Page 38 of Upon Buried Embers
This clan has around ten horses. Some are larger and stocky, which I assume are the ones that pull the carts, while others are sleeker, and I wonder if those are the ones used for scouting. Though, do they need that if they have dragons?
“Here’s the bucket, girl, fill it with water from the pot, it’s cooled enough now.” Calian drops a bucket at my feet and walks off.
Sighing, I pick it up then go to a barrel and fill it with water, grunting at its weight.
Walking back to Rohan’s horse, which is the furthest away, I give her the first drink. She gulps greedily. “You must’ve been thirsty, huh?” I whisper. Her tail swishes.
I smile and move over to a brown horse, this one not caring about my presence much. When I get to one of the larger horses, I hold the bucket up as best I can so it doesn’t have to bend as much. The coldness seeps into me but the horse drinks greedily.
My arms start to shake with how heavy the bucket is, but they need water for the journey they are on. I don’t know how long we have left until we reach Rohan’s… home.
I pat the side of his head when he’s done and make my way to the next one, only to be knocked into and sent sprawling on the snow-covered ground, spilling water everywhere.
“Stupid slave,” a voice mutters, and I wipe the snow off my face as Darcia walks off with Fiona.
That’s the second time she has pushed me now.
My teeth start to chatter, and I groan as I get back onto my feet, looking down at the now empty bucket.
I wince. I hope there will be enough water for the rest of them.
“What are you doing down there, girl? The horses won’t water themselves!”
I grab the bucket and with a limp in my step, I go back to the barrel for more water, feeling Calian’s eyes on me.
The cold has truly settled into my bones now, but even with shaking hands and fresh pain coming from my hip, I don’t stop until all the horses are watered.
“Why are you limping?” he asks when I go back to the water barrel.
“Just cold,” I don’t meet his eyes.
There’s no point in telling anyone what Darcia did. I’m an elf, a slave, no one cares.
Calian eyes me up and down before he nods his head and I follow. I wipe my face, sweat beading my forehead.
“You took too long, so we’ll pass on the grooming today.”
“Okay.” Hopefully I won’t be reprimanded for it.
We move further back from the clan and stop at a little herd of sheep inside of a make-shift enclosure. Calian opens the wonky wooden gate, and gestures for me to go inside with him.
The sheep bleat when we enter, and I smile as one comes up to me. I pat its fluffy head and it rubs up against my leg, forcing me to take a step back at the surprising strength of it.
“Like sheep?” Calian asks, and I look up at him, shrugging. I guess I do. “Don’t get attached.”
He grabs a rope and puts it around the neck of the one I’m stroking, along with two others. He passes me the end of the ropes and I take them, my brows furrowing. He leads us out of the enclosure, ensuring the gate is secure and gestures ahead of us into the forest.
“The dragons know not to touch them when they’re within the clan, but when we allow them to run wild, that is when they’re allowed their dinner.” My stomach drops. “Walk them away from the clan and then release them. Don’t be too slow about it or the dragons will think you’re their snack as well.”
I look down at the ropes, at the way the sheep bleat up at me and my hands begin to shake.
Tears threaten to fall, and I move forward with them. They come willingly, not even pulling the rope, like they trust me.
I’m sorry.
“Go on now, girl,” Calian says, as I hear the flapping of wings from somewhere above.
This is the natural way of life and death, I tell myself. You probably ate them in the stew you were given.
