Two Renegade Realms (Realm Walkers Book 2) by Donita K. Paul

feeling and why they feel that way. That’s odd.”
    “Queen Mazeline is odd that way too.”
    Cantor turned on Neekoh. “What do you know about this? Did you allow this to happen?”
    “No. It’s never happened before, as far as I know. But usually we’re down here alone, just one from the family Neekoh. All the stories I heard about our vigil never mentioned this.” He waved a hand over Dukmee. “But usually we’re down here alone. No outsiders like you, just our immediate family.”
    “You said that before.” Neekoh obviously wasn’t trained for emergencies. If Bixby were awake, she could read his aura. She’d seen nothing in the previous readings. She’d want him to be gracious. Cantor bit down his impatience.
    He put a hand on the young man’s shoulder to lend him a bit of emotional stability. “Let’s get them to Chomountain. I’m fairly certain the right hand of Primen will know what to do.” Cantor picked up Dukmee and started toward Bridger. “Bridger, can you carry two?”
    Neekoh followed him for a few feet, then turned to pace back and forth.
    Bridger shapeshifted to devise two body-sized sacks hanging over his back like saddlebags. He surrounded Bixby with one. “They should be fairly comfortable in those.”
    He wiggled as if his skin itched. “Take off the ropes. I’llcontract the covering to keep her safe.” He peered at Cantor. “We don’t want her slipping away. I missed her while we were on our own. Not to mention you need her influence. She’s good for you.”
    Cantor jogged around Bridger to get to the empty carrier. “All right, Bridger. I get your point. You’re happier with more than just me to keep you company.”
    “I do have Jesha. She’s a good companion.”
    Cantor didn’t answer. Bridger had tried this tack before. But Cantor wasn’t going to recognize Bridger as his constant just to satisfy the dragon’s whim. He still believed he should be allowed to pick his own dragon, even if he had grown accustomed to Bridger.
    Dukmee’s tall frame weighed little, and Cantor had no trouble maneuvering the mage, feet-first, into the sack.
    He returned to Bixby’s side, intent on taking off the ropes he’d used to secure her to the saddle. He glanced up to see what Neekoh was doing. The ward guard stood gazing across the lake, his eyes distant.
    “Is something wrong?” Cantor asked.
    Neekoh startled and turned to face him. “You realize that I have never seen Chomountain. I only know where he is. Until you broke the ward, there was no way to get in.”
    “But you can take us to the entrance?”
    “Yes, of course. That’s my job. Well, the rest of my job. The first part was just being here. I’m not sure about what is involved in the second part.” His pensive expression suddenly gave way to his normal cheerful appearance. “I’ll take you through the tunnel. That’s what I’ll do. No one in my family has ever taken anyone but one of our own to the entrance.This is something new. I shall be known as the Neekoh who guided the rescuers to Chomountain.”
    He gathered the light orbs from his skiff, placing them in a cloth bag at the stern of the boat. Bridger had taken care of the orbs Cantor had used. He redistributed them so that he was illuminated from head to tail. Cantor grinned but refrained from telling his constant that he looked like he belonged in a parade. Jesha sat on Bridger’s head between the dragon’s ears.
    With two lights attached to his clothing, Neekoh gestured for Bridger and Cantor to follow. They entered a tunnel unlike those on the other side of the lake. In these passageways, no marks made by the hand of man smoothed the walls or floor. No manmade lights brightened the route. Their orbs and globes illuminated the gray walls where flecks of minerals sparkled. Jesha prudently moved to ride between Bridger’s shoulders.
    The rock tubes were uniform in width, but varied in height. Cantor and Bridger walked carefully to avoid stubbing toes and