Well, why did you buy all thatstuffthen?
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.
Chapter 17
That sounds like him,I send to her as I walk next to her.Just making friends everywhere he goes.She snorts, but this time there’s no sulfur smell. So hopefully she’s not as angry as she was.I am sorry you got stuck here, though, instead of going with. Did Noxlyn tell you where they went?
No.
I wait for her to say more, but she doesn’t.Well, that’s annoying.I think about it while we walk. Where could they possibly be for a few days that they don’t want us to know? And why? Rauk gets a little more frustrating every single day. She doesn’t say anything else the rest of the way to the castle, and I don’t have anything to add. We draw all sorts of attention as we walk, but nobody tries to stop us. They just scatter as soon as they look up and see Redara, which is just as well because I’m not really in the mood to talk to anybody. I just want to get back to the castle. When we get there, I nudge Redara’s front leg. “Thanks. What are you going to do now?” A snort of air is all I get in response.I turn towards the castle, and an idea takes form.Hey, I’ve got an idea. Want to meet Rauk’s sister?She doesn’t respond, and I take that as consent.She can’t come out front, but I’ll bring her out the back door. Do you mind meeting me in the back? You can just...fly over or whatever. I’ll meet you there in just a few.I hurry up the steps before she can argue with me. When I get to the front door, I bang on it with my fist. It doesn’t take long for the locks to disengage, and Elowen opens the door for me.
“Oh, goodness. Let me help.”
“I think it’s easier if I just get it all inside,” I offer instead. “If I move anything, I’m going to drop it all.” She pulls the door back all the way, and I make my way inside. I walk over to an open area on the floor and bend over and put all my supplies on the ground. “All right. Is Auri still resting?”
“Yes.”
I start that way. “I’m going to grab her and come right back.” When I get to her room, I knock softly. When I don’t hear anything, I open her door slowly. I walk over to her bed and shake her gently. “Hey, Sleepyhead. You gonna sleep all day?” She doesn’t budge. I stare down at her. “Really?” I shake her a little harder.Nothing.Panic starts to build in my chest. “Auri?” I shake her a little more roughly. “Elowen!” I shout, trying to figure out what’s wrong with her.
The door to her room opens. “What’s wrong?” Elowen asks, out of breath.
“She won’t wake up!”
“Oh.” Elowen’s voice is decidedly less frantic. “She’s a deep sleeper.” She walks over to the bed and pulls the covers off andproceeds to pull Auri into a sitting position. “Wake up, Child.” Bleary eyes blink open and close a moment later, and I nearly sag in relief. It takes a few more minutes to get her fully awake, out of bed, and in her chair. I grab a fur for her because she’s going to need it.
“Okay, can we just agree that that is not normal?” I ask as soon as we’re in the hallway.
“What?” Auri asks, her face a picture of innocence.
“I thought you were dead! That’s how asleep you were!”
I get the faintest smile in return, and I suddenly decide it was worth the panic I felt. “I have a surprise for you.”
Her eyes jerk up to mine. “You do?”
I nod. “Yep, but we have to go outside for it.”
“Okay.”
Elowen walks with us over to the door. “Are you ready for this?” I ask Auri. She simply shrugs in response. “Well, don’t get too excited.” Still no response, but I don’t let it bother me. “Close your eyes.” She looks up at me with a face that is truly unimpressed. “Just do it.” She finally closes her eyes, and I open the door. I see Redara right away.Behave,I send to her.
I always behave.
It’s my turn to snort. And then we’re outside. Elowen steps outside behind us and goes still. Her eyes are wide as she takes in Redara, but I focus my gaze on Auri. Her eyes are wide with awe and wonder. Redara turns her head towards where we’re standing and chuffs. Smoke curls out of her nostrils, and she leans her head closer to where we’re standing. I watch her carefully. I think she’ll behave, but I’ve been wrong before. “She’sbeautiful,” The words are barely a whisper, but I hear them.
“She is,” I agree with Auri. “Want to get closer to her?”’
“Oh, I don’t know—” Elowen starts.
“Yes,” Auri says at the same time.
“Let’s do it,” I agree. “Elowen, can you get her chair?”
