Page 45 of The Ranger
“He’s going to be mad, isn’t he?” Kitty asked as Shona signed the note with x’s and o’s.
“You have no idea.” She left the low table they were sitting at and put the note on the side table near the entrance to their bed chamber. “Well, looks like we have some time on our hands.” She tapped her right foot a few times. “I have an idea.”
Kitty rolled off the cushions and climbed to her feet. “What?”
“Want to pay a visit to the king of the Noghard?”
“No way!” Kitty said with glee. “I love that guy!”
“So do I, and maybe he can tell us some things since my father likes to keep me in the dark.” She stomped to the door.
Kitty followed. “He’s just trying to protect you. Don’t be too hard on him.”
Shona didn’t respond as they entered the corridor outside and shut the door. She closed her eyes a moment.Essie, I need you...
A rapid succession ofclickety clickssounded from somewhere down the corridor. It wasn’t long before Essie came sliding around a corner, several of her taloned feet slipping on the marble floor. She righted herself and scurried toward them, her tongue hanging out of her mouth like a dog’s.
She skidded to a stop. “Yes, Princesssssk?”
“Can you take us to Novahk?”
“The Noghard king?” She bowed. “Yes, Princesssssk.”
“Come on.” Shona climbed onto Essie’s back, followed by Kitty, and they were off.
“Do you know where he is?” Kitty asked.
“Yessssk.”
Kitty laughed. “I wasn’t asking you, but that’s okay.”
Essie made a chittering sound, laughing.
Shona closed her eyes as Essie glided down the corridor, then turned left down another. “I sense he’s in the library.”
“Is it okay for us to just show up? He won’t get mad, will he?”
“No more than I would if he happened to show up on my doorstep. Besides, the library is for the royal families. I have as much right to be there as he does.”
Essie took them to the nearest entrance of the library. Novhak could be anywhere, but they had to start someplace.
Shona and Kitty dismounted then studied the tall wooden doors leading into the massive library.
“Have you ever used this entrance?” Kitty asked.
“No.” Shona wondered why there were no guards posted. “Essie, what part of the library does this lead to?”
Essie bounced a few times. “The Noghard play heresssk.”
Kitty began to fidget. “How do Noghard play?”
She bounced some more. “Go and seesssk.”
Shona looked at Kitty, then the door. “Okay.” She grabbed one of the large round handles and gave it a pull. The door swung open slowly, revealing a large field bordered by mature oak, elm, and fir trees. Birds were singing, there was a blue sky over head, and all seemed quiet. It didn’t last.
A black and red Noghard swooped down and landed in the middle of the field about a hundred yards from them. Then a yellow one landed and they began to circle each other.
“Shona,” Kitty said in alarm. “They look like they’re going to fight.”