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encounter.
Kale tilted her head in puzzlement.
Kale, kimens wear light. They have no clothing other than beams of light they draw to themselves. They
control the color of that radiance and can dim it at will.
I ve seen kimens, Dar. They wear soft, fluttering clothing that floats around them and stirs in a breeze. It
looks like the gauzy material Granny Noon wrapped our food in.
Have you ever touched one? asked Dar. Have you ever brushed up against a kimen and felt the
texture of his garment?
No.
It s neither hot nor cold. It s not rough or smooth or thick or thin. It s light, and you can t feel it with
your fingers.
Kale looked down at her moonbeam cape and remembered Dar tricking her into believing it was made
from real moonbeams.
No, Kale. His voice interrupted her suspicions. I m not teasing. Kimens gather light. A kimen is just
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what we need to guide us in Risto s castle.
23
INTODARKNESS
The travelers didn t have to find the kimens; the kimens found them.
Kale sat on a log, watching Gymn catch bugs, so she was the first to notice the kimens. The little people
appeared as tiny fireflies moving quietly through the woods close to the ground. As they came nearer,
Kale realized they were too big to be insects, and then she could make out the familiar forms she d seen
in her own village.
In the dark of the forest, the kimens wore clothing in shades of deep blue, purple, and green. Kale
looked closely at the fabric, trying to see woven threads. She saw none, but still she couldn t believe that
the wispy material was light and not cloth.
Out of the quiet gathering of tiny kimens, one stepped forward. His green eyes sparkled in a solemn
face. His flyaway brown hair sprang from his head in the usual disarray of kimens. Kale looked closely at
his blue garments. The flowing fabric looked airy and fragile, but not like any light she had ever seen. He
appeared to be a warrior, strong and determined, but he carried no weapons.
A weapon wouldn t be a bad idea, considering where we re going. He could carry a sword or a
bow. But& come to think of it, I ve never seen a kimen carry anything. Not a sack, not a basket,
not a weapon. Oh yes, I ve seen them carrying their young.
The kimen gazed at Celisse, Kale, and Dar in turn. But when he spoke, he addressed just Dar and Kale.
I am Shimeran. I have been chosen to guide you.
You know where we re going? asked Kale.
A smile lit Shimeran s eyes but only teased at his lips.
Of course.
Dar bowed with the same respect he had shown Granny Noon. We would be honored to have your
help, Shimeran. I am Dar. He gestured toward the riding dragon. Our friend, Celisse. His hand moved
to indicate Kale, but she spoke before he had a chance.
I am Kale Allerion.
Shimeran s eyes widened for just a second, and the crowd of kimens around them shifted. A murmur
among them quickly stilled as did their unease.
Kale glanced from face to face, trying to decide why they had reacted this way.
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Did I say something I shouldn t have? Was it rude to introduce myself?
She examined the faces of the kimens more closely. Their expressions were friendly and calm, no
different from the usual expressions of the kimens who visited River Away. She looked directly at
Shimeran and was about to ask if something was wrong, but Dar forestalled her by speaking.
We thought this night would be a good time to rescue our emerlindian comrade.
Shimeran nodded. Risto is away. The guards have been drinking brillum all day. My kinsmen will cause
a diversion, and we may sneak in through the main gate without detection.
Kale wrinkled her nose at the mention of brillum. The ale smelled like skunkwater and stained like black
bornut juice. The mariones used it to spray around their fields to keep insects from infesting their crops.
Grawligs drank it. Evidently bisonbecks did too.
All is ready. Shimeran s voice broke into Kale s thoughts. We should go now.
Dar turned to Celisse. Will you wait here?
Kale felt the riding dragon sigh and reluctantly agree. Kale nodded to Dar. She knew Celisse
understood Dar, but wasn t sure if Dar could hear the dragon s mindspeak.
They moved quickly through the dark forest, following the kimens. Three strode several yards in front of
the group. These seemed dark in comparison to those close by.
Dar touched Kale s arm and nodded to those ahead. Scouts. He spoke softly. There are probably
three more ahead of them beyond where we can see, and then three more ahead of them. You notice
they ve dimmed their radiance. These around us are lighting our way. Those ahead are watching for the
enemy so we don t run smack into a band of bisonbecks patrolling their boundaries.
One of the nearest kimens turned a frowning face toward Dar and put a finger to his lips.
Kale didn t want to end the conversation. She wanted to know more. She reached to Dar with her
mind. How did the kimens know we came for Leetu?
Logic. They knew an emerlindian in service to Paladin had been taken prisoner. Someone was
bound to try to save her. We showed up, so we must be the rescuers.
Why didn t they rescue her themselves?
Kimens have taken on the role of observers. They will help in time of need, but they never
initiate an action.
I don t understand why not.
They believe that Wulder gave them their talents and diminished size for this purpose. They will
not step beyond what they see as their assigned duties unless given a distinct call to do so.
I still don t understand.
Dar sighed aloud, and the same kimen hushed him with a sharp, Shh!
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Kale, if you can t understand through my explanation, then you re going to have to use your
own eyes and come to your own conclusions. Sometimes a thing makes more sense when you see
it. Sometimes words aren t enough.
Kale wanted to answer with a loud huh? but figured Dar would just go on explaining why he couldn t
explain. She decided to study the kimens instead. Maybe she could figure out what material made up
their clothing.
She watched the little person directly in front of her. This kimen was a female with the typical wild hair
growing out in an aimless way but hanging past her waist. Bits of ribbon and odd, skinny braids, plaited
with no particular pattern, adorned the otherwise disorderly brown locks. Blue and purple wisps of
material hung from her body almost like the large fanlike fins of a feathered fish. Of course the fish didn t
really have feathers any more than this kimen wore light instead of material.
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