Chapter 16
I rub my hands together. “All right. Where’s the wood?” They both give me a blank expression. “How do you keep the stove in the kitchen going?”
“Rauk does that for me,” Elowen admits.
“Well, he obviously gets the wood from somewhere.” I look between the two of them.
“He keeps a stack outside,” Elowen admits. “But—”
“Okay, thank you.” I don’t leave her a chance to talk me out of it. “I’m grabbing wood; I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Where would we go?” Auri calls out from behind me, but I’m already closing the door behind me.
I walk down the steps at the back of the castle and start looking for wood.
It takes me way too long to find the area where the wood is neatly stacked.
I can’t fault Rauk on this part; there’s enough wood here to last quite a while.
I carry as much as I can and start back to the door.
When I get inside, Elowen is on her hands and knees with her head practically in the fireplace. I quickly walk that way. “Whatever you’re doing, I can do for you.”
She pulls back and looks up at me. “I was just cleaning it really quickly.”
“Well, I’ll take over for you.”
“I think it’s good.” She starts to her feet, and I grab her elbow to help her up. “Thank you for getting the wood.”
I turn around and find Auri watching. “You ready?”
“I'll get a candlestick from the kitchen,” Elowen says as I start stacking the wood in the fireplace. I take the lit candlestick from her when she gets back and light the fire and turn to Auri.
“Come on; get up here.”
She rolls closer, and we start to thaw out in front of the flames.
“I’ll be right back.” I make my way back to my room and grab the pillows off my bed and bring them back.
“Elowen, here’s a pillow for you. Auri, one for you, and one for me.
” I drop my pillow on the floor and step towards Auri.
She looks up at me in confusion. “Come on. I’ll help you. ”
“I’m good right here.”
I don’t fight her on it as I drop onto the pillow next to Elowen.
We sit in front of the fire and let it warm us.
I watch Auri out of the corner of my eye and make sure she’s okay.
I can tell how tired she is. I’m pretty sure she hasn’t really done anything like what I had her do today in a long time.
..maybe ever. When I see her start nodding, I know I need to let her rest. I stand and stretch.
“All right. Mandatory rest time everybody.”
“What about lunch?” Elowen asks with concern.
“Are you hungry, Auri?” I ask.
“Not right now.”
I turn to Elowen. “Maybe we could eat an early dinner.”
“Okay,” she agrees. “Get some rest, Auri.”
I walk next to her as we head back to her room. She doesn’t say anything the entire time. Once we’re in her room, I face her. “Want me to help you onto the bed?”
“No, I’m fine.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You’re tired; I can tell. Just let me help you.” I watch the emotions play across her face. “I’m more stubborn than you; I can stand here all day.”
She gives an exaggerated eye roll. “Fine.”
I resist the urge to grin and walk over to her side. “How do you normally get into bed?”
“Rauk,” she supplies.
I frown. “What if he’s not here?”
“Elowen helps me,” she admits. “But it’s hard.”
“I can imagine. Why is your bed so high? Wouldn’t it be easier if it was level with your chair? Then you could do it yourself.”
She looks at her bed and then back at me. “I don’t know; it’s just always been this way.”
“Okay. Well, we can’t do anything about it right at this moment.
For now, I’ll help you.” I bend over her, and she loops her arms around my neck.
“One, two, three.” I lift her and turn and deposit her at the top of her bed near the pillows.
I pull up a fur from the end of her bed.
“I won’t let you sleep too long, so you can sleep tonight. ”
“Thank you.” Her words are soft, and I almost don’t hear them.
“You’re welcome. Get some rest. I’ll check on you in a little bit.”
I walk towards her door, glancing back once to make sure she’s settled okay. And then I slip away to go see if Elowen needs any help. I find her in the kitchen, per her usual. This time, she’s rolling out some dough. “Do you need help?”
She looks up at me and smiles. “You’ve already done so much. I’m good. I'm going to finish this dough and then I’m going to sit and read for a little while.”
“Okay, let me know when you’re ready to start on dinner.” I pause at the kitchen door. “Do you think it will be okay if we eat early? I don’t want to make things stressful for you with Rauk.”
“Oh, he won’t be joining us for dinner tonight or probably the next several nights. He’s gone on kingdom business.”
I study her. “What exactly does that mean? Kingdom business?”
“It’s not my place to say.”
Her answer annoys me, honestly; but I figure it’s probably not her making the rules. I’m sure it’s Rauk, and I don’t want to do anything to make things more difficult for her. Rauk does that enough already. “Okay. How long do you think he’ll be gone?”
“It’s hard to say. It could be a few days, or it could be a few weeks.”
Now that surprises me. “A few weeks? How can the king be gone for a few weeks?”
She shrugs and continues kneading her dough. “That’s just how it is.”
“Hmmm.” With more questions than answers, I leave the kitchen and her behind.
