Page 17 of Upon Buried Embers
“You hear that, Rohan?” Kaldar calls. “Olaf thinks he can best me.”
Rohan grunts. “He could if he wasn’t so lazy.”
“Hey!” Olaf shouts. “I like my sleep, alright?”
“You? Sleep?” Adora smiles, coming up beside him. “We didn’t do that last night.”
Olaf smirks. “No, we didn’t, did we, Kaldar?”
Kaldar laughs. “It was a late night, wasn’t it?” He moves over to them both, placing a kiss on the woman’s lips, and then on Olaf’s.
My cheeks heat.
“Enough, keep alert,” Rohan barks. “We will reach the Wilds soon.”
“Still got that axe up your ass, I see,” Kaldar mutters.
“Shut the fuck up before I make you,” he snarls. Kaldar laughs, and then mutters that he’s grouchy under his breath.
I watch Rohan’s shoulders tense as I’m pulled behind him by the rope. I struggle to keep up with his long legs, making me take twice as many steps, but I have no choice unless I want to be dragged.
The rucksack on my back is heavy. I’m not sure what’s even inside of it, but Rohan told me I had to pull my weight like everyone else and carry something.
The thing weighs more than me, but I don’t protest. I still ache everywhere, pain thumping through me with each step but at least I’m warm. The boots are a little big and hard to walk in, but I’m not complaining.
A dragon growls, and I jump, turning my head to see the one called Hedoric looking up above us. They could fit a huge underground city in here with how large it is.
I didn’t realize how hollow the mountain was, and it’s like the dragons carved out a space just for them.
Rohan turns to the dragon, and I notice the grip on his axe tighten at his side.
Something’s wrong.
Suddenly, I’m knocked to the ground, the contents of the rucksack spilling out everywhere. The rope pulls tight, and I’m dragged across the floor with a cry of alarm before I come to a stop.
“What the fuck?” Rohan growls as a smaller hand lands on my shoulder.
“Are you okay?” I see her light hair before her face comes into view, and I shy away instantly. “You need to be more careful,” Darcia says.
I nod, picking up bowls and cups that fell out of the pack, holding back whimpers of pain like she didn’t just knock into me on purpose.
“Elf, are you dirtying our washed bowls?” Rohan snaps.
“N-no.” I scramble for them faster, shoving them back in the pack and rising. The movement causing me to wince.
I landed on my hip, hard.
“You need to get her some proper boots when we are home, Rohan,” Darcia says, a hand closing around the top of his arm and squeezing. “She trips over nothing.”
“She will have to make do with what we have,” Rohan grunts, yanking on the rope.
He adjusts the pack on my back and makes sure it’s secure before he drags me to his side.
“Keep up, or I will drag you,” he growls. “Wild dragons roam in these caves, do you want to be their next meal?” He looks over my body. “Well, their snack?”
I look down and shake my head, feeling a glare on the side of my face.
“Darcia, make sure the cart’s wheels are intact,” Rohan orders.
