Page 5 of Upon Buried Embers (Upon Buried Embers #1)

Elf

I don’t know how long we’ve been moving through the caves, maybe two days? Maybe long enough for my eyes to droop and stop fighting sleep that wants to take me.

Maybe I wouldn’t wake up.

That would be a blessing as the pain’s becoming too much to bear.

Rohan doesn’t speak to me as he walks beside Drogonah, murmuring to him. Lava rivers flow along either side of us, and holes high above allow beams of light to filter through the darkness.

I would enjoy the warmth it brings, but I can’t seem to stop the chattering of my teeth and the trembling of my body.

I observe everyone instead, wondering how I can escape them.

Some ride horses, some ride in the carts being pulled behind them, but most of the members are on foot. They don’t seem concerned about the dragons walking among them. In fact, I notice Kaldar stays close to a green one whose chest seems to glow.

He’s smaller than the other dragons, but I have no doubt he’s still just as dangerous.

Darcia, the woman who sneered at me, rides a brown horse, and she hasn’t stopped glaring at me. She’s talking to a brown-haired woman riding a gray horse.

I look at the lava, watching the orange liquid bubble in a river that winds along the cave, dripping from clusters of rock in the curved walls.

It would be beautiful if I wasn’t being taken by a Dragonbond.

How am I ever going to get out of this?

I need to wait and bide my time. Then I’ll escape and find a way to get back to Effy. We can leave the city, maybe go and start anew in a village far away. I’ll make sure our ears are covered, and if that doesn’t work… well.

I look at the lava again as I try to loosen the rope with no luck, it’s tied too tight.

I glance behind me, noticing Drogonah’s small spikes on his spine, thinking I may be able to cut through the rope, but I’m on a very short leash.

I look at the ones at the base of his neck and come to the same realization I’ve had many times already… I’m stuck here.

The inside of my thighs burn as I shift, rubbing against the saddle, and I slump forward with exhaustion. It feels like my ribs are snapping, but I don’t think even that will stop me from falling asleep.

Rohan is alert and watchful, dropping back at times to give Drogonah a pat here and there, glancing at me like he’s checking I’m still here.

Like I can go anywhere.

Along the way, some clan members approach him to confirm stock of supplies, or go over training.

Training for what?

“We’ll sleep here for the night!” Rohan bellows suddenly, and everyone stops at once, some unpacking a variety of items to make camp, while others unsaddle their horses.

Drogonah grumbles, his ears pulling forward as he sits back on his haunches. The move makes me fall backward, and I scream as the rope pulls tight, jostling me. I scramble to hold on to something and Drogonah snarls, another plume of smoke spewing into the air.

“Drogonah, lay down.” He doesn’t, and I’m left dangling by the waist, my back in agony. “Drogonah…” That one was a warning, his tone turning much deeper and the dragon flops down, flinging me forward.

I slam into the front of the saddle, stomach first. I suck in breaths of air, vision dimming as I’m pulled backward. I cry out, hands going to my stomach as Rohan climbs up and unties me from the saddle before he drops back down onto it.

“Come,” Rohan commands, tugging at the rope. I don’t answer, I can’t. I think I’m going to throw up. “I said...” He grinds out, yanking the rope. “Come.”

I’m pulled sideways.

I fall toward the ground, but I don’t reach it as arms encircle me and carelessly put me on my feet. I teeter to the right, but a small tug on the rope straightens me and I whimper in pain.

“You really are just full of bones,” Rohan muses. “I could throw you around easily.” My eyes lift to his before I look away, not wanting to see the disgust there as I try to breathe through the pain.

I can’t do this. I can’t do this.

I peek at the river of lava boiling at his back, the bright orange spewing up and dripping off the dangling stalactite. Heat from the spurts engulfs me, casting a glowing light over the cave and I take a step toward it before I even realize what I’m doing.

I can make it.

Just a few steps and it’ll only hurt for a few moments.

But I need it to end. Now.

I need it to be over.

“Don’t even think about it.” Rohan steps to the side, blocking my view. He turns, grabbing the rope and tying me to him again, giving me no choice but to follow on shaky legs.

The dragon at my back huffs, warmth hitting me.

