The fire that crackled and flickered in the middle of their circle made the darkness of the surrounding forest all the deeper. Fox had hoped he’d feel more at home within the trees after his time with Sofia, but the forest was cold without her—the shadows more haunting.
They’d been walking for days with little incident, save for the constant current of unease that permeated the entire army. Even now, with a small group of them sitting at one of the many fires scattered around the camp, they kept their voices hushed, as if they knew something might be listening just behind the ferns. Their group was a random assortment of men from the second and fifth. They passed around a bottle of Terdunic whisky, bonding over the burning warmth of the drink and their aching feet.
“Fox has seen the thing.” Nesto’s voice broke Fox out of his thoughts, and he looked up to see the rest of the group looking at him. Some faces held open curiosity, but Immanuel and Jordi both sneered with open skepticism.
“Didn’t you get promoted to junior major just a few days before coming on this mission?” Jordi questioned, his eyes sweeping across Fox as if any of them looked sharp in their sweat-soaked and muddyuniforms. They’d bathed in the cenotes when they could, but it had been too cold at night to risk washing their clothes. “How did you get to see the dragon?”
“You all act like we haven’t been marching beside the creature for the last few days,” Fox said, refusing the bait. He’d avoided the hot-blooded soldier for two nights, but against his better judgment, he’d joined their group when the whisky had been opened, like a faery to blood.
“Doesn’t mean we’ve seen it,” Nico said from beside Nesto. “I carried the damned thing for two hours yesterday and I still didn’t get a glimpse under the blanket.”
The dragon’s cage had been carried by the men for a few days already. It had taken only a couple of days for the donkeys to become unusable, General Luna choosing to slit their throats on the spot rather than let them go free.
“Do you think dragons can curse you with a look?” Immanuel said, laughing at his own absurdity. “Perhaps we can throw Nesto at the cage and see.”
The group laughed, even Nesto drawing out an uncomfortable chuckle. Fox didn’t blame him. It was easier to laugh at the joke than to acknowledge that he was an outcast. He’d seen the way the other soldiers looked at Nesto. Like he was expendable—not that they all weren’t. Fox knew that Nesto felt it. It’s why the young soldier had spent his days walking at Fox’s side and his nights lying nearby.
“So, what’s it look like, then?” Nico said, turning the conversation back to Fox.
Fox shrugged. “It’s beautiful.”
Jordi let out a snort. “The little major here has been out of the city for too long. He needs to get his rocks off with something.”
“Perhaps you’re right. Hey, Nesto, why don’t you take care of him?” Immanuel said, provoking another bark of laughter from Jordi.
But the others were barely paying attention, eyes still focused on Fox.
“Well, go on,” Nico said. “You said beautiful. What the hell does that mean?”
“It’s just a child, and you can tell,” Fox said. “Its head is too big for its body still, and its body is too big for its wings. It’s white—but not the color of clouds, more like the inside of a seashell or the pearls from the Falain coast. And its wings are as thin as a butterfly’s. Nearly translucent.”
“It does sound beautiful,” Nesto said, though with a thoughtful gaze that hinted at someone struggling to make sense of Fox’s description. “But I guess even the ocean is beautiful right before the storm that strikes the ship down.”
Fox shook his head. “It’s not like that. It’s not beautiful scary. The thing is only a baby. I’m not sure it could do much harm.”
Jordi laughed. “So, we captured a damned Dragonborn god, and it turns out the thing is harmless? Maybe I’ll just kill it and save us all the pain of having to carry the fucker.”
“Be careful, Soldier,” Fox said, letting his voice drop low. “That dragon is an asset under the watch of General Luna. That’s close to treason what you’re joking about.”
Jordi scowled, but he said nothing more, snatching the whisky from Fini and taking a large swig.
“You should still be careful,” Nesto said, voice so low that Fox was sure only he could hear.
“What?” Fox said, turning his attention back to the young man.
“I’d be careful about falling for beautiful things that can kill you.”
Fox snorted. “I do have that problem.”
“I need to take a piss,” Immanuel announced as he stood, swaying ever so slightly as he did.
“You don’t need to tell us,” Jordi said, “unless you’re inviting Nesto here to join.”
Immanuel didn’t laugh this time, his lip curling as he stumbled off into the darkness that enveloped them. He seemed to disappear like a shadow the moment he stepped out of the circle of firelight, but his footsteps were loud, and Fox heard him cursing as he tripped and lumbered somewhere beyond.
Their group went back to speculating on what they’d find in themountains—where the conversation had originally gone before Nesto had brought Fox and Eha’s son into it. The entire army, not just their small group, had been taking bets on what they’d find. Fox hadn’t thrown his hat into the ring yet, too afraid of bringing any of it to life. He knew what the forest held, and the mountains had never let the Dereyans return alive. He didn’t want to know what they were keeping hidden among the peaks.
A short scream broke the quiet night, and their group went tense, Nico and Fini jumping to their feet.
