there was no possible way to avoid the journey now without being truly insulting ; but he felt almost ill. over the last few days he had seen more evidence than he liked of levitas 's unhappiness and neglect : the little dragon watched anxiously for a handler who did not come , and if he or his harness had been given more than a cursory wipe , it was because laurence had encouraged the cadets to see to him , and asked hollin to continue attending to his harness .