Dragons of the Watch (46 page)

“I’m sure,” Ellie said, praying that it was true, “that you will do better and better now that you don’t have to be with only children all the time. And your parents will teach you things. That will be interesting. It’s harder to be good when you’re bored. You’ll get older. It’s easier to decide to do right things.”

“It’s the practice,” said Bealomondore. “The more you practice doing good, the easier it is to make the right choices.”

Yawn nodded. “Yeah, Wizard Pater says something like that.”

A low rumble vibrated the floor. The dragons jumped and chittered.

Ellie looked at Bealomondore.

“Let’s go check it out,” he said and started toward the door.

Ellie took Yawn’s hand and pulled him along with them. Tak dogged her steps as if to say she couldn’t leave him behind again. The minor dragons made a ruckus as they flew over their heads and sped to the source of the noise.

The air became thick.

Dust poured in through the door to the subter. The children coughed.

“Put cloth over your noses,” Bealomondore ordered. He put his own nose in the crook of his elbow and rushed to the open door to close it. “Let’s move away from this room.”

“Tut, tut, no need,” said Fenworth from the hallway. “It will clear
away in no time. I’ve summoned a stiff breeze from the ocean. I think it was the ocean. Not being on the surface obstructed my accuracy.”

The wizard went to the door and opened it. After sticking his head out and looking in both directions in the tunnel, he motioned them forward. Everyone followed him as they made their way out of Tuck and into Rumbard City. When they stepped on the surface, Old One and Orli were there to meet them.

“The city’s gone,” exclaimed Cinder, the first of the children to see outside.

Old One looked around and nodded in agreement. “It never should have been here in the first place.”

Wizard Fenworth put his hands on his hips. “I wasn’t expecting this. How about you, Pater?”

The wizard nodded. “I thought Wulder would take our spell one step further. I’ve been asking Him for years to wipe away our mistakes and give us a new chance.”

Yawn approached Wizard Pater and looked up into his face. As an o’rant, he was taller than the young lad. “Does everybody get a new chance, sir?”

“Yes, everyone.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“Everyone?” The boy persisted.

“Everyone who wants it.”

“I want it.”

“So do I!” said the adults in unison.

“Is that group mindspeaking?” Librettowit asked. “I’ve heard of it but never seen it played out.”

Bealomondore’s arm went around Ellie’s waist. “I’ve seen a lot of
things in the last four years. I think I’m just getting used to the idea that Wulder works wonders. And I’m expecting more surprises down the road.”

“Wise thinking,” said Fenworth as he clapped the tumanhofer on the back. He turned to Pater. “Should we try a double swirl, Pater? Do you think we can move all of these people to Bellsawyer between the two of us?”

Pater nodded.

Librettowit secured his portfolio under his arm. “Wizards! Why can’t they stick with the things they
know
they can do? Why do they have to experiment? Why do I always have to be along when they do?”

The wind picked up, and the swirl began.

People

Airon

Purple minor dragon, has a talent for music.

Amee

Black and white minor dragon, communicates with animals.

Aval

Urohm girl.

Barm

Urohm boy.

Graddapotmorphit Bealomondore

Tumanhofer artist, warrior, diplomat, and part owner of the family mining business.

Sir Beccaroon

Grand parrot, magistrate over his district, former guardian to Princess Tipper.

Stemikenjon Blamenyellomont

Ellie’s uncle, husband of Tiffenbeth.

Tiffenbeth Blamenyellomont

Ellie’s aunt, wife of Stemikenjon.

Carrie

Urohm girl.

Cinder

Urohm boy.

Ellicinderpart Clarenbessipawl

Tumanhofer country girl who uses the name Ellie.

Gustustharinback Clarenbessipawl

Ellie’s younger brother.

Letterimdebomm Clarenbessipawl

Ellie’s younger sister, next in line after her oldest brother.

Nabordontippen Clarenbessipawl

Ellie’s ornery oldest brother.

Da

Ellie’s father. His full name is Naperkowson Clarenbessipawl.

