Page 57 of Upon Buried Embers
Tofa cuts the hay in half with a knife from a sheath somewhere, and between the three of us, the wheelbarrow is quickly full of hay and we are giving it out to the horses.
“We’ve never seen an elf before,” Tofa says, while I grab and throw hay over the stalls. “I’ve heard of your kind, obviously. Dracozar has been fighting you for a long time.” She pauses and tilts her head at me. “You’re not a spy, are you?”
“What?” I fumble with the hay. “Of course not.”
“That’s what others think,” Beau huffs. “I asked them if a spy could be blown over by a strong gust of wind, and they went away thinking about it.” He pauses giving out some apples. “You are very weak.”
“Very,” Tofa adds. “But don’t worry! We’re here to help.”
“We are,” Beau agrees.
“But why?” I frown as suspicion rises.
“We know what it’s like to be outcasts.”
“I think I’m a little more than that,” I say, feeling my ears through my curls.
Beau shrugs. “Once suspicion dies down, you’ll see that we don’t care what you are.”
“And you believe I’m not a spy like they think?”
“Yep!” Tofa places a hand on my arm. “No offense, but you would be a shit spy. We saw you come in and you’re stumbling and fumbling everywhere.” She eyes the collar. “And the metal around your neck makes it glaringly obvious that you have had a hard life.”
“I’m not a spy.” I fiddle with the collar.
Beau comes closer. “We know, the others will come around.” But what about their Dragonbond? “I know this may be scary, but we’re not all cruel and callous like the lands make us out to be. We know our reputation, and though we like a battle, wedon’t go looking for one.” Tofa nudges him. “Not all the time, anyway.”
“Right!” Tofa claps her hands. “With that out the way, let’s get back to work!”
We hand out more hay and apples.
“Do you really live in trees?” Tofa asks. “And is the hart really like your familiar? Oh!” She says, pointing at me. “Can you really talk to animals?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know the answer to any of those questions. I’ve been in Dracozar since I was a little girl.”
“Oh.” Her eyes drop to the collar. “I suppose that makes sense.”
Tofa continues to tell me how to take care of the horses. Beau tells me where to find the well, which horses like an apple and which ones don’t, and where we throw away the horse manure. It’s nice to talk to others. Not many talk to a slave, never mind an elf.
When I move the hair behind my ear, it forever gets in my way, Tofa asks, “Do you want me to braid your hair so it’s away from your face?”
She would do that? I slowly nod. Hesitantly.
She smiles, stepping behind me and gathering my hair before she starts to braid it in what I assume is one big one.
“It will need a really good wash and brush when you can. I’ve never seen hair this color before. It’s like fire. It’s beautiful.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“There,” she says. “All done.” I reach back and pull the braid over my shoulder, admiring how neat it is.
“Wow.” She left a few tendrils of shorter hair loose around my face, but they won’t get in the way.
“Much better.” She smiles and continues her jobs while Beau goes to start cleaning the saddles.
I can see so much better now, and the cool air is nice on my neck where the metal isn’t.
We start grooming the horses, and it isn’t until I get to Serah that I remember.
