Gloria Oliver (34 page)

Finishing her dinner, Talia excused herself to take care of her chores. Her absence was hardly noticed, most of her friends still talking eagerly about the carnival and their guests. As she went into the kitchen, even the kitchen staff appeared thrilled at the coming days. Tula stood on her stool in the back, shouting orders as usual, but she had a bright grin on her face. Shaking her head in wonder, Talia slipped outside.

As she placed the first barrel on her dolly, she stared at the changed landscape about her. Tents could be seen everywhere—almost no piece of open land seemed to have escaped them. Her route to the dragon habitat was long and convoluted as she was forced to zigzag between the tents and packages in her way.

She rolled the dolly into the dormitory and then stopped in surprise. The usual semi-lit gloom was gone, overridden by dozens of globes all turned on as brightly as possible. Voices, snarls, and grunts filled the air as did the heavy animal scent of dragons. Almost every stall before her was filled by one of the large creatures. Their many-colored scales seemed to shimmer in the light as they lounged about and spoke to one another.

The strange feeling of inconsequentiality she’d felt once or twice at the school returned to murmur through her as she stared at the scaled giants. Almost in awe, she stepped forward, wheeling her burden on. Suddenly self-conscious, she looked only at the path as she made her way across the dormitory to Clarence’s stall. She felt the hackles on her neck rise, feeling alien eyes glancing curiously at her as she walked past. She wanted nothing more than to stare back at them, but was afraid she would seem rude.

“Good evening, Clarence.” She kept her voice low, not wanting to attract the other dragons’ attention anymore than she’d done already.

Good evening
. Clarence lay coiled about himself, seemingly ignoring the fact other dragons were there.

Even his thoughts seemed subdued.

Talia set the barrel down, suddenly embarrassed for him. It occurred to her this situation would be very awkward. Not only did he have to deal with the other dragons seeing his disability—though she possessed no real idea how they were about such things—but any conversation between them would inevitably bring up the fact he was imprisoned in his own room. This in itself would likely result in a tremendous number of horribly deflating and embarrassing questions. The excitement she felt before for the coming carnival cooled and twisted into guilt. As she left Clarence still coiled in his stall, she swore she’d find some way to make things better for him.

When she took Kel’s tray to his room, he met her at the door. His smile was bright, but his eyes seemed troubled. He said nothing as she came in, yet once she set the tray on the table his voice reached out quietly to her from across the room. “How did Clarence seem to you today?”

She didn’t quite meet his expectant gaze when she answered. “He was very quiet this evening. I … I think he might be a little depressed.”

He nodded as if she only confirmed something he already knew. “Why are all those dragons here? Do you know?”

She looked away. “The Administrator asked them here. For the next six days we’re to have a carnival.

It’s a reward for all the work everyone’s done because of the fire…” There, she’d finally told him. It would’ve only been a matter of time before Clarence informed him of it anyway.

“Oh! Those are a lot of fun.” His cheery tone wasn’t what she expected. “Lareen is really being generous. Carnivals usually only last a couple of days.”

Though she was still listening for it, she didn’t hear any disappointment in his voice at all. “You really need to make sure to try as many of the games as you can,” he said.

His words threw her off balance. “I—I wasn’t really sure I should go.” When she saw his pained expression at her words, she felt even more off balance.

“Why would you say that?” he asked her. A number of emotions she couldn’t entirely read flashed across his face.

Talia turned away from him. “It just wouldn’t be fair.”

“Why not?” he insisted. “You’ve worked as hard as any of them. You’ve actually done more than any of them.” He said this with conviction, as if he really knew all she’d done.

Talia slowly shook her head in denial. “That has nothing to do with it. I played a part in this mess and I wasn’t made to pay like you or Clarence. And now I should take a reward?” In a way it almost felt as if she was benefiting from their misery.

“You’re wrong.”

She glanced over her shoulder, startled by the strong emotion in Kel’s voice.

