Dragons of the Watch - Donita K. Paul [94]
Laddin would stay with the tumanhofers. Orli would stay with Old One. The two remaining dragons would pursue information about Tuck and the keys and any means of escape.
Orli finished his announcement with pictures of gloom. He did not think the extra activity would yield any results. They would all live in Rumbard City until the end of their days.
Soosahn hobbled across the table, imitating a very old man walking. He tottered on his rear legs and even held one front leg out as if he used a cane. His yellow and orange scales flashed in the sun. Laughter filled Ellie’s head.
With her eyes opened wide, she looked at Bealomondore for confirmation. Am I hearing the minor dragons laugh?
“Yes, isn’t it a merry sound?”
She giggled, then laughed out loud.
She heard Orli’s admonition not to wake Old One. He needed his naps.
Bealomondore took her arm and guided her out of the rotunda and to the children’s area. They packed a few daggarts in a cloth bag and went outside, followed by seven dragons and a goat.
Laddin flew ahead of Ellie and Bealomondore as they made their way to the apothecary shop. Tak tagged along, examining flower boxes and piles of debris along the way.
“Someone cleans up,” said Bealomondore.
Ellie surveyed the street. “They don’t do a very thorough job.”
“Consider how long it has been since adults were in charge. The accumulated trash is minimal.”
“Maa.” Tak had stopped beside a mixed pile of leaves, paper, and cloth. He looked at Ellie, then lowered his head to nose through the mess.
Bealomondore changed directions to investigate. “What did you find, Tak?”
The goat caught hold of something in his mouth and pulled it out of the pile.
Ellie gasped. “Oh! My snood. I’ve never gotten to wear it. I’ve never had a snood before. I’ve never even worn one.”
Tak brought her the intricately netted bag that would have adorned her hair on special occasions. She would have worn it with her day dress when she and her aunt did the promenade. Tak carried it in his teeth and gave it up readily when she reached for it.
She turned it over in her hands. “There are only a few little snags. I can mend it.”
She remembered sitting in front of Aunt Tiffenbeth’s vanity the night before their travels began. Her aunt had gathered up Ellie’s long, curly tresses and captured them inside the snood. She’d then secured the elegant bag with many hairpins. The mirror reflected the image of a cultured young lady.
Tears welled up in Ellie’s eyes. “Bealomondore, do you think the wedding has already taken place? How many days have I been here?”
“Two weeks tomorrow.”
Ellie sat down on the curb and sobbed, burying her face in the crumpled snood.
Bealomondore sat beside her and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
She stifled her crying and said, “It was only ten days”—she gulped down another sob—“until the wedding and coronation”—she pulled in quick breaths and hiccupped—“when I fell through the glass wall.”
He patted her with one hand and dug in his pockets for a handkerchief with the other. She took the offered hanky and blew her nose. Sitting close to Bealomondore lessened the disappointment of missing the only coronation and royal wedding that was likely to happen in her lifetime. But his sympathy reminded her how excruciatingly nice he was and how totally unsuitable she was to be his wife. She cried some more.
“Hey!” A child’s voice penetrated her despair. He repeated the trumpeted whisper. “Hey! You gotta get out of the street. Yawn and his gang are looking for you.”
Ellie sniffed and wiped her nose on the white handkerchief, then scoured their surroundings. She spotted Porky.
He waved. “Did you bring those daggarts?”
She nodded.
He gestured with his hand impatiently. “Well, come on then. The others are waiting in the apothecary.”
Tak butted her from behind, and Bealomondore helped her to her feet.