Page 176 of Upon Buried Embers
“For her?” He removes the axe. “Yes. I would.”
He brings down his axe, taking off a hand.
I gag, hand going to my mouth but I don’t look away as blood spurts everywhere.
“That is for watching her be hurt.”
He grabs his face and takes the axe to his mouth, cutting along it.
“That’s for not telling me what was going on.”
He puts his axe in the ground, and then he’s on him, punching him everywhere he can.
“And that is foreverthinking you could do this to her, to the clan, tome!”
Rohan doesn’t stop, continuing to attack Rhett, who is barely conscious. I understand now how people think the Dragorie are barbaric.
He’s covered in blood, a snarl on his face and I can feel the anger like it’s wrapping around me in an inferno.
The crowd shifts on their feet, even the Dragonbonds eye him with caution. Especially when Rohan stands, grabs his axe and then takes off Rhett’s head.
Silence descends, until a rustling starts in the crowd and Drogonah comes over. He stands next to Rohan, both looking down at the body before Drogonah opens his mouth wide and sets him aflame.
No one dares approach them, not even a Dragonbond, and I stand there, unsure of everything that transpired.
I know only one thing.
He did all of that for me.
A thorn protecting his rose.
“Rohan,” I call softly, and I hear the crowd suck in a sharp breath, tension filling the air.
But as the Dragonbond turns, it’smyRohan I see.
His posture softens a little, and his eyes focus on me intently as he looks at me, bloodied and sweaty, but I’m not afraid as he stalks toward me.
He won’t harm me.
Never me.
So when he’s within reach, wary eyes that I’m sure he only shows me, I raise my hand and place it on his bloodied chest, and I see the relief in his eyes before it clears.
“She’s an elf, and she’s helping me,” he tells the crowd. “I’m sure you are all well aware of the rules in regard to something belonging to a Dragonbond?”
He says the words casually, but they are absolutely a threat.
They all murmur, yes, and then the crowd disperses, leaving the other Dragonbonds.
“That was over fast,” says Varan. He has a bloody lip which must be from the fight earlier, Rohan also has a cut on the side of his head.
“Are we done here?” Durruk asks, drinking from a mug.
“Disgraceful,” Karag spits. “A traitor in your midst?”
“Watch it, Karag,” Rohan growls, hands fisting. “I’m not in the mood.”
“You—”
