Page 21 of Upon Buried Embers
I prefer it that way.
“We won’t be,” Rohan says, and Olaf whips his head toward him.
“Why not? We have been at it for hours and some of us are really slowing down. Even the horses are struggling with how deep the snow is getting.”
I look down at my own feet and although they sink in a little, it isn’t as much as Rohan’s or any others, but I make sure to step in his imprints.
Rohan looks around, axe in hand. “I know that, but I don’t think we are alone.”
I stumble at his words, then gasp when I trip over my own foot and fall face-first in the snow. I don’t even have time to register the cold on my face before a hand in my hair pulls me up.
“Do not slow us down, Elf,” Rohan spits, pushing me in front of him. “We cannot afford to.”
I rub the snow from my face, my teeth chattering as tears gather. Like I wanted to fall in the snow and make myself even colder.
My too-big boots scuffle on the ground, and I take extra care to make sure I don’t fall on my face again while I think back on his words.
We aren’t alone.
Who’s here?
I look to the sky and see another dragon, this one a blue color, as a horse comes up next to us.
“Will we scout ahead?” Kaldar asks, and Rohan nods.
“Go check on the carts first, make sure they’re secured. We may need to move quickly through the trees.”
“Got it.”
With that, I’m left alone with Rohan as Adora and Olaf fall back. Rohan doesn’t say a word to me, only shoves my back when I falter, making sure I keep moving.
“We are not dying out here because you’re too slow, Elf, hurry up!”
I do the best I can, but my legs are tiring, and my stomach hungers for more of that stew.
Will I get more? Or was that a one-time thing?
I don’t know what he wants with me, so will he need to feed me?
A pull on my rope has me stopping, and Rohan moves me to the side as we reach a copse of skinny trees, their twigs dangling down with icicles.
“Come now, into the trees,” Rohan shouts at everyone, axe ready, face hard as he looks for danger.
I unconsciously step closer to him, looking around with wide eyes. All I see are trees and snow, the flurry of snowflakes falling heavy and thick.
I’ve never been this far in Dracozar before, I only ever traveled with Master, when we went to the underground, but that was at night through the streets of the city. I always had a hood up, head down, but looking around now, it’s nothing but wild land.
Rohan halts us as Adora, Kaldar, Garret, and Olaf guide others into the trees, making sure to take routes wide enough for the three carts.
The wind picks up, snow slashing against my face and I can barely see two feet before me.
Rohan nudges me forward. The terrain is getting more difficult the deeper into the forest we go, but Rohan pushes us hard.
He keeps me ahead of him, forcing my legs to keep moving and he nearly crashes into my back when I suddenly freeze in place, spotting what’s ahead of me.
It’s a deer, I think, but it’s much taller than a deer.
Its antlers are large, belly round and it scrapes its head up against a tree, unaware of the people heading past him, and uncaring of the ferocious weather.
