Chapter 7
I keep walking and keep an eye on the sky.
I take in the sight of the colorful spirit dragons, and it’s just as incredible as the first time I saw them.
Soon, it’s not just spirit dragons in the sky.
A huge black dragon appears first, and then I see her.
A smile breaks out on my face. I cannot believe you made him come with.
She snorts through our bond. Made him come with. You‘re funny. I told him not to come with, but you can see how well that went.
The two dragons land a few yards from me, and I can’t help my awe of them.
I’ve had months to get used to being around Redara, but it still makes me catch my breath when I see her come into view.
Now, add the huge dragon at her side, and it’s an incredible sight.
Noxlyn blows a puff of smoke and paws at the ground, and I move over to Redara’s side.
Is he going to eat me if I don’t move fast enough?
Possibly. I move faster. A minute or two later, I’m seated on Redara. Ready? She asks.
Yes. Noxlyn snorts out a puff of smoky air and then beats those powerful wings and lifts into the sky.
I watch him, completely in awe. He's nearly twice the size of Redara, but he doesn’t move like it.
He’s graceful, much more graceful than you’d think something his size would be.
The frigid air blows in gusts up here, and my eyes water again; but I don’t close them.
I don’t want to miss anything. It’s not long before we fly towards a mountain towering in the distance.
Only when we get close do I see the opening.
Redara flies behind Noxlyn, and he flies straight at the opening.
At first, it doesn’t look like it will be big enough to fit his massive body, but the closer we get, the bigger the entrance seems to get.
He flies right inside and disappears. Redara doesn’t slow down and does the same.
I clench my legs together, not sure if this is going to be a harsh landing.
But she lands easily inside the cavernous opening.
I take it in for a moment before I dismount from her back.
“This place is huge.” My voice echoes off the walls. “It’s warmer than I thought it’d be.”
It is, Redara agrees, following Noxlyn further into the cave.
I trail after the two of them. A few minutes later, it opens into a huge open area.
Noxlyn moves close to the wall and settles on the ground, bringing him slightly lower.
When I look over at him, those reptilian eyes are on me. I resist the urge to take a step back.
I’m pretty sure he could eat me in like two bites if he wanted to, I send to Redara without taking my eyes off the terrifying dragon.
One bite.
I cut a look at Redara. Seriously?
What? That’s what he said.
I freeze. He can hear our conversation?
No. I just tell him everything we say.
I frown. Everything?
Mostly.
I glance back at Noxlyn. That could explain away the fact that he looks like he will indeed eat me.
Why?
I’m pretty sure I’ve told you how awful his bonded is.
Oh yeah. He doesn’t like it when you do that.
I want to facepalm my forehead, but I don’t. Sudden movements and all that. Why didn’t you tell me you tell him everything? I would have kept my comments to myself.
No, you wouldn’t have.
I pause a moment. Okay, yeah. I wouldn’t.
But seriously, Rauk really is a jerk. Today, he—There’s a snort, and the air suddenly smells like sulfur.
I nod. Okay. Yeah, got it. Don’t talk bad about King Jerk—I mean Rauk.
Redara settles over next to Noxlyn, right up against his side.
It kind of surprises me. I figure he’s going to push her away, but he shocks me by lowering his head and dropping it over the top of hers.
My eyebrows hit my hairline. I watch them a moment and start to wonder if coming here was a bad idea, a very bad idea.
Uh, you guys aren’t going to go at it or anything, right?
Maybe.
I close my eyes. Could you maybe not? I’m standing right here.
You’re the one who chose to come here.
Yes, and I’m regretting that right now. Noxlyn snorts again and stands to his feet.
You know what, I’m going to go up near the front.
Redara not answering me is answer enough.
I hightail it out of there and make my way back through the cave towards the entrance.
When I get near the opening, I look out and study the area for a little bit.
You can see what I believe is the entire Dragon Kingdom from here.
It really is gorgeous. When it gets too cold to continue to stand there, I back away and sit against one of the cave walls.
At least with the wind howling up here, I can’t hear what’s happening back there.
Small miracles. I’m not sure how long I sit there, but it’s long enough for my backside to go numb.
I stand and move around for a little bit and try to get my blood pumping.
It's gotten colder in here, and I’m freezing.
I shiver and try to blow heat into my hands.
“This place is so cold.” I do love the beauty here, but the cold is really intense.
After unsuccessfully trying to warm up, I walk back to the cave wall and drop down again.
I watch as darkness begins to fall over the kingdom and regret coming here probably for the hundredth time in the last few hours.
I drop my head against the wall and close my eyes and will the time to pass.
I finally hear sound, and hope flares in my chest.
You ready to go? Redara asks.
Yes! Finally!
I can sense Redara more than see her in the dark.
