When he was n't tending his dragon -- which was so immaculately groomed that his scales gleamed like gems -- he was reading about them , asking advice of the other dragon boys .
Even ( when he dared ) querying the Jousters about combat .
When he was n't tending his dragon -- which was so immaculately groomed that his scales gleamed like gems -- he was reading about them , asking advice of the other dragon boys , and even ( when he dared ) querying the Jousters about combat .