Book2:KigdomIteDreams (第7/246页)

akiedelder.Herasweresometimessobizarrethatthebeautiesdidn’tquiteknowwhethertoughorcry.Butshewasveryprotectiveofthem,andtheywillinglycametobeonintimatetermswiththissinister-lookingbutkiedoldwoman.Sometimesshewasfusedandsilly,butsometimesshrewdandcapableandthebeautiestreatedherliketheiroldgrandmother.Yoko,theAsiayairofentigdimplesonhercheeks,eciallyclosetoAmalia,whopickedherupfromthestreetsaftershewasdesertedbyherparents,andpracticallyraisedherfrominfancy.Butthatwasinthebygonedaysofthesmokypast.OnhearingLotus’wordsDornasaid,

    “Don’ttrytoscareme.Amalialovesmeandwouldneverliftafiome.Anyway,sheisnotinthepaceatthemomentandhasgoneroamingsomewhere.Whensheesback,Iwilskherwhereshehasgoneandwhyshehadn’ttakehher.Thatwillmakehersorepentantthatshe’llnevereventhinkofspankingme.”

    “OK.OK,mylittleprincess!”ughedLotus.“Stoptalkingamoreofthesedumplings.Afteryouhavefinished,goandaforawhile.It’steandIheardAishahassomethingimportanttoannouonight.”

    Thefirlssataroundthechoppingboardaowithzeal.AsDeannaate,shewasthinking,

    “Imustswimtothedeepwatersinthemiddleofthekeassoonaspossibleait’salbout.IfDorna’scuriosityisnotsatisfied,thestrong-headedgirlwillbesuretosetoutbyherself.Ifanythinghappenstoher,itwouldbebecauseofmeandIwouldneverfivemyself.”Theirappetitesfullysatisfied,thefirlseatherownway.Soon,otherbeautieshearingofLotus’freshandtastyrefreshmentscameintwosandthreesfollowingoneachother’sheelstotrythesteamingdumplings,whicheveryohemdecredtobeuniqueanddelicious.Lotus,everthegracioushostess,talkedtothemandsawtoitthateveryonewasserved.Soonitwasduskandthebeautieshadallleft.Therewerestillthreebamboosteamersleftoove,whichLotuskeptwarmingfinn,RomiainebecauseshekhattheywouldsurelybehungryafteradayofiiononGiantMountainandwouldneedasnack.Also,theever-vigintMedusa,whoflewaroundtheskiescarryingoutherdutyasGuardianoftheKingdom,wouldbehungry,too.

    JustasLotuswasclearingawaythetables,ate-iywalkedin.ItwastheAsiay,Yoko,witheyesfullofafasatingsmile.TheytalkedwhileLotuswentonwithherworkathandandYokosatdowntotrythevegetabledumpling.

    “Yoko,Amaliahasbeengoneforquitesometimenow,hasn’tshe?”

    “Yes,”sighedYoko,andherbeautifulfaceclouded.“Itoldhertimeandagainthatshewasgettingoldandshouldtakebettercareofherselfandnotgoroamingabout.Butshewon’tlistentome,andkeepsdisappearingfperiodsoftime.Itworriesme.”

    “HercharacterissomewhatlikeKingDimitri’s”observedLotus.“Theybothlovetoroamaroundtheworldanddon’tliketosettledownathome.”

    Simirityincharactermaybecausedbybloodretionship,ortheycouldbetraitsdirectlyiedfromone’sparents.Stistshavenotbeeoetoanydecisiveclusiononthat,buttherewasundeniablysomestrangeboweenDimitriandAmalia.Firstofall,Amaliadidhaveason,whohadbeenlostandshekhingofhispresentwhereabouts.Dimitri’smother,fromwhomhehadbeenseparatedsincehisyouth,wasalsocalledAmalia.Ofcoursethesecluesdidnotproveanything,butithadgiveoallkindsofsurmisesandjectures,whiglikeapuzzlingcloudoverthemysteriouspaoonewaswillingtosolvethepuzzle,fearingohingswereoutintheopen,unforeseeableg