Page 158 of Upon Buried Embers
I don’t see any dragons for a while, at least not on the ground. There are plenty flying overhead and can be heard in the distance, but then, curled up, I see the white one from The Graveyard.
She has beautiful scales, almost taking on a rainbow hue from the flickering campfire nearby.
I look around, checking no one is near before I approach.
Her head lifts instantly, ears forward as she watches me crouch before her, making myself smaller.
“Hello,” I say, and she stretches her neck to her full height, eyes focused on me.
The way she holds herself, it seems so regal, so proper.
“I’m… I’m Elf,” I tell her, looking around once more and lowering my hood. “We met at The Graveyard.” She releases a purred hum, and I smile softly. “You’re very beautiful.” She preens at that, crossing her front leg with another. “Are you happy to be at The Glade?”
Rumble.
I frown. “You don’t like it?”
She looks away, growling softly, and a wave of grief washes over me.
“Oh,” I say gently, sitting down and crossing my legs. “I’m sorry.”
Purr.
“I don’t know grief like that, but I know grief of what once was, what could’ve been.” I look down, picking at the grass. “Was it a long time ago?”
She rumbles in response and I nod.
“I guess something like that will always hurt.” I think of not seeing Rohan again, not feeling his warmth in bed at night, and a heavy sadness fills me. “Yes, I do imagine that hurts very much.”
I lift my head and watch her watching me, her eyes reflecting the same emotion in mine.
“I’ve been asked to do something,” I start, feeling that this is the right thing to say. “And I wonder if you can help me.”
“Help with what?” another voice says, and my head snaps up to the female Dragonbond as she approaches, only stopping when she’s next to the dragon, running a hand over her neck.
“I—I,” I begin, stuttering over my words.
She tuts. “You’re a woman, say what you mean and mean what you say.”
I clear my throat, and before I can think better of it, I ask. “Are you a good Dragonbond?”
Her eyes sharpen as her hand reaches for the dagger at her hip. “Are you accusing me of something?”
“No, no,” I rush out, scrambling to my feet, palms up. “I just, I need to know before I tell you.”
The dragon purrs, and she looks at it, brows furrowing.
“Celeste?” She rumbles again, and after a long moment, she replies. “I protect dragons with my life.”
I nod. “That’s what I am trying to help with, protecting them.”
“You?” She eyes me up and down. “What good are you to dragons, Elf?”
I fidget. “Do you promise not to tell anyone what I am about to tell you?”
“Promise? What are we, five?”
My cheeks heat, and the dragon rumbles once more, which makes her sigh.