His intense blue gaze met hers for a moment before he looked suddenly away. “You had nothing to do with what I did, with what I made Clarence do. You were a victim, not an instigator. None of it was your fault at all. You had nothing to do with it.” His eyes met hers once again. “You’ve already paid more than you ever should have.”

Talia stared at the floor. He honestly thought her innocent. He didn’t blame her for any of it. She felt wonder course through her, not sure how it was truly possible. If she’d never shown him the gem…

“Don’t. I was the one who overreacted,” he said. “You didn’t even know what it was or what it did when you gave it to me. How could anyone think to hold you accountable? The fault was entirely mine.”

She still wouldn’t look at him, though at some level she knew he was right. Still, so much of it made no sense. A question left her lips before she took the time to think about it. “Why were you so angry, though?” She pushed out the rest of the words before her courage failed her. “You knew what the gem was. You knew he’d done this before. Why did it make you suddenly so angry?” She kept her back to him, not sure he would answer. She heard the rattle of his chains echo about her as he walked away from her .

“I’ve-I’ve asked myself the same question almost every day since it happened.” Kel sighed heavily. “I still don’t understand it myself. But when you were standing there, when I realized what it was you’d put in my hand—it was as if a dam broke inside me, like all the hidden, pent-up frustrations of the last three years suddenly burst through.”

Talia turned around, hearing the torment in his voice. Her eyes sought him, even as his fists clenched and unclenched as he battled to express himself. He sat forward on his bed, his elbows on his knees, staring intently at the floor as if the answers were written there.

“I couldn’t control it. I didn’t
want
to control it. All I knew was Nertak must pay and I was the one who would make him.” Kel frowned, his face furrowed, and went on. “Clarence believes I’ve just been pushing too hard for too long. I know he’s right, that Lareen is right.” He laughed sadly. “In a way this thing has been good for me. It’s forced me not to push so hard, to relax. And I do feel better for it. So maybe it was for the best. I swear I won’t ever let it get so bad again.” He looked up at her. “Promise me you’ll go.”

“What?” She stared at him, momentarily not knowing what he was talking about.

Kel stood up, his face clear and set. “Promise me you’ll go to the carnival and enjoy yourself.” He watched her earnestly. “Please? If not because I ask, do it for yourself. You’ve gone through a lot and you deserve it. It would also make me feel better about things if I knew you were having a good time because of it.”

“I—” Not trusting herself to speak, she finally just nodded.

Feeling strange and awkward when he smiled at her in return, she picked up the empty tray and left, bidding Kel good night.

[Back to Table of Contents]

THE CARNIVAL WOULD begin today. Talia hadn’t yet decided what she would do about it, despite her half promise to Kel. She got up without much enthusiasm and decided not to worry about it until after breakfast.

When she reached the dining hall, she found a lot more students there than was usual for the time of morning. Smiles shone everywhere and the expectant excitement from the night before was almost palpable now. The doors leading out to the garden path were already open, letting in the bright sunshine from the outside. As they were told the night before, the tables were laden with baskets of fruits as well as platters of bread and cheese. Students were coming into the room, grabbing a few things off the closest table and then heading directly for the open doors.

Talia ate standing beside her table, feeling a little uncomfortable as no one but she stayed in the room. As soon as she finished eating, she quickly grabbed several pears and then headed to the kitchen.

A wave of heat washed over her as she opened the door and she gasped, for once not having expected it. From what they were told the night before, she’d thought the place would be quiet and empty. Instead it was jammed with people, and the heat was more overwhelming than ever before.

Talia stepped hesitantly inside, sweat breaking on her brow, as she watched unfamiliar men and women stride back and forth between the tables. Weaving her way past them, unknown sweet smells thickened the air around her, almost stifling in their intensity. Here and there she saw a cook or two she knew, but on the whole they were outnumbered by those she didn’t. The buzz of conversation was heavy and more than once she passed by an excited discussion over culinary techniques.

With grateful relief, she was finally able to push her way out the kitchen’s back door. She looked down at her pears, which looked to be a little worse for the experience, and then stuffed them into the barrel with Clarence’s oats.

