Dragons of the Watch - Donita K. Paul [43]
He turned as the sound of flapping leathery wings came from the storage room of the library. Det swooped into their sanctuary and landed on the back of a chair. Ellicinderpart closed her book and leaned forward. This morning she had revealed that she had trouble understanding all the dragons except Airon. Apparently she was determined to tune in to Det’s report.
Bealomondore saw the look on her face change from concentration to joy. She heard.
Det had two houses designated as possibilities, both in a neighborhood close to the edge of town and therefore out of the range of the roaming hunters. To go to either house would require spending the night away from the library, perhaps two nights.
Bealomondore watched Ellicinderpart to gauge her reaction to this news. He was sure she hadn’t realized that being alone in his company without a proper chaperone sealed her fate. She would be his wife or be relegated to a single life, probably on her parents’ farm.
She stood and put her book down on the top of a pile next to Old One’s chair. “I’ll pack a few things.”
He nodded and watched her scurry off. He certainly wouldn’t take advantage of her lack of sophistication, but he did wonder how she would react once the situation became clear to her. He closed his eyes and sighed. Of course, they might be stuck in the bottle city until they were both old. That would solve the problem of what society thought. What did he think? How did he feel? He opened his eyes at the revelation in his heart. He felt grateful.
In the past two years, he’d given his heart to someone who loved someone else. He had to admit that they, his former ladylove and her intended, were a perfect couple. But loneliness and a lack of destiny had descended on him at the end of the war. Painter? Soldier? Society dandy? Diplomat? What was he? Falling through the bottle wall had not devastated him as much as it might have. After all, he had no particular path to take. But with the coming of Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl, all that changed.
He looked to the skylight and whispered, “Wulder, bless my soul, You’ve provided, and although it’s going to take some getting used to, I’m pleased You’ve brought me a young lady I can admire.”
He needed to pack a few things as well. And he wanted to strap on his Sword of Valor. So far the only dangerous beasts he had come across in Rumbard City were six-year-olds. But venturing farther from the center of town might uncover something more sinister. This information was another thing they might acquire from Old One if the ancient urohm would just speak to them. Bealomondore headed for his private corner of the library.
Ellie waited with Det at the back entry to the library. As Bealomondore approached, he saw her eyes widen. Her glare fastened on the sword belt and scabbard.
“Why are you wearing that?” she asked.
“Just to be prepared.”
Her frown turned fearsome, and he bit off a laugh he knew would offend her.
She spoke through tight lips. “You will remember these urohms are children, won’t you?”
“Yes, Ellicinderpart. On my honor as a gentleman, I promise not to pierce the heart of one of the scalawags.”
She looked doubtful for a moment, and he hoped she would not belabor the point. Of course, he wasn’t looking for the chance to cross swords with a child. And besides, from what he’d seen, most of their weapons were made of wood.
They went past the butcher shop to pick up their noonmeal and were surprised to find twice as much food.
“Enough for dinner,” said Ellicinderpart, shaking her head in wonder. “Who is it? How does he or she know what we are planning?”
Det chittered. She gave him a sharp look, then turned to Bealomondore. “Wulder? He says Wulder provides?”
“That has been my conclusion. The Tomes record His principles and some of His history. Those accounts speak of His sending His people into barren lands but providing a sweet bread served in small bites and scattered on the ground each morning. And at dusk, He caused birds to gather in the camp for the people to capture and prepare for