Dabryhinck family

Neighbors to the Hopperbattyhold family.

Det

Blue minor dragon, good with geography.

Dikendraval

Ellie’s friend. Her mother is friends with Aunt Tiffenbeth.

Disnat

Urohm girl.

Wizard Fenworth

Ancient o’rant wizard from Amara.

Fister

Urohm girl.

Fronna

Urohm girl.

Gardie

Urohm girl.

Tilly Genejolly

Urohm girl who sailed from Amara to Chiril. She kept a diary of her journey.

Gramps

Ellie’s grandfather, taught Ellie to read.

Grim

Urohm boy.

Hopperbattyhold family

Ellie’s neighbors. They live in a cabin in the country.

Prince Jayrus, Paladin

Dragonkeeper and prince of Mercigon Mountain Range, Princess Tipper’s fiancé.

Jep

Urohm boy.

Kriss

Light green minor dragon, chef, and food scavenger.

Laddin

Green minor healing dragon.

Laska

Urohm boy.

Lemeterndern

Plays the fiddle in Ellie’s village.

Librettowit

Tumanhofer librarian and friend to Wizard Fenworth. He is from Amara.

Lisby

Urohm girl.

Lulu

Urohm child who died.

Ma

Ellie’s mother. Her full name is Emmademgotton Clarenbessipawl.

Maree

Blue minor dragon, predicts the weather.

Porta Mellow

Urohm girl who sailed to Chiril from Amara.

Muskagillian family

Bealomondore’s cousins. They host Princess Tipper’s coronation ball.

Old One

Ancient urohm librarian.

Orli

Old One’s gray and white minor dragon, shines in the dark.

Ostes

Urohm boy.

Wizard Pater

Guided the Amaran urohms to Chiril.

Pepper

Urohm boy who died. He told fairy tales to the other children.

Phee

Urohm child.

Piefer

Emerlindian man, co-owns the Insect Emporium.

Porky

Urohm boy.

Rowser

Marione man, co-owns the Insect Emporium.

Gordman Rumbard

Leader of the urohm expedition from Amara.

Salm

Wizard Pater’s major dragon. Flew him from Amara to Chiril.

Lady Peg Schope

Mother of Tipper, wife of Verrin Schope, daughter of King Yellat and Queen Venmarie.

Princess Tipper Schope

Young emerlindian woman, princess, daughter of Verrin and Lady Peg Schope, Prince Jayrus’s fiancée.

Verrin Schope

Artist, sculptor, scientist, explorer, wizard, father of Tipper.

Somas

Urohm architect, kept a journal.

Soosahn

Yellow and orange minor dragon, has a talent for humor.

Soo-tie

Urohm girl.

Tad

Urohm child who died.

Tak

Ellie’s goat.

Toady

Urohm girl.

Tolly

Urohm girl.

Queen Venmarie

Mother of Lady Peg, wife of King Yellat.

Winkel

Kimen who gave Bealomondore a moonbeam cape.

Wulder

Supreme Being, Creator, God.

Yawn

Urohm boy, a bully.

King Yellat

Ruler of Chiril, Lady Peg’s father, deceased.

Glossary

Amara

Country surrounded by ocean on three sides. Located in the northern and eastern hemisphere.

amaloot

A warm, soothing beverage.

bundle-up bug

An insect similar to a doodlebug.

button grain

A type of grain commonly fed to livestock.

daggart

A baked treat in the form of a small crunchy cake, often served with tea.

Eggstram Snails

Used for medicinal purposes. It cures temper, reduces anxiety, and prevents tantrums.

emerlindians

One of the seven high races, emerlindians are born pale with white hair and pale gray eyes. As they age, they darken. One group of emerlindians is slight in stature, the tallest being five feet. Another distinct group is between six and six and a half feet tall.

hollow

A nondimensional space used like a pocket for storage.

kimens

The smallest of the seven high races. Kimens are elusive, tiny, and fast. Under two feet tall.

lightrock

Crystals that produce light, most common color is blue.