species in the room. Kale laughed to herself as she observed his tactics.

Regidor, with cowl covering his face and arms crossed and tucked into the opposite sleeve, strolled about the room, pausing at each table. But as he progressed around the room, his attitude changed. From the outside he appeared no different, but even with the distraction of this chaotic environment, Kale could feel agitation rising in Regidor.

She didn’t like sitting by herself with only the minor dragons to keep her company. She moved to lean against the wall beside a thick supporting column and felt safe in its shadow.

From this vantage point she noticed that none of the animals roamed the room.

I’m not going to send the dragons out to spy. We’ll just view the room from here.

Bardon held a thick mug in his hand. He put it to his mouth and tilted it. But Kale didn’t see him swallow. She smiled. Bardon wouldn’t be losing any of his sharpness because of a strong brew.

One of the women who had danced on the stage sashayed up to Bardon and maneuvered herself into the small space next to him. She smiled at the lehman and said something.

Kale stopped herself just before she used her talent to eavesdrop.

I don’t want to know. I don’t want to hear what Bardon is thinking right now. And I certainly don’t want to be involved in his feelings.

She turned away to watch Regidor. His lean figure, draped in the somber garb of a monk, stood in sharp contrast to the slovenly appearance of most of the men and women sitting around the tables. His slow, deliberate movements and the air of calm that surrounded him accentuated the incongruity.

Kale noted that several men grew uncomfortable as the cleric stood near their tables. One o’rant poked the bisonbeck next to him and pointed at Regidor. Laughter rose from the table. Another bisonbeck sneered at the robed figure. One man rose to his feet as if to challenge her meech friend, but his companion urged him to sit down.

Kale bit her lip. Regidor concentrated on the task at hand. He was oblivious to the changing mood of the crowd.

Regidor, these people don’t like your roaming around the room. They distrust you.

“What, Kale? Why did you interrupt me? These people are wallowing in disturbing lies.”

The people, Regidor. They—

“Hey, monk!” A grubby marione stood swaying before Regidor. “You got a reason to be here? You casting a spell on us or something?”

“No,” said Regidor in his deep, resonant voice.

Two more men joined the drunken marione, a tumanhofer and a urohm.

The tumanhofer spoke. “No matter. We’re tired of you gawking at us. We’re throwing you out.”

“And what if I choose not to leave?”

No, Regidor, no! Just walk out.

“Curse you! I’m the first mate on the Rondamoor. No one crosses me.”

A murmur went through the crowd. One man spoke up.

“No one beats him in a fight, either. You best go, monk-man.”

Regidor pulled his leathery-skinned hand out of the sleeve. Slowly he raised one finger, its nail almost a claw, and pushed the hem of the cowl up. The hood inched upward, revealing a gleaming smile of many sharp white teeth.

“I choose to stay.”