Dragons of the Watch - Donita K. Paul [97]
Ellie whispered her question. “Squashy? What’s squashy?”
“You know, soft, sappy, tired.” He pointed at the sleeping girl. “Run out of go, way before it’s time for bed. We haven’t even had noonmeal.”
Bealomondore stood and went to Soo-tie. He covered her with a large linen towel that had been hanging next to the sink. Laddin hopped onto his shoulders as he straightened. Tak moseyed over and lay down beside her. He shifted a bit, then closed his eyes.
“Is it my turn to hold the dragon?” asked Cinder.
“I suppose it is,” said Bealomondore.
Cinder sat cross-legged on the floor. Bealomondore handed Laddin to the boy and went to sit with Ellie. When he sat close to her side, she resisted the temptation to enjoy his being so near and wiggled away just a bit. Then she immediately started thinking about something else. She didn’t want that special bond they had to give away why she was resisting his charms.
Cinder stroked the top of the dragon’s head, between his ears. “You’re an ugly thing.”
“That was rude,” said Ellie.
“I tend to believe,” Bealomondore said, “that the dragons have every right to believe we are ugly.”
Cinder’s head jerked up. He looked affronted but then broke into a grin. “Maybe you, being a tumanhofer, is ugly. But not me. I’m a fine-lookin’ lad.”
Bealomondore laughed, but Ellie wondered who had said such a thing to Cinder. Could it be he remembered what a parent or grandparent said centuries ago? The whole idea saddened her. These children needed adults, needed to be praised for their good deeds and trained not to hit each other and yell.
Soon Cinder had succumbed to Laddin’s influence. The boy stretched out on the floor with only his arm for a pillow. Daggart crumbs stuck to the corners of his mouth and his chin. He looked vulnerable.
“And dirty,” said Bealomondore.
“You’re listening to my thoughts again.”
“Not on purpose.”
“Well, maybe you should, on purpose, not listen.”
Bealomondore put his arm around her and pulled her closer. “Doesn’t it happen to you? I relax, and suddenly I’m thinking alongside you, as if we were enjoying a pleasant conversation.”
“Yes, it does.” Ellie did her best not to think about how comfortable she was with his arm around her. “I’m worried about Porky.”
“See? I was just thinking about the boy. And you say, ‘I’m worried about Porky.’ ”
“Well, what do you think happened to him?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve thought about going out to look for him.”
“I think you should. It just seems to me that he was eager to have the daggarts. He wouldn’t have gone off and missed his chance. Plus he had some injuries from yesterday as well. And he would want to see Laddin up close.”
“That’s too many reasons for a selfish young urohm to wander off.” Bealomondore stood. “I’ll go scout around, pick up our noonmeal, and come back after I check the fountain to see if he shows up for his midday sustenance.”
Ellie nodded. Bealomondore leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You mustn’t worry, Ellie love. You are the perfect tumanhofer lass for me.” He turned and walked out the back door.
Bealomondore ducked into the closest alley quickly. He was more concerned about Porky than he wanted to admit to Ellie. He had spent their hours with the injured children trying not to reveal his anxiety. More than one scenario that would explain Porky’s absence ran through his thinking. None of them were pleasant.
He went to the fountain first, knowing he would have to return when the sun shone straight above the city. His assumption was correct. Porky did not play among the few children gathered near the fountain.
Bealomondore sought out the places he usually avoided, places he knew often attracted the gangs. In each case, he didn’t find Porky. At the third spot commonly used as a playground, he noticed something else besides the absence of the missing child. Fewer hooligans than usual gathered in their rough bands.
In all, he guessed half of the children were missing. He stopped to scrutinize this small collection of the mob. They played, but