Dragons of the Watch - Donita K. Paul [90]
Wulder not only accepted her, but chose her and gave her a purpose. She believed He had more to tell her, to show her, and she wanted to learn it all. He turned and faced her. No words came from His mouth, and still she heard His gentle command.
“Rest.”
She drifted away from the comforting image and into a pleasant sleep.
Ellie opened her eyes and realized that someone had put her to bed. She still wore the clothes she’d had on yesterday. Her stomach growled, and she squinted at the window. Morning sun! No wonder she was hungry. She jumped up, pushed her fingers through her unruly hair, and ran to the rotunda. Old One sat in his chair with a tray on his lap.
He frowned at her. “You needn’t look so surprised.”
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re better.” She rushed forward and hugged what she could reach, her arms surrounding his leg and her head resting against his knee. Her forehead bumped his breakfast tray.
“Get off! Get off!”
She grinned at his gruff voice and backed away. “You look so much better. I was afraid you were going to die.”
“I can’t die until it is time to open the bottle.”
“Which bottle?”
“The wizard’s bottle.”
“I think both bottles are of the wizard’s making.”
Old One’s face creased into an even more fearsome scowl. “I don’t remember the details of the bottles. One was small and the other surrounds the city.”
Ellie sat on a stack of books. “Yes, that’s right. One holds the memories of all the people outside the bottle, the ones who came to the city to see what the urohms had built.”
“I remember that time. The city was glorious. Bree Dan had the hull of the ship packed with art and instruments and books. He brought an ample supply of material, not only for clothing but also for constructing the fine furniture we’d left at home.” His face softened, and he sipped his tea. “Urohms are master carpenters and inventors of all sorts of machines, things that save time and effort and money.”
Ellie arched her eyebrows but tried to make her voice soft, not accusing. “Isn’t that what got you in trouble with the wizard?”
Old One’s teacup clattered against the saucer as he put it down. “Utter nonsense! Wulder was never displeased with our cleverness. He encourages innovation. He takes delight in the work of our hands as we master different aspects of His world. The wizard should know that. After all, the wizards get the power to do incredible feats through knowledge of how Wulder has established the universe. A good wizard only manipulates what Wulder has already given. Their first rule is ‘Do Not Destroy.’ ”
Old One stuck out his lower lip.
“Did you think of something sad?” asked Ellie.
“Disappointing.”
“But you remembered something, and that’s good.”
“It’s easier to remember things from long ago. Harder to keep track of yesterday and the day before.”
Ellie watched his face and saw confusion as he tried to remember something. The confusion gave way to frustration, and she wondered how to distract him. A question had been on her mind since she first met him. She used her gentlest voice. “Why can’t you remember your name?”
“You are a clever one. It’s from long ago. You’d think I could remember. It would make more sense if I could.” He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He breathed deeply several times, then let his chin drop and reopened his eyes. “It’s no use. I can’t grab it from the pesky thoughts that flitter in no pattern around my tired brain. I think the wizard took my name from me.”
“I bet Orli knows what it is.”
Old One made a growling noise in his throat. “He’s not allowed to tell me. If he does, the wizard will take him away, and I’ll have no one.”
“I think there’s a good chance that Bealomondore and I will be around for a while.”
“Of course you will. Can’t get out, can you?” He chuckled.
She gritted her teeth at his smugness. Did Old One still have enough reasoning to deliberately keep them from discovering the clues that would lead to their escape? She couldn’t blame him for wanting company, although he never played the part of gracious