Page 7 of Upon Buried Embers
He eyes me. “Liar. No one gets thrown down here for something as trivial as stealing some bread.”
You do if you’re me.
“I’m not… lying.” My head spins, and I stumble back, my body connecting with the cave wall.
Everything hurts.
“Rohan? We’re ready to leave.” Another voice comes from somewhere deeper in the cave, and I shiver.
How many more are there?
“Coming,” the Dragonbond replies, jostling the bone mask dangling from his hip as he moves toward me. “And so are you, Elf.”
Three
Elf
Rohan pushes me in front of him, my weak legs somehow carrying me forward as the two predators stay at my back. I try not to cry out with each step, try not to throw up when dizziness threatens to take me to the floor.
This can’t be happening. Where is he taking me? Why is he taking me?
Drogonah’s footsteps are the loudest, each of the dragon’s claws landing with a heavythudthat could easily squish me beneath them. Mine are lighter, almost silent. The Dragonbond’s equally quiet given his size.
“Be good, Drogonah, she’s not food,” Rohan says. “For now.” Fresh waves of fear pour off of me.
So, I’m going to be eaten? Just on his command?
“Take a left,” he demands, and we round a corner before coming to an opening.
Torches illuminate the awaiting crowd ahead of me, and I shake violently as multiple sets of widened eyes land on me. Some Dragorie, some dragons. They look as surprised to see me as I am them.
Elvanan, save me.
“Ahh.” I let out a strangled cry when I’m suddenly nudged forward, and I land hard on my knees, my hair falling around me. I’m unable to hold back the tears.
“Who is this?” A voice demands, and I lift my head to see a tall man bending before me, his skin a dark brown. “An elf?” A grunt of confirmation comes from behind me, and the man’s brows furrow.
“Yes,” he answers. “Are we packed up, Kaldar?”
“We are,” the man replies, his dark, braided hair hanging over his shoulders, hiding a tattoo on the side of his neck. My eyes lower as he reaches a hand out toward me. I try to move back, but rough hands grip my arms and lift me up like I’m nothing, rattling my bones.
“She’s with me.” The deep timber of Rohan’s voice makes me shiver, along with the gust of air from his dragon behind us.
“But how did she get here? No one is allowed over the boundary. The king can’t even get past it to the elves, so how is she here?”
“She was sold, apparently.”
“A spy then?” Kaldar nods, like he’s already made up his mind.
“A slave, but that could be a lie. Though there was no one else with her.” They speak like I’m not even here. “But you know there are whispers of an underground in Lothmere, of elves being sold secretly and stowed away in homes, never to be seen. So she could be telling the truth.”
“Hmm.” Kaldar looks between us, then smirks. “Will you share her, then? May as well have some fun while we figure it out.” His eyes roam over me and my blood turns cold in an instant.
I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve heard stories of the Clans from Master. They’re barbarians at their core, which is why most Dragorie people can live with dragons. They’re said to be beasts themselves, just in a human body. They pillage, rape, share, killand steal with the Dragonbond having a temper that’s beyond control when they snap. And apparently, no one can tame a furious Dragonbond.
“Maybe,” the Dragonbond says, and then I feel his hands on the back of my neck, just above the metal, the heat of it causing goosebumps to rise across my body.
A woman scoffs, the light catching the movement of her hair flowing in multiple braids as she moves it to the side, a sneer pulling at her lips. “We can’t seriously be harboring an elf? It’ll get us all killed. Let Drogonah eat her and save us all the hassle.”
