Page 25 of Upon Buried Embers
“Okay,” I say as I come back out and turn to look up at him. “Let’s find a river.”
He makes a low, throated growl, and I lift my axe up and over my head, placing it in the holder on my back. I grab the rope then, still attached to me and pull. “Do not touch—”
The rope is slack, and I bring it up to my face, remembering cutting the elf loose so I could go to my dragon.
Eyes narrowing, I turn and look back to where I left her, and to my surprise, she isn’t there.
She must have gone to the others.
I walk to where the camp is setting up, Drogonah waiting where the other dragon lays and I call out to Calian.
“Yes?” he asks, jogging over.
“Where’s the elf?”
His brows furrow. “What?” He looks at the rope. “She was with you.”
My eye twitches. “I told her to follow everyone.”
He shakes his head. “I haven’t seen her.”
“Go look.” He runs off to do so, and I turn and go back to the last place I saw her.
Looking down, I follow her small footprints. The indents are so light I can barely make them out, but I see them nonetheless, and then I halt at a tree.
Tracking them around the back, I see she stayed here for a little bit, the snow more disturbed, like she shuffled in place, but what is more interesting… is that they don’t move toward the clearing.
No.
They move away from it and lead into the forest and the darkened night.
I told her not to run, she will regret this.
I bring my fingers to my lips and then whistle, two sharp sounds.
A moment later, my horse is at my side as I pat her in greeting. “Let’s ride, girl.” I climb upon her and with a look at Kaldar who nods at me, he knows to keep an eye on everyone while I set off on my hunt.
The elf doesn’t know what she’s just done, and when I find her, I will make sure she never defies my orders again.
Nine
Elf
I don’t always make the smartest decisions. In fact, I usually don’t make many decisions at all.
I think being close to death… no, not beingscaredof death—only scared of pain, has made me bold somehow. Because I never defy an order unless I’m prepared for the punishment.
Sometimes it’s worth it, sometimes not.
I don’t know what will happen with Rohan for defying him, but I don’t intend to ever see him again to find out.
I need to get back to Effy, at least. I need to make sure she’s okay. If Master can throw me away so easily after all these years, what will happen to her?
Nausea swirls in my stomach, but I banish the thought.
Just keep running.
While I don’t sink too much in the snow, I still have to be careful of exposed roots and stumps.