I walk around the huge open area and let my mind wander.
I look at it through the eyes of a girl who’s never allowed outside these walls.
Suddenly, it seems more dark and oppressive than it did before.
An idea hits me, and I’m moving before I even think about it.
I pop my head into the kitchen. “I’m heading out.
I’ll be back.” I leave before she has a chance to ask questions.
I reach out to Redara as I walk to my room.
Hey, are you bored?
You know I am because I told you so this morning.
She had. Repeatedly. Apparently, Noxlyn had left at the crack of dawn with Rauk, and now she doesn’t know what to do with herself.
I’m going out. Want to give me a ride?
There’s no hesitation. Yes.
Thanks. Let me know when you get here; I’ll be ready.
Be there soon, she sends back.
I actually don’t need the ride. What I have in mind won’t take long, but I know she needs something to do. I grab my fur from my room and wait to hear from Redara. I don’t have to wait too long.
I’m here.
I leave my room and make my way to the front door and go through the process of unlocking the front door. I’m debating whether or not I should leave it unlocked when Elowen comes out of the kitchen.
“I’ll lock it once you leave.”
“Thank you.”
She waves a hand. “Just knock loudly when you get back, and I’ll let you in.”
“Thank you; I won’t be gone long.”
As soon as the locks disengage, I open the giant door and step outside.
I wait for the locks to engage before I start down the steps.
I take in the red dragon with shimmering scales waiting for me at the bottom of the steps.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever get over the fact that I’m bonded to this incredible animal.
“Thanks for coming to get me.” I pat her back leg.
You and I both know you’re doing this to help me not lose my mind, so maybe lose the false gratitude.
Wow, somebody’s in a mood, I counter. She chuffs out a breath.
I wisely don’t push her anymore. All right, I’m coming up.
It takes a minute or two to get settled on her back.
All right. I’m good. She takes a lumbering step and then another and launches into the sky.
It’s not far, but we can fly for a little bit first if you want.
I want.
I bend over, letting her strong neck block some of the arctic wind that whips around me. We fly over the kingdom for a little bit, and when she reaches out again, her voice isn’t as irate as it was a little bit ago. See that building in the center of those three buildings? That’s the one we want.
Got it.
She flies that way and lands smoothly in the snow. Thank you; I won’t be long.
I might still be here, she sends as I walk towards the front door, causing me to smile.
I draw just as much attention as I did last time I was in here, but I ignore it.
I’m on a mission. I walk through the large building, looking at each aisle of goods until I find the things I’m looking for.
Finally, I take my haul up to the counter at the front.
I lay my heavy load down on the counter and step back.
“Hi, I’m Harper.” The man behind the counter stares at me, and I double down on my resolve to be polite.
“What’s your name?” He continues to stare at me, and I take a deep breath.
“I just need to buy these things. I’m sure Rauk has an account here.
Can you add them to his account, please?
” When he continues to stare at me, I start to lose that resolve. “You do know who Rauk is, right?”
“You mean His Royal Highness?” the woman at the next counter corrects.
“Yes, him.” His Royal Jerkface. “I would hate to tell him that I came here to buy what I needed, and they refused to serve me.” My words have the desired impact.
The man finally starts fingering through my pile and writing down what I’m buying.
When he gets to the axe, he pauses and looks up at me.
I just continue to smile. At least, I’m trying to smile; I’m not really sure if it comes across as a smile.
With my luck, it looks more like a deranged smile.
..but whatever. When he finishes writing everything down, I put my hand on top of the pile.
“So, is it all worked out?” The man doesn’t meet my gaze but nods.
I figure that’s as good as I’m going to get here, so I start pulling my large bundle of goods into my arms. “Thank you. Have a great day.” I stop at the door and turn back.
“Oh, and I will be sure to pass on to His Royal Highness,” I do my best not to gag on the words.
“How helpful you were.” I push the door open and make my way back over to Redara, who now has a crowd gathered around her.
Have these people never seen a dragon before? She sends me in irritation.
That's not possible. They live here in this kingdom with Noxlyn, and they have spirit dragons, I tell her calmly.
Well, tell that to them! Stop touching my tail!
Her tail smacks the ground, and I walk faster. “Okay, everybody, back away from the red dragon before she eats you all.”
Wide eyes stare at me, and people scramble backwards. Really? She sends back.
What? It got them to back up. I stare up at her and look down at the pile in my arms. It’s obvious I didn’t think this through. I’m going to have to walk next to you.
Why?
Because I have a load of stuff in my arms, and I won’t be able to get up on your back with all this in my arms.
Well, why did you buy all that stuff then?
Because I need it, I send right back. She huffs, and more people back up. You need to go take a nap or something.
I need my mate to come back, she says in return.
Why didn’t you go with him?
She snorts, and this time it smells like sulfur. His bonded wouldn’t let me.