You okay?
Redara’s voice in my head doesn’t really surprise me. I know she can feel my anger.How much of that did you catch?
All of it.I continue running, weaving around the people that are out and about. People stare at me as they have every other time, but I ignore them. I think back through everything that was said this morning, and frustration and anger burn through me once again. Thankfully, Redara lets me be; but I can tell she’skeeping the link between us open. I run until I can’t run anymore. Only then, do I slow down and walk. I don’t have a clue where I’m at. I haven’t been this far from the castle yet, well except for when I was on Redara’s back. But that was different as we just flew over everything. I take in where I am now. There aren’t as many houses; there are more trees here. It’s beautiful and almost magical. The trees sparkle in the sunlight with their ice and snow. No matter where I look, all I see is white. I drop my hands to my hips and take it all in. I let the peace of this moment settle around me. I lift my gaze to the sky and take in the spirit dragons soaring through the clouds. I watch them for a few minutes, totally transfixed. Their bright colors will never cease to amaze me. Currently, there’s a bright yellow one, an orange one, purple, pink, an aqua, and two different shades of blue. I’m not sure how long I stand in that spot, but it’s long enough that the cold starts to seep in. I become acutely aware of the fact I am not dressed for this weather, and I start back towards the castle. Even as cold as I am, I don’t regret coming out here; I don’t regret my run. I needed it. I feel better. My problems still exist—mainly Rauk—but I feel better equipped to handle them. My mind feels clearer. After a while, I come back to what I’m now understanding is the center of town. More people stare now, but I ignore them. Surprisingly, a person here or there will wave at me. I wave back and try not to look too shocked. A shiver works through me, and I blow into my hands, trying to warm them.
By the time I get back to the castle, I feel like I’m frozen solid. I make my way up the steps on wooden legs. The door opens only seconds after I knock. “Oh, Harper, come in.” Elowen holdsout my fur to me. “Wrap this around you. Why would you go out without any protection from the cold?”
I don’t answer her; my teeth are chattering too much. She continues to hold the door open. I’m about to ask why when Rauk steps inside. His dark eyes meet mine for just a moment before he turns away and starts towards the door that leads to the wing where his and Auri’s rooms are. I watch him go for a moment, wondering why he was outside. “Here, drink this.” Elowen places a steaming mug of tea in my hands, and I gratefully take a sip. The liquid warms me from the inside out, and so does the fire I sit in front of a few minutes later. Elowen hovers for a little bit until I convince her I’m fine. She finally retreats to the kitchen, leaving me in silence. I look over at the door Rauk disappeared behind and ponder my next steps. I finally stand to my feet. No matter my differences with Rauk, Auri is still my friend. I'm not going to ignore her or make her go back to staying in her room every day. I take a deep breath, ready to battle her older brother if need be. Thankfully, my run helped ease that edge of anger. Now, I just feel resigned. I head to the kitchen first and drop off my mug.
“Thank you,” I tell Elowen.
“You’re welcome.” She doesn’t say anything else, and neither do I. I don’t want to make her life more difficult. She works for Rauk, and I get that. I make my way towards the other end of the castle. I push the button for the locks and wait for them to disengage and the door to open. I step into the hallway and make my way towards Auri’s room. When I pass Rauk’s room, his door is closed; and I assume he’s in there. I breathe a sigh of relief that Iwon’t have to run into him yet. But I’m wrong. When I knock on the door and open it carefully, I don’t get very far before I realize that Rauk is not in his room. Nope. He’s in here...with Auri.
“Can I fix it now?”
Auri’s eyes dart over to mine, and I have no doubts about what they’re talking about. She seems to be looking to me, though, so I give her a small nod. I want to smile at her, but I don’t feel capable. She looks back at her brother. “Yes.” Her voice is quiet and reserved, much like it was when I first met her; and my heart aches.
Rauk doesn’t look over at me, but I know the question is for me anyway. “What were you trying to do?”
I don’t hesitate to answer. “Lower her bed so she could get in and out more easily.”
I watch as he bends and looks at the two legs on this side of the bed before walking over to the other side. He disappears for a moment. There’s the sound the axe hitting its mark, and then the entire bed drops. I stare at the bed and then him as he stands.He got it in one go? One swing of the axe?
Auri’s eyes meet mine, and I see the same shock mirrored there. Then, the corner of her lip twitches. It’s just for a second, but I saw it. And just like that, I know I’m not giving up on this girl. I will fight her brother every single moment of every day if I have to, to give this girl a life...a full life. I want to see her smile, experience life, laugh out loud. And if somebody has to fight for her, it might as well be me. I’m a fighter; it’s who I am. And Rauk’s going to find out just how much of a fighter I really am.
Chapter 21
Well now that the bed is fixed, I remember the original reason I came in here. “Auri, you hungry? I’m ready for lunch.” She glances at Rauk hesitatingly, but I’m not going to let him keep her in here. I walk over to the bed. “You ready?” Thankfully, she’s already dressed for the day. Elowen helped with that. “Hang on, Kiddo.” Her arms slip around my neck, and I lift her. My arms and back scream at me after yesterday, but I’m not about to show weakness in front of her brother.
“What are you doing? You could drop her.”
I roll my eyes as I put her in her chair and stand up to face him. “And yet, I didn’t.” She wheels out of her room but not before stopping to look back at Rauk. “Let’s see what Elowen made,” I say, drawing her attention to me. She wheels out into the hallway, and I walk along beside her. When we get to the kitchen, Elowen smiles broadly. “Who’s hungry?”
“We are,” I answer for both of us. I help her ladle out the broth and put a piece of crusty bread in each bowl and then carrythem over to the table just at Rauk comes in.
“What happened out there?”
I look over at him with a raised eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”
“What did you do out there?” he asks again.
“Oh, you mean making this place less like a dungeon and more like a home to live in?” Before he can say anything, I add, “We thought Auri would enjoy it.”
He looks down at Auri, and I watch in fascination as his face softens. It honestly takes me by surprise. Actually, it surprises me so much, I miss what he says next. But Auri doesn’t. She looks up at him. “I really like it,” she says quietly.
He gives her a soft smile. “Good.” He takes a step back and doesn’t look at me. “I’ve got to leave for a few hours; I should be home for dinner.” He glances over at Elowen. “Thanks.” He walks out of the kitchen, and silence follows in his absence.
I decide right then and there to talk to him tonight. He can’t avoid me forever, and we have to talk about the war. There’s a sort of heaviness now that didn’t exist before, and I’m determined to get rid of it. “I have big plans for after lunch.”
Auri looks at me with a question in her eyes. “Weapons practice?”
“Nope.”
“Red?” she asks hopefully.
“She might stop by later, but no; not that.”
“Then what?”
