Dragons of the Watch - Donita K. Paul [29]
He led her to his corner, then swiftly moved on to where he’d put the cushion for her bed. “I hope this will be comfortable.” He handed her the flannel.
She took it and looked at the sheet he’d spread over the cushion. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“All right then. Good night. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He took several steps away, but she called his name.
“Bealomondore?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.” She sighed, and he thought for a moment that she would dissolve into tears again.
But she lifted her chin and batted her eyes to ward off the onslaught. He recognized the same type of bravery his sisters had exhibited when told they would have to dine with their father.
“Thank you for everything. It would have been horrid to encounter all of this alone. Or rather, with just Tak. I don’t think I could have handled it well at all.”
Not quite sure how to react, Bealomondore bowed in his most elegant manner to honor her statement. “I have to admit, searching for clues will be more fun with a partner.”
She smiled, and Bealomondore forced himself to turn away and head for his quarters. Was it the extended solitude that made him susceptible to her charms? Or was Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl the most appealing country miss he’d ever encountered?
Ellie thought she would not be able to sleep, but soon after she snuggled into the cushion and covered herself with the flannel, she fell into a deep slumber. When her eyes opened in the morning, she couldn’t remember any dreams plaguing her, but her first thought was of the unfortunate child. She should have dreamed of him. How could such a thing not cause a deep unrest?
Before her callousness raised a specter of guilt, she realized that some of her clothes had been returned. Someone had scattered bits and pieces of her belongings over her bed. These were not the things she and Bealomondore had recovered, but things that had still been missing when she went to sleep.
The children?
No, Bealomondore said they never ventured out at night.
She sat up and rummaged through the assortment, glad to see the green skirt and mismatched stockings.
Bealomondore?
Could he have gone out again?
No, he was tired when they parted, and she felt confident that he’d gone to bed.
Old One then?
She shook her head at her theory. Nothing she knew about the old urohm indicated he would go out of the library at all, let alone at night, to retrieve her things.
She got up, folded her clothes, matching up what outfits she could conjure out of the bits and pieces at her disposal, and finally chose what she would wear that day. After changing in the rest room, she went in search of Bealomondore. She found him, still in the children’s section of the library, sitting at one of the tables designed for small giants.
“Good morning,” she said.
He looked up from a book, stood, and smiled as he bowed. “Good morning. I brought our breakfast back from the butcher’s shop. Will you join me?”
“Oh, so you have been out.” She sat in the chair he pulled out for her. “Thank you for bringing me more of my things. We just might get it all back.”
He gave her a quizzical look as he reclaimed the chair he’d been sitting in. “I didn’t find anything but toast and jam this morning.”
Ellie picked up a slice of bread and bit into it without the jam. Rich with whole grains and butter, it tasted wonderful. But it didn’t capture her whole attention. As soon as she swallowed, she pursued an answer to her questions.
“Who gathered my things and deposited them on my bed then?”
“I imagine it was the dragons of the watch.” Bealomondore relaxed in his chair. “They come to the library quite often. It is a central building, and I think they’re curious as to what I’m doing in their city.”
Ellie chewed on her toast and eyed her companion. Most of what he’d told her had proven to be true, but this claim that dragons roamed the city didn’t sound feasible. And dragons had entered the library? And she didn’t wake? Perhaps kimens or o’rants or emerlindians, but dragons?