Page 46 of Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2)

Chapter Thirty-three

Elowen

“Stop glaring,” I hiss.

“This is just my face.”

“You’re making a point to scowl at any man in our vicinity.”

“When, pray tell, have you known me to not do that?” Cayden balances a smoke between his lips, and I ignore both his words and the jolt it sends through me as he flips my hood up to fend off the wind.

Finnian reaches into the basket looped on my arm to pull out another honey bun, eating half of it in one bite and throwing his head back while groaning. “I still think you should open a bakery once the war is over.”

“You’ll be my taste-tester in exchange for new knives when you take over for Blade.”

“Deal.” He drapes an arm over my shoulders, tucking me into his side as we climb up the hill that leads to where most people from Aestilian have settled.

Snow-topped stone cottages line the road, their shutters open and smoke rising from the chimneys.

Children throw snowballs, some even going as far as to climb trees to get a higher vantage point, while adults buried in blankets sip steaming mugs on the porches.

“Queen Elowen!” a little boy calls out, bounding toward me on his tiny legs. He’s swallowed in a coat two times his size. I sink into a squat and open my arms for him just before he slams into my body.

“Hi, Ollie.”

Two years ago, I was traveling through the Terrwyn Forest during a terrible storm when I found him.

The rain was so bad that I could hardly see my hand in front of my face, and sought shelter in what I thought was a vacant home within one of the unnamed villages.

But Ollie was there, starving, freezing, and crying in front of a hearth he didn’t know how to light.

His parents abandoned him, claiming several days prior that they’d return from the market in a few hours.

I brought him to my house to make him soup and tea before taking him to the orphanage.

He took to the other children quickly, and his smile is something I’ll always be thankful for.

He’s probably about six years old now, but he didn’t know his birthday so that’s just a guess.

“You’ve grown since I last saw you.”

“Three inches,” he proudly states, dragging his fingers through my curls like he did when I carried him on my horse.

He has freckles across the bridge of his sloped nose and curly blond hair.

His brown eyes slide to Cayden, and he tilts his head.

“Is he your husband? Everyone keeps saying you’re married now. ”

“Yes,” Cayden says at the same time I say, “No.” I glare at him over my shoulder. “We’re getting married in a few days, and you are more than welcome to attend with Lady Marigold and the other children.”

He beams like I just told him the sun will never stop shining. “Will there be lots of food?”

“More than you could imagine,” I whisper it like it’s a secret, and his eyes brighten as I reach into my basket. “And I made your favorite.”

He squeals, jumping in place when I hand him the cinnamon roll, squishing it a bit when he holds it to his chest. His little dancing fit lands him directly in front of Cayden, who looks down at Ollie like he’s another species, while Ollie looks up at him with wide eyes.

“Is it true you drink blood?” he innocently asks, and Finnian’s laughter flies freely.

“Yes.”

“No!” I exclaim as other children begin to swarm me, and I lower the basket to let them pick whatever pastry they want. Ollie remains staring, and Finnian continues to vibrate with barely suppressed giggles.

“Yes?” Cayden lifts a brow and addresses Finnian over my head. “What do I do with it?”

“Oh, Ryder is going to be sorry to have missed this,” Finnian mutters, stepping forward to greet the children.

“How many people have you killed?” Ollie asks.

“How high can you count?” Cayden replies.

Ollie scrunches his brows, counting off on his fingers silently. “One hundred and seven.”

“Let’s go with that.” Cayden looks to me for help, seeming more uncomfortable than I’ve ever seen him. I glance at Finnian, unable to control my laughter any longer. For months, Ollie has said he wants to be a soldier, and Cayden’s victories aren’t a secret.

“I never liked the men who hung around Elowen. Well, some were okay, I guess.” He picks at the button on his jacket. “Finnian is the best. Everyone knows she loves Finnian.”

“Right you are, little man,” Finnian calls out.

Cayden’s eyes light up at that, and he sinks down to Ollie’s height. “Do you remember their names?”

“Okay!” I exclaim, and step between the pair, hauling the basket off my arm. “Ollie, can I trust you to bring this to Lady Marigold to ensure all the children get one?”

He puffs out his chest as much as he can. “Of course.”

“You are the bravest little soldier.” I ruffle his hair, sliding it onto his arm as he turns back toward the orphanage. He only makes it a few steps before Cayden calls out for him, stepping around me while reaching into his pocket to procure a few coins.

“There’s a sweetshop down the road. Don’t go without an adult,” Cayden speaks without emotion, like he’s giving a soldier a set of orders, but I think Ollie likes it.

He nods, jutting his chin out and instead of running away, he marches.

Cayden turns back to me, the confusion still evident on his face. “He’s a strange child.”

“Mhmm.” I take his outstretched arm. “Planning on including him in your spying ring?”

“He talks too much to be a spy.” He rolls his eyes. “And besides, I don’t care who’s in your past; I’m the only one in your future.” I raise my brows at that before he tacks on, “As long as they don’t breathe around you or think about you.”

