Dragons of the Watch - Donita K. Paul [48]
“I doubt it was aimed at us in particular but affects anyone who passes through the wall.”
Ellie took in a deep breath and let it out. “Wulder? Could it be like the legend of the urohms? We were made the size of our hearts? We’re smaller, because our basic personalities are selfish? We don’t care about others?”
Bealomondore shook his head sadly. “I hadn’t thought of that.” He pinched his upper lip. “No, that can’t be it. At least not for you. You have a heart for these beastly children. It could certainly be true of me, however.”
“No, you’ve taken care of me. You care about Old One.”
Bealomondore gave a dismissive snort. “I am interested in Old One because he might be able to help us get out of here. And of course I’ve watched over you. You are a pleasure to have around. You rescued me from wretched loneliness. So my care also has a self-serving motive.”
He frowned and looked away from her, his gaze moving to the window and beyond. She walked over to his side and took his hand. “What you need is a good breakfast and something to occupy your mind other than these depressing speculations.”
He looked down at her, squeezed her hand, then brought it to his lips to kiss. “What shall we do for breakfast?”
“I found chickens, and therefore I found eggs.”
“That sounds good.”
“And afterward, you and I shall bake daggarts for naughty children and a grumpy old man.”
He laughed. “See? I told you your heart is not small.”
She smiled but kept the words flowing through her mind to herself.
He made her heart swell. She felt the expansion in her chest every time she looked into his eyes, heard him speak, or felt his presence. She liked this tumanhofer very, very much.
Tak found a shady corner in the yard and settled in for a day of resting and eating. When Ellie invited him to come in with them to explore, he pointedly turned his head away and chewed. She and Bealomondore passed through the small opening and plowed into the task they had set before them, the locating of ingredients and appropriate bowls and cooking pans.
Ellie bubbled with enthusiasm. Her partner in raiding the kitchen was the most amusing companion she’d ever known. And tackling the difficult task of baking with oversize equipment would be full of surprises. Ellie giggled with anticipation, then glanced at Bealomondore to see if he’d heard. The door he was opening required all his attention. Each big urohm cupboard provided a challenge to little tumanhofers.
She and Bealomondore both explored the pantry, shoving boxes into unsteady stairs so they could reach the upper shelves. They found dried fruit and stores of nuts, as well as sugar, flour, and salt. They both climbed on the counter and investigated the cabinets. A small bag of baking powder, some spices, chocobits, and bowls added to their found treasure.
And they laughed over many of their discoveries.
“Look.” Bealomondore held up a glass jar of pickles. “This urohm housewife kept jars of pickles in every nook and cranny.”
Ellie laughed and held up a jar she’d just found. “This makes my sixth hidden pickle stash. How many are you up to?”
“I’m ahead of you by three.”
“Someone in this house must have had a passion for pickles.”
“You mean the mother hides the jars out of necessity?” Bealomondore examined the pickles more closely.
“I suppose she’d have to if the woman wanted her pickles to last through the winter. My mother hides her razterberry jam.”
“Perhaps we should sample these. They must be uncommonly good.”
“Mother’s razterberry jam is.” Ellie smiled at the memory of her brothers fighting over a jar. For a brief moment, her home tugged at her heart.
She swallowed, put on a smile, and said, “We’ll have to find mustard if we want pickles and mustard on our sandwiches.”
Bealomondore reached in the cabinet in front of him and held out a yellow bottle. “Mustard!”
Ellie laughed.
In many of the drawers, bunches of soft hemmed hand towels covered the contents. Delicately embroidered cloth rested on top of forks, spoons, and table knives. Measuring cups and spoons nestled under a thin sheet