The Guided Journey (Book 6) Read Free Page B

blue friends with him.  One assistant baker fled the room, while the others stood slack-jawed, staring in amazement.
    “I need a great many skins to fill with water, Bernie,” he told the head cook casually, setting off a scramble by the kitchen staff to gather together empty skins for their lord.
    “We’re ready to go now,” Kestrel said once he held a dozen skins in his hand a minute later.
    “Jonson will meet us at the spring,” Dewberry reported as the imps gathered around Kestrel.  “I hope he’ll be gracious when he sees you, his former rival for my affections.”
    Kestrel waved to the human observers, and then he disappeared with his blue huddle, leaving a babble of startled exclamations in the kitchen.
    He felt the numb isolation of the traveling mode the imps and sprites used to make their miraculous journeys, and he realized that on this rare occasion he enjoyed the feeling.  It was the first time to journey in such a manner since prior to the climax of his long campaign against the Viathins, and the discomfort of traveling outside of the world was oddly comforting, a reminder of when he thought the world was simpler and easier to understand.
    And then the travels ended within moments, and Kestrel found himself standing on the green grass beside the spring waters.  The bushes around the opening were blooming with fragrant flowers, and the setting was delightfully relaxing.  The imps and Dewberry immediately shed their clothes, and stood expectantly on the edge of the shallow sandy shelf that Kestrel had come to use as the expected spot for his resting companions.
                  “Odare, now ladies first,” Kestrel said as he walked over and stepped into the water, then lifted the first imp down into the clean, warm spring.  Her feet touched the water and she flashed a momentary smile, then closed her eyes and fell into a sleeping reverie of delightful dreams in the unfathomable fashion that all sprites and imps did upon contact with the waters of the spring.  He then politely immersed the unknown other female imp.
    “And now Stillwater,” Kestrel said.
    “Did you not say ladies first, Kestrel-unmannered?” Dewberry squawked as she found herself jostled out of her position in the front of the line.
    “I knew that as the gracious sovereign of these good imps, you would want them to go before you, oh queen of the imps,” Kestrel spoke in an extravagant fashion, while he laid Stillwater in the water.
    He grabbed hold of Killcen.  “I think you presume too much of me, Kestrel-fool,” Dewberry replied, as Kestrel laid Killcen down, and the other unknown companion as well.
    “And, I just wanted a moment alone with you to tell you how glad I am to see you, my friend,” Kestrel told Dewberry, as he picked her up last, and momentarily dangled her over the water.  “My heart is lightened by being in your presence once again.”
    “I love you too, Kestrel-dearly beloved,” Dewberry spoke in a tender voice, and she reached one small hand out to caress his cheek.
    “What am I witness to here?  What frolicsome game is my naked wife engaged in with this giant paramour?” Jonson asked as he arrived at the spring just then.
    “You have arrived too quickly, kingly husband,” Dewberry laughed.  “Come join us,” she urged. 
    Jonson disrobed as Kestrel lowered Dewberry into the spring water.
    “It is good to see you, and to know that you were victorious and are well,” Jonson courteously said.
    “I only was able to succeed because you sent four such valiant warriors to assist me.   I am very sorry for the death of Canyon,” Kestrel answered.
    “His companions said that he died honorably, and that you demonstrated courage and power greater than they had ever seen before,” Jonson replied, as Kestrel lifted him.  “I know that we are in your debt for the great victory you achieved.”
    “I’ll tell you all about it when I awaken you all from your dreams,” Kestrel told