Read Online Dragons of the Watch by Donita K. Paul - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Donita K. Paul
Ads: Link
not take well to teasing.”
She laughed, then sobered. “I have lots of younger brothers and sisters, and I miss them. Bealomondore, we must find a way to get out of Rumbard City.”
He nodded, then turned, stretching out a hand to help her rise as well. “There are older journals on the floor. Shall we go down and see what we can find?”
Tak had been busy while they were occupied high on the chair. He munched on long, spindly leaves from one of the ornate plants. Holesin the greenery indicated he had snacked from almost all the pots. He stamped his feet when he saw Ellie.
“There’s a park behind the library,” said Bealomondore. “I’ll take him out there.”
“I want to go too.” She went to Tak and rubbed his ears. “It’s not dangerous, is it?”
“The park isn’t, and the mob rarely comes close to the library.” Bealomondore walked between two bookshelves. “This way.”
As Ellie followed with Tak, she craned her neck to survey the towering bookcases. Elaborate leather bindings covered most of the books. The rich colors with embossed lettering outnumbered the plainer jackets. The size varied from books she could almost handle to ones that might kill her if they fell from the shelves and landed on her. Suddenly she laughed.
Bealomondore stopped and turned around, tilting his head in a quizzical gesture.
Ellie smiled at him. “I just remembered what you said earlier—that once inside the library, I would realize the enormity of the problem.” She glanced around at the books. “Now I understand.”
Bealomondore laughed and gestured for her to follow. At that moment, she thought the tumanhofer made a good escort. Tak tugged, and she skipped a step as they maneuvered between the library stacks.
A black wrought-iron gate gave them entrance to the block-sized yard. Statues lurked among overgrown shrubbery. Ellie heard but couldn’t see a fountain among the bushes gone wild.
She let Tak go inside the fence and explored on her own. Bealomondore stayed close, and she appreciated his presence. Her little brothers would have chosen a place such as this to jump out and scare the wits out of her. She understood Old One’s aversion to being surprised.
When she came upon several sculptures, she shook her head in wonder. “There are so many statues.”
“From what I’ve seen,” said Bealomondore, “Rumbard City was a cultural center. There’s a museum, an opera house, and a university. All empty. The architecture of the city, and the numerous parks with fountains and statuary, indicates an interest in higher forms of civilization. The restaurants represent different ethnicities and speak of refinement and sophistication. And even the quality and variety of the books in the library signify a concern for philosophy and opportunities for broad education. This was by no means a backward society when it met its end.”
“What could have caused it?” Ellie climbed on a bench to sit down and studied her tumanhofer companion. “There’s no sign of death or destruction. It’s as if a portion of the populace just left, taking nothing with them and leaving behind one man and a crew of untamed children.”
“No,” said Bealomondore. “I’ve read enough to know that the city was separated from the outside world. The adults grew older and died. The children matured to the age of six and then remained that age.”
“That still leaves the questions why and how.”
“Correct. And I believe when we find those answers, the key to our escape will be close at hand.”
“I certainly hope so.”
They spent the afternoon spreading the books out on the carpet in the library and opening them one by one. Many contained lists and summaries of books Old One had read. Some of the books had Old One’sconcise opinions of their literary worth. Both Bealomondore and Ellie were confused by entries such as,
Imanderron is a worthy friend, one who begs my attention and calls me back for more musing over the worth
She laughed, then sobered. “I have lots of younger brothers and sisters, and I miss them. Bealomondore, we must find a way to get out of Rumbard City.”
He nodded, then turned, stretching out a hand to help her rise as well. “There are older journals on the floor. Shall we go down and see what we can find?”
Tak had been busy while they were occupied high on the chair. He munched on long, spindly leaves from one of the ornate plants. Holesin the greenery indicated he had snacked from almost all the pots. He stamped his feet when he saw Ellie.
“There’s a park behind the library,” said Bealomondore. “I’ll take him out there.”
“I want to go too.” She went to Tak and rubbed his ears. “It’s not dangerous, is it?”
“The park isn’t, and the mob rarely comes close to the library.” Bealomondore walked between two bookshelves. “This way.”
As Ellie followed with Tak, she craned her neck to survey the towering bookcases. Elaborate leather bindings covered most of the books. The rich colors with embossed lettering outnumbered the plainer jackets. The size varied from books she could almost handle to ones that might kill her if they fell from the shelves and landed on her. Suddenly she laughed.
Bealomondore stopped and turned around, tilting his head in a quizzical gesture.
Ellie smiled at him. “I just remembered what you said earlier—that once inside the library, I would realize the enormity of the problem.” She glanced around at the books. “Now I understand.”
Bealomondore laughed and gestured for her to follow. At that moment, she thought the tumanhofer made a good escort. Tak tugged, and she skipped a step as they maneuvered between the library stacks.
A black wrought-iron gate gave them entrance to the block-sized yard. Statues lurked among overgrown shrubbery. Ellie heard but couldn’t see a fountain among the bushes gone wild.
She let Tak go inside the fence and explored on her own. Bealomondore stayed close, and she appreciated his presence. Her little brothers would have chosen a place such as this to jump out and scare the wits out of her. She understood Old One’s aversion to being surprised.
When she came upon several sculptures, she shook her head in wonder. “There are so many statues.”
“From what I’ve seen,” said Bealomondore, “Rumbard City was a cultural center. There’s a museum, an opera house, and a university. All empty. The architecture of the city, and the numerous parks with fountains and statuary, indicates an interest in higher forms of civilization. The restaurants represent different ethnicities and speak of refinement and sophistication. And even the quality and variety of the books in the library signify a concern for philosophy and opportunities for broad education. This was by no means a backward society when it met its end.”
“What could have caused it?” Ellie climbed on a bench to sit down and studied her tumanhofer companion. “There’s no sign of death or destruction. It’s as if a portion of the populace just left, taking nothing with them and leaving behind one man and a crew of untamed children.”
“No,” said Bealomondore. “I’ve read enough to know that the city was separated from the outside world. The adults grew older and died. The children matured to the age of six and then remained that age.”
“That still leaves the questions why and how.”
“Correct. And I believe when we find those answers, the key to our escape will be close at hand.”
“I certainly hope so.”
They spent the afternoon spreading the books out on the carpet in the library and opening them one by one. Many contained lists and summaries of books Old One had read. Some of the books had Old One’sconcise opinions of their literary worth. Both Bealomondore and Ellie were confused by entries such as,
Imanderron is a worthy friend, one who begs my attention and calls me back for more musing over the worth
Similar Books
