“There once was a dragon called Roarer
who filled the people with horror.
Their fear pleased IT mightily,
IT flamed at them frightfully
and caused a boisterous furor.”
Enh enh enh.
No one else laughed. Elodie smiled, while wishing her masteress would stop amusing ITself.
ITs head, shoulders, and forelegs (ITs arms, as Elodie thought of them) inched gingerly into the Oase. “I will not force the matter,” IT said when ITs sides filled the opening.
Everyone but Elodie, Albin, and High Brunka Marya rushed to the opposite wall.
Master Robbie took a few hesitant steps forward, managing to look at once afraid, curious, and hopeful.
High Brunka Marya said, “IT’s going to help us find the Replica. IT’s as clever as a ratcatcher.”
“I am assuredly cleverer than that. Thief, you may confess now and save me the trouble of smoking you out, so to speak.” Enh enh enh.
Elodie scanned the bees and guests. If she had stolen the Replica and had never encountered a dragon before, her knees would have buckled. But everyone remained upright, looking equally terrified.
IT grinned, showing ITs teeth, which were pointy as spikes.
The high brunka said, “IT wishes to speak with some of my bees first. Um . . . Ursa, take the first turn. I expect you—bees and guests—to be frank with IT, as open as children.”
Elodie thought the high brunka didn’t know many children.
“Share everything, even your suspicions, no matter how absurd you think they are.”
Ursa-bee, as it turned out, was the bee Elodie had noticed weeping with her fist in her mouth when the high brunka had announced the theft. She was a woman of middle height, neither thin nor fat, probably in her mid-twenties, with a high forehead, thin nose, and receding chin. Her pale green eyes contrasted with her dark skin. She crept forward, her hands clasped prayerfully.
“Everyone else, in the pairs I named, can help with the search. Give the masteress and Ursa a wide berth for their private conversation. I’ll be watching and listening.” She drew a stool from the pallet corner into the center of the great hall.
While Ursa approached IT with slow steps, Master Robbie grabbed Elodie’s hand. “I’ll show you what else is missing, and what’s still there.”
His hand was gloved, as hers were. How bold of him to take her hand!
“Wait!” She pulled free and tried to catch ITs eye to see if she should go or stay and listen to the interviews, but IT stared fixedly at Ursa-bee. “All right. Show me.”
And, she thought, tell me what you know about everyone.