Rohan moves us toward the people sitting on the floor, circling a pot that’s on a campfire of sorts, and I notice everyone else has parted off into their own little groups.

They eye me, sneering and scoffing as I try to make myself as small as possible. Darcia frowns at me while her friend eyes me warily. The one they called Rhett, a head scout or something like that, sits between them.

“Hedoric, light.” Kaldar says, and all of a sudden, the smaller dragon from before comes forward, its scales tinged a dark green. It opens its mouth and flames spurt from it. I yelp as I’m dragged down to sit, watching as the kindling below the pot starts to burn. “Thanks!”

The dragon huffs before it walks off and curls up, head laying on its tail.

Rohan grunts, pulling my attention to him. He holds a waterskin, and surprisingly, he hands it to me first. “Here.” He throws it in my lap, and I eye it warily. “It’s water, if I wanted you dead you would be already.”

“Stupid elf,” Darcia spits. I curl in on myself, head lowered. “Why in Morana’s name are you allowing her to live, Rohan? She’s another mouth to feed that we don’t need.”

There’s a heavy pause. “Darcia, are you challenging my decision?” Rohan rumbles. “If so, we can fight it out now.”

The breath lodges in my throat. He would fight a woman?

Darcia looks shocked for a moment, before she shakes her head rapidly. “Of course not, Dragonbond. Your word is law.”

“My word is my honor.” He corrects her, and she smiles softly at him, running a hand over her hair and something uneasy fills my stomach.

“Of course, Rohan.” Her blue eyes don’t lie as she looks at him.

“She’s just worried, Dragonbond,” the brown-haired woman says next to her. “We’re in more danger if we take this… elf with us. What if someone sees her?”

“And though it’s appreciated, there’s no need, Fiona. Her hair will cover her ears if we need to hide them.” He turns to me, the flames reflecting in his eyes. “Drink.”

Darcia sneers again, and Kaldar’s eyes bounce between us before he shakes his head and starts talking to another man beside him. He’s a little smaller, with light hair in a knot near the top of his head.

“Elf,” Rohan barks, and I hesitate for a moment, before thirst wins out and I uncap the skin and take my first drink in what feels like forever.

As soon as the surprisingly cool liquid hits my mouth, I gulp it down, barely breathing, and it’s so refreshing, so peaceful as I quench my thirst.

I wonder if that’s what being in the Elisian Fields in the Elven woods feels like. Peaceful.

Would I ever get that chance to find out if it’s real?

I drink more, wanting to hold on to this moment, but much to my dismay, I choke and start coughing.

“Easy,” Rohan barks, slapping my back and I cry out, my body turning, jerking away from him. Rohan pauses. “Don’t waste our water by spewing it up.”

I catch my breath before gently lifting my knees up in front of me and take smaller sips, feeling everyone’s unkind eyes on me.

The fire crackles, and whatever’s in the pot begins to bubble as Fiona stirs it, a delicious scent filling the air.

My stomach rumbles, so much so that Rohan glances at me before he continues to talk to Rhett.

“And the other clans?”

Rhett shakes his head. “No sign of them.”

“Good. Drogonah!” he bellows suddenly, making me jump. “Go hunt.”

There’s an answering purr, and then the flapping of wings.

I don’t look back to see what his dragon is doing, resting my head on my knees, eyes locking on the pot. It’s then that I realize I’m going to have to sit here and watch everyone eat while my stomach eats itself.

How can life be so cruel? I don’t even remember the last time I ate.

“Are you prepared for the meeting after we arrive in the Wilds?” someone asks, and I glance at the tanned man, noting how his hair is short… shorter than anyone else’s I’ve seen so far.

“Yes,” Rohan answers. “Be vigilant, Garret, tell me if anything feels off.”

“We’ll be keeping a close eye on everyone,” a woman says, her dark hair in a single, long braid. She has scars on her face, and a fierce expression as she cleans a blade.

Kaldar eyes the woman, a softness in his eyes. “It’s clean enough, Adora, let’s eat.”

The small circle moves to the pot, producing wooden bowls from their rucksacks and dunking them in, gathering some stew before sitting down and drinking from it.

Darcia tries to hand Rohan her bowl, but he just stares at her until she relents and sits back.

He stays next to me, not moving.

