Page 10 of Upon Buried Embers
I slam into the front of the saddle, stomach first. I suck in breaths of air, vision dimming as I’m pulled backward. I cry out, hands going to my stomach as Rohan climbs up and unties me from the saddle before he drops back down onto it.
“Come,” Rohan commands, tugging at the rope. I don’t answer, I can’t. I think I’m going to throw up. “I said...” He grinds out, yanking the rope. “Come.”
I’m pulled sideways.
I fall toward the ground, but I don’t reach it as arms encircle me and carelessly put me on my feet. I teeter to the right, but a small tug on the rope straightens me and I whimper in pain.
“You really are just full of bones,” Rohan muses. “I could throw you around easily.” My eyes lift to his before I look away, not wanting to see the disgust there as I try to breathe through the pain.
I can’t do this. Ican’tdo this.
I peek at the river of lava boiling at his back, the bright orange spewing up and dripping off the dangling stalactite. Heat from the spurts engulfs me, casting a glowing light over the cave and I take a step toward it before I even realize what I’m doing.
I can make it.
Just a few steps and it’ll only hurt for a few moments.
But I need it to end. Now.
I need it to be over.
“Don’t even think about it.” Rohan steps to the side, blocking my view. He turns, grabbing the rope and tying me to him again, giving me no choice but to follow on shaky legs.
The dragon at my back huffs, warmth hitting me.
Rohan moves us toward the people sitting on the floor, circling a pot that’s on a campfire of sorts, and I notice everyone else has parted off into their own little groups.
They eye me, sneering and scoffing as I try to make myself as small as possible. Darcia frowns at me while her friend eyes me warily. The one they called Rhett, a head scout or something like that, sits between them.
“Hedoric, light.” Kaldar says, and all of a sudden, the smaller dragon from before comes forward, its scales tinged a dark green. It opens its mouth and flames spurt from it. I yelp as I’m dragged down to sit, watching as the kindling below the pot starts to burn. “Thanks!”
The dragon huffs before it walks off and curls up, head laying on its tail.
Rohan grunts, pulling my attention to him. He holds a waterskin, and surprisingly, he hands it to me first. “Here.” He throws it in my lap, and I eye it warily. “It’s water, if I wanted you dead you would be already.”
“Stupid elf,” Darcia spits. I curl in on myself, head lowered. “Why in Morana’s name are you allowing her to live, Rohan? She’s another mouth to feed that we don’t need.”
There’s a heavy pause. “Darcia, are you challenging my decision?” Rohan rumbles. “If so, we can fight it out now.”
The breath lodges in my throat. He would fight a woman?
Darcia looks shocked for a moment, before she shakes her head rapidly. “Of course not, Dragonbond. Your word is law.”
“My word is my honor.” He corrects her, and she smiles softly at him, running a hand over her hair and something uneasy fills my stomach.
“Of course, Rohan.” Her blue eyes don’t lie as she looks at him.
“She’s just worried, Dragonbond,” the brown-haired woman says next to her. “We’re in more danger if we take this… elf with us. What if someone sees her?”
“And though it’s appreciated, there’s no need, Fiona. Her hair will cover her ears if we need to hide them.” He turns to me, the flames reflecting in his eyes. “Drink.”
Darcia sneers again, and Kaldar’s eyes bounce between us before he shakes his head and starts talking to another man beside him. He’s a little smaller, with light hair in a knot near the top of his head.
“Elf,” Rohan barks, and I hesitate for a moment, before thirst wins out and I uncap the skin and take my first drink in what feels like forever.
As soon as the surprisingly cool liquid hits my mouth, I gulp it down, barely breathing, and it’s so refreshing, so peaceful as I quench my thirst.
I wonder if that’s what being in the Elisian Fields in the Elven woods feels like. Peaceful.
