Page 194 of Upon Buried Embers
“Will they get hurt?”
Tofa shakes her head. “No, just rejected. But with Frelia getting killed and others hurt, some are entering with them to make sure they’re safe.”
“Do we know how they managed to kill her yet?”
“I overheard Calian speaking to Rohan and Kaldar earlier. They found glass nearby.”
“From what?”
“The concoction that puts dragons to sleep was probably inside of it.”
“Nighturn?”
She nods solemnly. “But why? They didn’t take her or her baby.” Thankfully.
“Just because they didn’t take her doesn’t mean that wasn’t the intent.”
She’s right.
I curl my hands around Sparks more, wrapping him up in my cloak as he rests on my lap.
“Rohan said Sparks was hiding under her wing?”
“Yes. He thinks she managed to hide him.” Sadness washes over me. Her last act as a mother was to protect him, and I’ll make sure to carry that protection on.
“It’s wrong.”
“It is,” she says, reaching in and stroking Sparks. “Calian was so furious. I haven’t seen him like that in a long time.”
“He cares.”
“He does,” she says gently, lifting her knees and resting her chin on them. “He cares too much but keeps it all inside of him.” She sighs and looks to where he stands near Rohan, getting the kids ready for their journey into The Glade by passing them a waterskin. Adora, Kaldar and Olaf stand with them.
Dorkin is speaking to Sigrid, their heads bent close together as Varan, Durruk and Karag are off to the side, masks in place.
It makes them look even more menacing.
“He seems like a good man,” I say to her, referring to Calian. He’s been kind to me.
“He is the best man I know. He just doesn’t see it.”
“I’m sure you can help with that.”
She huffs. “I’ve tried and been rejected many times. I… I love him.” The admission has my head snapping to her, and a sad smile graces her face.
“Does he know that?”
She shrugs and looks back to him. “I haven’t told him the words, but he probably does because I show him my love in so many other ways. He just doesn’t want it.”
“Oh Tofa, I’m sure that’s not true.”
She sniffles and I shuffle closer, then tentatively, I bring my arm around her and lean into her. I haven’t given comfort to another like this, but I don’t like seeing her hurting. She’s my friend.
“After what that bitch Darcia did, he took me away. I wanted his comfort so badly. I was hurt and sad and so angry, I just wanted… love. If he wanted my love he would accept me, but every time I try to get close, he pushes me away. Just like that night. I tried to kiss him. For the first time, I laid it all out, and do you know what he did?”
“What?” I ask softly as a tear falls from her eye.
“He pushed me back gently, saying that I must be tired and I should get off to bed. I cried myself to sleep.” I hold her tighter. “I love him, I love him so much that it hurts, but I don’t know how much more I can take, or how much longer I can compete with the ghost of the woman he loved. No.Stillloves.”
