Page 157 of Upon Buried Embers
I have to help them.
I speak a little longer with Tofa and Calian, Beau joining us a little later.
“Can we talk?” Beau asks me, and I shrug, looking away.
“I’m not sure, Beau.” I’m still hurt over his betrayal.
He comes and sits next to me on my other side. I notice the bruising on his face, and I know that it’s from sparring with Rohan. Though they haven’t done it for a few days, so he must have really trained before we left for The Glade.
“I’m really sorry.” His eyes are sad, but he hurt me. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, I was cornered… I...” He sighs, hanging his head a little. “There’s a girl from another clan. Darcia found out and said she would tell Rohan. I panicked.”
“Rohan wouldn’t kick you out for that, Beau,” Tofa chimes in, leaning forward.
“I know, at the time I felt cornered and made a mistake. Darcia was saying I would be a disgrace to the clan, that Rohan would see it as a betrayal.” He looks at me. “I let her get in my head and I don’t even know how she knew, I was shocked. I was… weak.” His jaw tics at the admission. “I hate her, Elf, and I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
He sounds genuine, but I’m not sure. “I… need some time.” He clears his throat, but nods.
I do feel a little better knowing there was a reason, no matter if I agree with it or not, but it’s better than just going along with it.
“I will wait as long as you need,” Beau says, then he gets up and moves to sit next to Tofa who pats his slumped shoulder.
“He really is sorry,” Tofa whispers to me.
I nod but don’t say anything else.
As shouts and cheers become louder in the center of the whole camp, I decide it’s time to try and find a dragon while most Dragonbonds are occupied.
Tofa, Beau, and Calian’s voices drift away, Calian mainly telling Tofa to go to bed. I’m sure she tells him to join her then.
I wish I could be as bold as her, and say what I want.
I trail around the camp, hood pulled over my head to cover my ears. Rohan said no one will speak about me, but I don’t think he realizes how much we’re hated.
I see clan members mingling with others from different clans. I even see someone greet his brother, and by the sounds of them, they haven’t seen each other in a while. It’s unexpected as Rohan told me the clans are mostly at odds with each other, but he says here’s like The Graveyard, neutral ground.
Plus if they started fighting, the dragons of The Glade would burn us all.
He said it so nonchalantly while I shook with fear.
A harsh laugh comes from my right and I turn, spotting Karag with Durruk, rolling some dice while others cheer them on.
“Oh,” Karag says, as his eyes clash with mine. “Going for a walk?” The others’ heads snap to me, and I pull the cloak tighter around me.
“Leave her be, Karag,”
“What? It would be a shame for something to happen while wandering around the camp alone.”
Durruk eyes him, then me. “Don’t test him, Karag.”
He huffs, another man taking over rolling the dice. “He will get what’s coming to him.”
Karag looks away, and I walk off, my steps fast as my heart crashes against my chest.
I need to make sure I stay away from him too while I’m here. Rohan said he’s not a good man, and he isn’t wrong.
His eyes show who he really is.
I wander deeper, passing others who nod their head at me. They don’t know whose clan I belong to but they don’t seem to mind.