As she fitted the dolly to the barrel and started on her way, she gawked at the changes in the area since she was there last. It appeared that all the tents she’d spotted the night before had spawned even more of them. Colorful streamers hung on most, as well as signs, banners, and miniature stages.

The front of many of the tents were extended to form storefronts or stalls. Exotic scents teased her senses—perfumes, paints, food, and who knew what else. Snatches of song, as well as the sounds of instruments being tuned, drifted about, escaping from tent flaps as she walked past, almost like promises of the entertainment she could expect later.

When she reached the dragon’s habitat, Talia noticed it had changed as well. Streamers were tied high on the outer façade and long banners hung from the windows. Glancing back toward the school, she saw it was decorated, too. From the lowest balconies, streamers hung like waterfalls and curled ribbons floated gently in the wind. Paper flowers dotted everything, as if there’d been a late explosion of spring.

She found herself feeling both excited and guilty as the urge to just walk around and look passed through her. Telling herself she’d have time later, she turned the dolly in the direction of the dormitory’s door. To her surprise, she found two watchers stationed outside the large doors. They nodded to her pleasantly and said good morning, before one of them opened the door for her. She responded to their greetings and went on in.

The lights inside were bright, most of the dragons within awake and moving about at the early hour. A number of their partners were in there with them. She pushed the dolly quietly, trying to stay out of everyone’s way. With a sudden start, she stopped for a moment to watch a shapely woman covered from head to toe in veils gently scratching the chin of a silver dragon. She was a dragon knight?

Talia frowned even as she started forward again, before anyone might notice her scrutiny. She’d assumed, at least until now, that if you won the lottery and got a dragon you would have to become a knight—a soldier. Could it be this wasn’t true? Could you still be a cook? A farmer? Even a dancer, perhaps? And would it make a difference?

Puzzled by her own thoughts, she reached Clarence’s stall. Unlike all the other dragons, he was still curled up on his hay, seemingly asleep. With as much activity as was going on around him, she didn’t see how he could manage it. Rather than disturb him, though, she set the barrel down quietly and left to go get the next one.

When she returned, the first barrel was empty, though to all appearances Clarence had never moved.

Good morning, Talia
. Even as he spoke into her mind, the dragon gave no outer indication he was awake.

“Good morning.” She made sure to keep her voice low.

Thank you for the fruit. It was very kind
.

“I was happy to do it,” she said, glad he’d enjoyed them. “I’ll try to get some more for lunch. Do you like cheese?”

Please
, he said gently,
do not go to any trouble on my account
. His tone subtly implied otherwise.

She almost smiled as she removed the dolly from the new barrel and hooked it up to the empty one to take it back. When she returned for the other, it was empty, though Clarence still looked as if he’d not moved. Not wanting to disturb him further, she said nothing as she picked up the barrel and left.

Setting the barrel and dolly against the outside wall of the kitchen, Talia took a deep breath before plunging into the chaos awaiting her inside. Some of the earlier crowd in the kitchen was gone, but the activity within was still fast and furious. She wove her way toward the front, dodging elbows, pots, and trays as she went.

“Hold on there, you!”

A hand fell on her arm bringing her up short. She glanced behind her wondering if she’d done something wrong.

A broad face smiled down at her, sharp brown eyes locking with her own. “Missy, would you be kind enough to taste this for me? I’d be much obliged.”

“Me? But I don’t—”

The portly woman cut her off. “You’d be doing me an awful favor. These others here are competing with me for business so I can’t trust them to give me a truthful answer. And the cooks,” she said, throwing a half-glare in the direction of one of the school’s regulars, “don’t quite seem to believe in what I’m makin’

and so they can’t be trusted, either. You’re the closest thing to a neutral party I’ve run across so far.” She thrust a wooden spoon into Talia’s face. “Please?”

She stared at the spoon and the dark red mixture on it with slight misgivings, then at the hopeful face before her. “Okay, sure.” She took a taste. Sweet tartness exploded in her mouth followed by a dash of cinnamon. Delicious!