“Cayden, I wanted to run something by you,” Finnian says, catching up to us while I stop at some of the street vendors’ booths, handing over some coins in exchange for a tin of cookies I think Ryder will like, and some gold beads for Saskia to braid into her hair.

“The Aestilian army is trained to take enemies by surprise, and I think they could be useful in the upcoming battle.”

“It’s your call,” Cayden responds as we step into Blade’s shop. Expertly crafted weaponry decorates the walls: war hammers, axes, scythes, swords, and more. It smells of smoke and steel but brings me comfort. “If you get me a list of soldiers, I can arrange a ship to be made available for them.”

Finnian seems taken aback. “That was easy.”

Cayden looks him over carefully. I pretend to be engrossed in a selection of knives while Blade retrieves my order, having noted my presence the moment I crossed the threshold.

“Make a decision, don’t ask for permission.

An army is only as steadfast as its commander.

You will always teeter on the edge of chaos and control with your army.

Never lose the latter and know when to utilize the former. ”

Finnian nods, standing a bit taller than he did before, and my heart skips in my chest. Finnian doesn’t give himself enough credit for how intelligent he is.

I buy a new wrist guard for him to protect himself when he shoots, which he enthusiastically puts on before dipping around me to speak with Blade.

Cayden escorts me to the alley beside the shop and I place two small pouches in his hand.

“What are these?”

“Presents.”

“For the wedding? I’m already getting everything I want.”

“No.” I close his fingers around it. “You didn’t tell me your birthday had passed so the red one is to make up for that, and the blue one is just because.”

His brows furrow as he looks down at them, and I wonder if anyone’s ever bought him something just because it reminded them of him.

Realizing he won’t do it himself, I uncurl his fingers and open the first pouch, pulling out a gold signet ring with the House Veles crest at the center.

In the wake of all he’s revealed to me about his past, I wanted him to have something he could wear every day to remind him that he has a home where he’s wanted.

He still doesn’t move, so I open the second and dump it into his palm.

The obsidian arrowhead pendant and gold chain glisten in the sun, as does the small gold hoop earring to match.

“You buy me presents all the time,” I say, trying to wake him up from his trance.

“That’s different.”

“No, it’s not.”

“You deserve good things, and I want to give them to you.” It’s the way he says the words that makes me pause. They’re wholly earnest, as if he doesn’t consider that he also deserves good things.

He slowly blinks, and my pulse picks up.

“Obsidian is a stone associated with protection, and I still remember the arrow you shot for me when you found me in the forest before we traveled to the temple.” His eyes flash to mine when I unlatch the chain’s clasp and fasten it around his neck so it rests slightly lower than the other chain he always wears.

“And the hoop is because I noticed your right ear is pierced but you never wear anything in it.”

He smirks, his eyes becoming lighter. “Did I ever tell you why my ear is pierced?” I shake my head. “I lost a bet to Ryder when we were teenagers. We were drunk as hell and I bet him that I could steal a knife off a guard without being noticed.”

“Oh, gods.” I cover my mouth with my hand. “What happened?”

“I stole the knife and got away but kicking the poor bastard in the balls definitely got me noticed.” He presses his lips against my forehead while I brace my hands on his chest to laugh, imagining a younger version of him striding up to a guard with an overwhelming amount of confidence. “Thank you, love.”

He hooks it through his ear, and I force myself to look away from how handsome he is.

I step around him as Finnian leaves the shop, needing to use the cold air to drench my burning cheeks as his gaze drills into the back of my head.

The bright signs along the street flap in the snowy wind, and fires are lit every few yards to give citizens a chance to warm their hands in the stone pits.

We stop at a street stand for hot cocoa that tastes like magic, and the scent of roasted caramelized nuts makes me breathe deep.

“Nyrinn!” I call out, spotting the woman I was looking for. She stops in her tracks, and her face splits into a pretty smile when she sees me. She meets me halfway in the center of the road. “How are you settling in?”

“Better than I expected. I’ve been to your cottage on healer’s row, and it’s beautiful. I’m going back there later but had to finish up a few house calls.”

I’m glad she’s been using the residence.

I’d love to get back there, but there are too many things to deal with right now.

Once things are calmer, maybe she’ll take me on as an apprentice again.

“If you have the time, I want to invite you to my wedding feast. I could send General Braxton to escort you to the castle.”

Her cheeks flush a bit, and she grasps the front of her cloak. “General Braxton? He’s the tall one with the amber eyes?”

I twist my lips to hide my smirk. “That’s the one.”

Nyrinn hasn’t looked at a man since she came to Aestilian. She hasn’t looked at anyone for that matter, but I saw her dark eyes following him as he guarded me. Braxton is a fine-looking man, with a sharp jawline and broad shoulders honed after years spent wielding a sword.

“Of course I’ll come.” She glances at Cayden over my shoulder. “Be good to my girl.”

“I swear it,” Cayden evenly responds.