But it’s not Redara that walks through first. I barely scramble out of the way as Noxlyn comes through.
I jump back when he spits a spray of fire on the ground a few feet from me.
“What in the world?!” I shout and scramble backwards.
Why did he just shoot fire at me? Is he trying to kill me?
He’s just mad, Redara sends back.
At me? What’d I do?
His bonded is making him bring you back to the house.
Shock rolls through me. Rauk?
Pretty sure that’s his bonded, Redara says with snark.
I can tell she’s in just as much of a mood as Nox is, and I don’t say another word as I reach her side and begin to climb.
I’ve barely settled on her back when she runs towards the opening, following Noxlyn.
As soon as we clear the entrance, she flaps her wings, and we soar.
The light of the snow makes it brighter, and I can see a little as we fly.
I can admit it’s still beautiful, but I don’t enjoy it as much now.
I’m frozen and exhausted and ready to be back at Rauk’s creepy palace.
The flight doesn’t take long, and we land next to Nox on the landing area.
Nox doesn’t waste a minute getting out of there.
Redara’s behind him a moment later, leaving me by myself to face Rauk alone.
I watch them fly away and disappear in the night sky.
Thank you, I send, not expecting a reply.
I walk over to the door and turn the handle.
Thankfully, it turns easily. Once I’m through, I close it behind me.
I study the door a moment, wondering if I need to lock it.
“Where were you?”
Rauk’s harsh words rush over me, and I turn around slowly and merely lift an eyebrow. “Hi, to you too.”
His eyebrows are bunched together, and his scowl is as deep as ever. “I told you I needed to talk to you.”
“Ohhhh. Was that when you sent the man with the eye patch to fetch me?”
“You should have come with him.”
Now, it’s my turn to scowl at him. “I’m not an animal to order around, Rauk.
” The use of his name seems to startle him for just a beat.
“Now, I’m freezing and hungry. So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to find something to eat.
Actually, even if you do mind, I’m going to anyway.
” I stride past him, intending on heading to the kitchen.
“Why aren’t you wearing warmer clothes?”
“I’m wearing the warmest clothes I own,” I call out without looking back.
When I get to the kitchen, Elowen isn’t there.
I’m surprised at the small stab of disappointment I feel.
I see a towel covering something, and I lift the towel to see two bowls of some kind of orange mush as the base and meat and other veggies over the top.
There’s a glass bottle next to the dishes that I sniff.
“You pour that over everything,” a gravelly voice says from nearby. I don’t look in Rauk’s direction.
“What is this?”
He comes over and looks in the bowl. “It’s emberroot.”
“Again, I repeat. What is it?”
He shrugs. “It’s good. Just eat it.” He takes a bowl and walks over to the small table that I just noticed. I frown and look back at the bowl. I stare at the glass bottle, deciding. “Just pour it over everything.”
“You didn’t.”
He shrugs. “I don’t like it.”
“Well, then why are you trying to get me to eat it?”
He finally lifts his eyes, and those dark eyes fall on me. “Because most people like it.”
“But you don’t,” I point out.
He shakes his head and turns back to his food. “Are you always this difficult?”
“Yep.” I make sure to pop the p. I stare at the bottle a moment longer and then finally cave.
I figure it can’t hurt; I don’t know what any of this is anyway.
I mix everything together and then take a tentative bite.
Flavor dances across my tongue, and I groan.
“Mmmm, this is so good. I don’t know why I doubted her.
” I pour more of the salty brothy goodness over everything in my bowl.
I take another bite and close my eyes, savoring the bite.
“Do you always eat like that?” The man I’m doing my best to ignore asks. I don’t bother with a response. “Why don't you sit down when you—”
“You know what,” I say, turning to face him. “I’m really just trying to enjoy this meal. Do you know what would make it more enjoyable?” I don’t wait for him to answer. “Being able to eat it in peace.”
He stands up from the table and walks over to the door, disappearing a moment later.
I stare after him and try to ignore the small flare of guilt in my chest. After I stand there for far too long in awkward silence, I wander over to the table and sit in one of the chairs.
I take another bite of my meal, but it’s lost some of its flavor.
I eat until I’m full and then push the bowl away and pull my leg up, hooking my arm around it to keep it in place.
A sigh leaves my lips as I study the empty kitchen.
An ache fills my chest, and I rub it subconsciously.
I’m not sure what my problem is. I’ve lived in my apartment for a while, so it’s not like I’m not used to living by myself.
But I just feel really lonely tonight. I shove my chair back and walk over to the sink and wash my dish before heading to my room for the night. I’m just tired; that’s all.
It’s not until I’m almost asleep that night in the comfiest bed I’ve ever slept on that I remember that I never asked Rauk what he needed me for today.