TEMPEST
As the sun started to set, we landed our dragons in a small meadow surrounded by forest and quickly built a camp. No inn for us tonight. After what happened with Prager, I could only feel relief. I’d fallen for someone’s trick, and I hoped we’d left that danger behind.
We made plans to sleep on the ground near the fire.
“I smell woodsmoke.” Brodine’s gaze dragged across the woods to our right.
“There’s a small village down that trail.” Vexxion nudged his head that way, and only then did I see the gap in the woods leading away from the meadow.
“How many people live there?” Brodine asked.
Vexxion frowned. “Twenty. Thirty. I’m not sure. Why?”
“I could go barter for provisions,” Brodine said. “I know you bought supplies at the inn, but if I can collect a few things here, the rest will last longer.”
We hadn’t seen any hint we were followed, but we’d be foolish to think Ivenrail hadn’t sent others to hunt us, especially after what happened with Prager. Was Prager one of the king’s many minions?
“Alright,” Vexxion said.
Brodine left with a small bag of coins, returning a short time later hefting a decent-sized sack. “Meat pies. Fruit tarts. And a few bottles of ale. We’ll eat heartily tonight,” he said with a grin.
I took it from him and released the tie at the top. “Thank you.”
“I told them I was traveling with a lord and his lady.” Brodine slid his fingertip across his throat. “Believe me, they took note. I assured them I was a dutiful, collared Nullen.” His wry smile rose. “They were happy to sell me enough food for dinner and breakfast.”
“Good going, Bro,” Reyla said, slapping his shoulder. “I wasn’t looking forward to dried meat stew for dinner, followed by fried dried meat for breakfast.”
We settled around the fire, Brodine and Reyla at my sides and the rest of the group clustered opposite us. I tugged each item out, handing large portions around to each. We poured watered-down ale in cups and dug in; our bellies ravenous after flying all day.
As the night sky swept away the sun and stars burst through the inky darkness left behind, we sat by the fire, speaking in low voices about pretty much nothing. We didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, let alone the day after that, and we were all tired of speculation.
Zayde and Layla went to bed not long after we finished eating, taking a blanket and settling in the deep grass partway across the meadow. Reyla did the same, leaving Vexxion and Airia sitting across from me and Brodine.
I fed the fire more wood, and it licked greedily at the dry bark, snapping and cackling with glee.
Vexxion silently watched me, and I’d give almost anything to be able to read his expression, to know what he was feeling in his heart. He didn’t hate me, but the love I needed no longer stretched out its wings to touch me.
Her eyes sparkling in the firelight, Airia watched Bro. If she liked him, I wished her well. He was a good guy, and he deserved to find someone who’d care for him above all others. Could that person be Airia?
It might be foolish to think of any of us winding up with someone to love. A war was coming, and we’d lead the charge. The odds of us surviving were slim.
Still, with my heart a lump of pain bruising itself against my ribs, and no hope in sight for me and Vexxion, it was nice to think that someone might come through this with a happy ending.
Brodine emptied the last of the ale into our cups, though Vexxion and I passed on having more.
Airia started to lift her mug to sip, but a crack rang out in the woods behind her. Her hand jostled as she twisted to face that direction, and her mug went flying, spilling the last of her drink.
Vexxion flitted from view, returning a short time later,dropping down to face us across the fire again. “It was nothing but a few deer passing nearby. I’ve laid wards.”
Only then did my posture loosen.
Airia retrieved her cup and after rinsing it with a slosh of water from the big jug we’d filled in a nearby stream, she placed it inside her pack for tomorrow. “I’m going to bed.” She grabbed a blanket and dropped down into the grass a short distance away.
The dragons resting on the edge of the meadow shifted and sighed before returning to slumber.
I braced my palms on the ground behind me, staring into the flames. I should go to bed myself.
“I can set up a place for you to sleep tonight,” Brodine offered softly. “Lay a blanket for you on a soft part of the ground, I mean,” he hastily added. “Nothing else. I . . .” His shoulders curled forward, and his voice dropped to a vulnerable whisper. “I was out of my head before we came here. Not thinking right.” His spine stiffened with resolve. “But I’m thinking better now, and, well, I miss us. What you and I had . . . before. You and Reyla are the only family I have, and I don’t want to lose that.”