It isn’t until everyone has taken their food that he moves, dipping his own bowl in the bottom of the pot, tilting it slightly in what I imagine is to gather what’s left.

He lifts the bowl to his mouth, still crouched by the pot and I watch him take a sip.

How can a man who’s stolen me wait until his people have eaten first? I shouldn’t even care enough to feel confused over it, but I am.

“Here.” A bowl is shoved in my face, and I stare at it, blinking at the steam coming off of it.

What a cruel trick.

If I take it, I know what comes next. A slap, a kick.

It smells so good though, and I was right, there was meat.

Brown and juicy, it floats at the top of the liquid.

I swallow, my mouth salivating.

How mean to put food in front of me this way.

“Here,” Rohan says again, and he shoves the bowl to my lips, tipping it slightly so the liquid burns me.

I startle, but then the taste hits me. I don’t care if the meaty liquid is too hot, or if I get hit for it.

Grabbing the bowl with two hands, daring to remove it from his grip, I slurp the stew. There may be some vegetables in here too, I’m not sure. I’m too busy moaning while chewing a piece of meat, clutching the bowl tightly so no one can take it off me. Even as my fingers protest in pain.

They easily could if they tried, they’re much stronger.

“She’s like a stray dog,” Darcia says, and I come back to the now, blinking rapidly as my eyes lock with Rohan’s.

He’s crouched in front of me, elbows on his knees as he watches me.

My cheeks heat, and I slowly lower the bowl with trembling hands, my eyes lowering in shame, but I don’t let go.

Animals were treated better than me, they got fed well, had clean beds, and warm places to sleep… I should know, I had to take care of them while I slept on the floor in a back room. A sack to call my bed.

I look down at the little stew left in the bowl, and it jostles when I place it on the cave floor, suddenly not hungry anymore.

I shuffle back a little, wrapping my arms around myself, not looking up.

The Dragonbond has other ideas though.

He grabs the bowl, then grabs my arm, yanking me to my feet, ignoring my cries of pain as he moves us over to bed rolls on the ground further away from the group.

“Make sure you eat too, Rohan,” Darcia calls. “You need it more than her.”

“Enough, Darcia,” Kaldar barks. “Eat your food or go to sleep.”

I don’t even try to dislodge myself from Rohan’s harsh grip. What’s the point, the pain is making me a little numb now anyway, so I know it won’t be long until I won’t feel a thing, my mind taking me somewhere no one can reach.

Arriving at the furs, he places a hand on my head and applies pressure. I don’t hesitate to sit, and he makes a soft sound I haven’t heard before.

My hand lands on the fur and I still, my fingers slowly stroking through it. I’ve never felt anything so soft before.

A noise has me looking up to find Rohan studying me, and I yank my hand away, moving off the fur to not dirty it, worried I did something wrong to inflict his wrath.

“No, go back where I put you.” He nods to the fur and I slowly move back onto them. “Here,” he says, and I glance down at the bowl and the rest of the stew. I eye him, unsure. “I cannot have you dying on me when I haven’t even begun to get what I want from you.”

Nerves take over as he comes closer, and I flinch back, waiting for the sting from a hit, the rattling in my brain from a punch to the head.

But all I feel is fingers wiping my chin, and my eyes fly to his.

Rohan moves the back of two fingers to his mouth that are covered in stew and licks them clean. Once he’s done, he brings the bowl to my lips again, tipping it slightly until I feel the liquid.

“Drink.” My lips part on the low command, relishing the warm stew going to my throat with a soft sigh. “Good, Elf.”

Something unfurls through my body at that, and my eyes close.

No one has ever called me good before, or praised me.

He makes me drink until nothing is left, then pushes my shoulder until I’m lying back on the fur. He ties the rope around my waist, jostling me, and I prepare for the worst, but he lays down next to me, pulling a fur up over us and closes his eyes, not seeming worried that I may hurt him.

Not that I can.

I look at his axe lying next to him, the two blades on either side glinting in the lava’s light, and sigh.

I couldn’t even lift it if I tried.

I look at Rohan, arms behind his head. I’ll wait until his breathing evens out and then I’ll try to untie the rope and escape.

I’m silent enough that I know I can do it. I’ll just rest for a while.