Page 33 of Upon Buried Embers
I look up to find him staring at me, and I nod.
I’ll agree until I can leave.
“You will not try to leave again, understand?”
Thrown out by one Master and straight into the arms of another. No matter how you word it, it’s still the same thing.
“Is that clear?” He growls when I don’t answer.
“Yes, Master.”
It happens so fast.
One moment I’m next to the tub, leaning over to wash his bent knee, the next, I’minthe tub, straddling his waist, my arms gripped tightly.
I whimper at the heat of it, my body not used to the luxury or being in such a vulnerable position. He snarls in my face, teeth bared, nose touching mine, water sloshing over the tub.
“I am Rohan Asgarr. Rider of Drogonah, Dragonbond, and the Leader of Clan Blackscale!” He shakes me, and I try to nod, but I’m not sure I succeed. “I amnotyour Master.”
There’s a tense silence as we stare at each other, my heart thrashing against my chest.
“I am not your Master,” he whispers harshly, and I swallow, nodding.
“I’m sorry, I misspoke.”
He growls, sitting back and causing more water to spill over the edge, but he doesn’t seem to care. With me straddling his thighs, my body bare beneath the tunic, I try to control my nerves.
“Continue.” He passes me the cloth and I do what he asks, wordlessly.
“Tell me, Elf.” I look up at him, ignoring how my tunic sticks to my skin, most likely revealing some of my body beneath, but he doesn’t even look. “Your Master, who was he?”
“We only ever addressed him asMaster.”
“We?”
I take my time to answer. “Yes.”
“And?”
I don’t want to tell him about Effy. What if he takes her too? Is that better than being with Master?
“Answer me, Elf.”
“Effy is in the home, too. We… she looked after me.”
“She’s an elf, also?” I shake my head.
“It’s just me there.”
“Where did you live?”
“Lothmere, in the city.”
“Do you know of others from the city?”
“Yes.” He growls impatiently. “Master takes us to the underground place. Most are dressed in nicer clothing, but it smells bad, and there are a lot of common folk there. Some elves,mostly humans. I think there are some Dragorie too. They had braids in their hair just like you.”
He goes utterly still, his muscles tensing beneath me.
