Page 60 of Upon Buried Embers
“Your hair red.”
“It is.”
“Like fire.” I nod.
“It is—”
“Melle,” a woman shouts, rushing toward us. “What are you doing over here?” She grabs the girl and lifts her up, placing her on her hip as she frowns down at me. “We don’t talk to the elf.”
Melle frowns. “But she pwetty, mama.”
“No,” her mother says sternly, and I stand.
“I–I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get her into trouble. It was my fault.”
“She isn’t in trouble.” Her tone is harsh. “Dragonbond, I apologize, she didn’t mean to speak to the slave girl.”
“She’s four, Nora. The girl is curious, as she’s allowed to be. If I didn’t allow it, or think she wasn’t safe, I would have stopped it.”
Nora bows her head. “I know you would have, thank you.” Then she walks off, and Melle waves at me. I give a small wave back, no matter the sadness of the little girl being taken away.
“You’re good with children,” Rohan remarks, walking off again.
“Children are innocent,” I tell him softly.
“That they are.”
I take a breath before being brave. “Can I talk to her again? If I see her?” I’ve been asking a lot of questions lately, but I can’t seem to care about the consequences of asking this one.
She’s a sweet girl, and her light shines so brightly within her eyes, it’s hard not to want to be near it.
Rohan turns his head to me. “If she wants to, and if her mother allows it.”
I don’t think her mother will at all.
I deflate, touching my ears.
At least one person likes them here.
She’s probably the only one in the lands that do, apart from Effy.
“Come quickly, we have things to do.”
We continue up the gentle slope, passing tents and more people.
“Dragonbond,” an older child calls to Rohan, his brown hair coming to his shoulders as he runs up to him. “Are you going to The Glade soon?”
“We will.”
“Can I come?”
Rohan stops and bends at the waist. “Are you going to ride your first dragon, Lykke?”
The kid puffs up his chest and stands taller. “I’m ready, I can do it. I can become a Dragonbond!” Rohan smirks, and for once, it’s a kind one.
A gentle one.
“When you’re fifteen you can come. If your mother allows it.”
