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recovery.
Regidor grinned, a twinkle in his eye. Yes, my dear wife is almost herself again. We will certainly be able
to travel tomorrow. She will have to ride with you on Celisse, I think.
Do you think we can reach the meech colony in just one day?
If my calculations are correct, we should be there in time for noonmeal. He gave her a swift hug and
looked over her head at his wife. Thank you for all you ve done for Gilda. I know she isn t an easy
patient. He squeezed her once more and let her go. Now off with you. You look tired.
Kale turned toward the tent flap and heard Gilda s gasp. She flew back to Gilda s side and bent to peer
in her wide eyes. What? What s wrong? Did you have a pain? Are you ill?
You re pregnant!
Kale straightened. Yes. Yes, I am. She glanced at Regidor but got no clue from him as to what
horrified his wife. I guess I haven t seen you since we found out. It was after the earthquake. We saw
Mother at Namee s
How could you? Gilda spoke between clenched teeth. My child will not share the spotlight with a
mere o rant.
Regidor stepped around Kale and knelt by his wife s head. One-fourth emerlindian, Gilda. The child has
Bardon for the father.
I don t care if it has Paladin for a father. Our child is destined to be a leader.
Regidor stroked her forehead. I think it is time for you to sleep, dear one. Hush now, close your eyes,
remember I love you, and sleep.
Her eyes closed, and she slept. Regidor stood and turned to face Kale.
What s going on, Reg? Kale s voice wobbled in spite of her effort to remain calm.
She s desperate to be someone of importance. She doesn t want to impress the people of your world.
She believes the meech are from another world, and she wants to impress them. His shoulders drooped.
Kale said nothing but put her arms around her friend. He pulled her close and squeezed. I ve done all I
can, Kale. I don t know what else to do. I think there s something left from the time she spent with Risto.
Something in her mind that twists and torments her.
We ll take her to her people, Regidor. Perhaps they do have the wisdom to replace this obsession with
a legitimate hope.
I want that to be true, Kale. I can t wait to find the colony, and I dread finding disappointment.
Kale stepped away from him. Tomorrow. We find out tomorrow, and Wulder knows today. Don t
despair, Regidor. Wait for tomorrow.
Regidor chucked her chin. My funny mentor. I outgrew you too quickly, you know. I will wait for
tomorrow, Lady Kale. I have no choice.
I m not giving you the right words to comfort your heart, am I?
No, but you tried. And your trying comforts me more than you can know.
She slipped out the door and turned back once more. I m not in charge of tomorrow, Regidor. Thank
Wulder, it is in His capable hands.
Regidor chortled. Kale, I often thank Wulder that you are not in charge of the tomorrows or the
todays.
She stomped her foot. Someone should have taught you manners.
Regidor laughed out loud. I believe that was one of the things you were in charge of. Go to bed, Kale.
Let tomorrow take care of itself, with Wulder s blessing.
Kale trounced off, glad to hear the spirit of fun in Regidor s bantering and dreading that the colony would
be filled with meeches of Gilda s temperament. Nonsense! she chided herself. If they are two out of a
hundred, what are the chances of the other ninety-eight meeches being duplicates of Regidor or Gilda?
She strode forward, passing the fire and seeing Bardon talking with Sittiponder near the other tents.
I m sure I don t know, she answered herself. And I m not going to worry over it.
Bardon looked up and saw her. She forced a smile.
I ll not worry over what we will find tomorrow. Not much.
42
THROUGH A DARK PASSAGE
If you would let Gymn help, we could completely eliminate the last of this wound. Kale swabbed the
red, puckered line that was all that remained of the gash Gilda had received fighting off wild boars.
No! Gilda turned her head on the pillow and glared at Kale. I won t be tended to by a beast! I won t
have his dirty feet walking all over me. I don t like the way his kind looks or smells or behaves in that
uppity manner as if they were more than lowly animals.
Kale worked to keep her face neutral. She relaxed her mouth, though her lips wanted to squeeze
together in a thin, disapproving line. She kept her eyes on Gilda s side, not daring to meet her gaze.
Surely the meech would detect sparks of anger, if not bolts of lightning, ready to shoot out of Kale s eyes
and zap Gilda. Kale wiped the injury site one more time and applied ointment before securing the
bandage.
She stood. Regidor said you were to ride with me on Celisse.
Gilda s thin lips made a small, wrinkled moue. Where will the beasts be?
Kale snatched up her cape and thrust the small jar of ointment into a pocket. Riding with Bardon. She
turned and headed out the tent s opening. We leave soon. You d better get dressed.
The brisk morning air hit her in the face. Phew! I thought I d strangle a certain someone.
Who are you talking to? asked Toopka.
Kale jumped. No one.
Bardon says I m going to ride with him. I came to tell you, so you wouldn t be upset and think I was
mad at you or something.
The lack of spunk in Toopka s voice prompted Kale to examine the doneel. Do you feel all right? You
look a little droopy.
I have a heavy place. Right here. She pointed to exactly the same spot she had touched the night
before when she had told Kale her story.
Kale took her hand. Let s go find Gymn and have him take a look at you.
Gymn assessed the child s condition and told Kale he detected little change. The growth had not
increased in size at all, but it appeared to be solidifying. The mass was no bigger than Kale s thumb and
probably weighed as much as a dense stone of the same size.
Kale reported the health conditions of Toopka and Gilda to Bardon. He ordered the striking of the camp
and divided the passengers between the two riding dragons.
I can take a dozen kimens, offered Regidor. They re as light as feathers.
Regidor carried Gilda to Celisse, then flew with her in his arms to settle her in the second seat of the
saddle. When Kale mounted, the female meech only made one comment. Riding backward makes me
queasy.
Tell me if it gets bad, Gilda, and we ll land.
They flew northeast, toward rippling hills. The terrain changed abruptly with deep crevasses zigzagging
between sheer rock formations that thrust toward the sky. The tiers of exposed rock varied between rich
purples, reds, and a coppery orange. White streaks sometimes ran between the layers. Thick green
vegetation hid the bottom of some of the deep canyons, but most of the landscape consisted of towers of
rock in fantastic colors.
Stunning, said Gilda, the first word she had spoken in several hours. And totally appropriate for the
residence of a superior race.
Kale didn t bother to comment. Bardon had signaled their descent. They landed in a broad canyon with a
floor strangely vacant of shrubs and boulders.
Regidor examined the area. Flash floods carry away all but the heaviest objects. He pointed to a
boulder as big as a house.
How long will we rest here? asked Gilda.
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