Dragons of the Watch - Donita K. Paul [111]
“Help me get Tak into the park and Porky into the library. Then I’ll see what I can find for a snack.” She released Porky from her hug, giving him a kiss on the cheek as she did so.
A scuffle erupted over unhitching the goat.
“Stop!” Ellie shouted.
Their movement ceased abruptly, but Ellie sensed the squabble would explode again if she didn’t think of some incentive to thwart them.
“There will be no food for anyone who hits, pinches, or pushes.” She looked at their confused faces. “Or anything else mean and hateful.”
They waited. What did she expect them to do? She’d have to teach them how to cooperate. Otherwise, they’d stand there and glare at her until sundown.
“Cinder and Grim, unstrap Tak. Toady, open the gate and let him in, then close the gate behind him. Soo-tie, you and some of the girls help Porky walk to that opening over there. That’s where we’ll go into the library.”
She placed a hand on Porky’s shoulder. “Do you think you can walk with their help?”
His eyes were big in his pale face. “Into the library? We’re going into the library?” His lower lip trembled, matching the quiver in his voice.
“It’s all right. Old One is a friend of mine. He likes Bealomondore and me.” Ellie thought that might be a bit of a stretch, but Old One had shown up to help battle against the militant troops under Yawn’s control. “We’ll be safe inside the library. Yawn and his gang won’t come in.”
Det, Airon, and Maree swooped out of the sky and landed on the cart. The children emitted squeals of pleasure. One lurched to grab Airon. She hissed and flew up, avoiding capture.
“Don’t touch the dragons,” Ellie ordered.
She heard running feet, and Bealomondore appeared from around the corner of the stately white building. The rest of the dragons arrived and took perches in the trees.
Bealomondore panted. “Well, that’s taken care of.” He leaned over, his hands on his knees. “We made it, thanks to the unexpected help from Old One.” He stood and grinned at the crowd around him. “The old man swings a wicked umbrella.”
Reminded of their nemesis, the pack of nervous children seemed to shrink as they scooted into a closer knot. Bealomondore ignored their apprehension and moved to help the girls maneuver Porky out of the back of the wagon.
Ellie made sure Tak entered the park, looking him over for injuries from the hurled rocks. She checked to see that he had water before following Bealomondore and the young refugees through the vent opening.
The children remained subdued as they entered the library. She even saw several holding hands, which both surprised and pleased her. They weren’t as callous toward each other as they would have her think.
Ellie clambered in after the last child, Red Curls. She had to shove a bit to get in. They had all stopped just inside the opening.
“Excuse me. Move a little, please. Excuse me.”
She got her feet under her and stood. “What’s going on?”
Red Curls leaned close and whispered in her ear. “I gotta go.”
That didn’t explain why the group had stalled just inside the library. She took Red Curls’s hand and plowed through the bodies wedged in the small space in front of her.
“Coming through. Excuse me. Move aside. Excuse me.”
She dragged Red Curls to the front and looked around in amazement. “There’s nothing here. Why are you standing around in this back room instead of moving into the children’s area?”
Bealomondore’s expression showed that he was as perplexed as she was. Through their bond, she felt his irritation rising. Her annoyance fed on his. Her eyes widened as their gaze met.
We’ll have to be careful, she mindspoke. I feel like I could wring their necks without an ounce of remorse.
Bealomondore’s brow furrowed, then cleared. “Yes, I felt my anger surging in a manner that is totally out of proportion to the situation.”
Doubled! Ellie smiled her understanding.
“And then doubled again.”
She nodded. Twice the emotion for half the cause.
Cinder cleared his throat. “Are you two just going to stare at each other? You look silly.”
Ellie broke out of her private communication