Ramaeka (The Ramaeka Series Book 1) by G. Corin Page A

got lost
and this lady was kind enough to show me the way.”
    The woman
gaped at him.
    “Well you’re a
strange little thing aren’t you?  And who was it that you we’re supposed to be
meeting then?”
    Ramaeka smiled
endearingly at her. 
    “My friend’s
name is Stripe,” he said.
    “Oh so you’re
the one they’re out looking for,” she smiled slightly, the effect softening her
work roughened face. 
    “You just come
into the kitchen then and set yourself down; I’ll send word out that you’re
safe and sound.”
    “Please may
Makkie stay for something to eat,” he begged.  “She saved my life.”
    “Well,” she
weakened at the pleading look on his face.  “Alright just for a meal then.”
    Ramaeka beamed
at her and she chuckled, leading him and a shocked Makkie into the steamy
kitchen.  Which was where Stripe and Shady found him an hour later being fawned
upon by the serving women, kitchen hands and the cook.
    Ramaeka looked
up as they entered the kitchen and grinned at their shocked faces.
     “Hey,” he
said happily.  “You should try some of this apple pie stuff; it’s the most
amazing thing I’ve ever tasted.” 
    The cook
ruffled his hair beaming at the compliment.  Stripe stalked over glaring at
Ramaeka. 
    “Are you ok?”
Ramaeka asked concerned.  “I was going to come and find you but Ma said to stay
here.”
    Stripe glared
at him and whacked him lightly across the back of the head.
    “Do you have
any idea how worried I’ve been?” he said scowling down at him.
    One of the
servant girls sniggered and Stripe stepped back flushing slightly.
    “Never thought
I’d see you going all mother hen on somebody Stripe.”  Ma Dresden looked on in
amusement.
    “Well look at
him,” Stripe blushed in embarrassment.  “He’s only a little fellow; somebody
has to look after him.”
    Ramaeka rolled
his eyes and pulled Stripe down beside him on to the bench.  Really he had had
enough with the little comments, he wasn’t that small. 
    “Never mind
all that, try some of this pie stuff,” he said impatiently offering his friend
a spoonful.
    “Don’t you
worry about that,” Ma interrupted.  “He can have his own.”  She dished up
platefuls of delicious stew for the two tired older boys, placing bowls of
apple pie and custard nearby for dessert.  She sat down herself across from
Ramaeka and Stripe.
    “It’s good to
be able to sit for a minute,” she admitted.  “We’re mighty busy at the moment. 
You’re lucky I had room left for you.”
    “I could help
you Ma,” Ramaeka offered earnestly.  “I’m pretty good at washing dishes.”
    She could ask
him to do practically any work he thought and he’d do it willingly if she kept
feeding him the way she had tonight.  Humans seemed to eat barely half as much
as what a growing dragon like himself ate.  Not willing to look greedy he had
held back while travelling with Stripe and Shady, but he was constantly
hungry.  Ma had taken one look at his face after his first bowl of stew and had
laughingly told him she liked to see a lad with a decent appetite.  It was all
he could do not to jump up and hug her; she wasn’t nearly as tough as he had
first thought.
    She laughed in
response to his offer. 
    “Well aren’t
you just the sweetest thing, but that’s alright best not to let the staff get
lazy.” 
    She narrowed
her eyes at the kitchen staff who all immediately became deeply involved in
some task.  She glanced back at Stripe. 
    “I don’t think
you’ve been feeding the poor lad enough Mother Stripe.  That little thing ate
five bowls of stew and three bowls of apple pie and custard.”
    Shady choked
on a piece of meat while Stripe stared at Ramaeka in shock.
    “You really ate
that much?” he asked in surprise.
    Ramaeka nodded
sheepishly.  “It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten, better than yours and
Shady’s cooking.”
    Shady scowled
looking at Ramaeka for the first time since he’d arrived.  Ramaeka