Dragon Fire (Dragons of Perralt Book 1) (4 page)

Twisting away, she used the cloth to clean her face, then returned to eating the rabbit. Only when it was fully gone did she push back her qualms and take a portion of the rice.

Of course, the damn rice was perfect. A fact that only made her more upset.

They continued to eat in silence. Both of them focused on the food.

When they were done. He gathered the bones and buried them away from the camp. He returned and stretched out next to the fire. His long legs taking up half the forest.

She laid down out on the blanket and tried to relax. Her legs hurt from the long walk, her shoulders ached, and she’d split a nail when grabbing a root to help her up a steep climb. But worse of all, she felt grimy. The day’s travels had embedded a layer of dirt into her skin. This is only the first day, she realized. How far must they go? On foot, no less.

The sounds of the forest washed over her as the day turned to dark.  They continued to sit there, feeding the flames. Simply relaxing.

No demands, nothing that waited to be done. She was comforted by the knowledge that they could be with each other, and neither feel the need to talk. They could just be.

Suddenly, the sounds of the forest halted. It was as if someone had drawn a blanket over a window. Nothing, no night birds calling. No frogs croaking. Even the insects had gone quiet.

The world had disappeared into the night.

Drake sat up. His eyes searching.

“Stay here,” he said as he got up.

Elsbeth rose to join him. How dare he order about like that?

She remembered their agreement at the tavern. But, that didn’t mean he had to be so mean about it. A kind request would be so much nicer. But then, she doubted this man knew how to be kind. It seemed the forest bred, boorish, brutes who only talked in simple sentence and single syllables.

“I mean it,” he said. “Stay here, keep the fire going, and keep your back to the rock.”

“What is it?” she demanded. Her heart raced, and her breath couldn’t come fast enough as fear washed through her. He was concerned. She could see it in in eyes.

“Here,” he said as he passed her his sword.

She gulped. It was serious. Her anger at him washed away.

He smiled reassuringly at her, then disappeared into the night.

“Drake,” she called after him. How could he leave her alone like this? Shivering, she threw another branch onto the fire, then scooted back to the boulder, her hands gripping his sword so tight her knuckles began to ache.

Still, the forest was quiet. A deep foreboding quiet that sent shivers throughout her body. It seemed the animals were waiting. Waiting for something to pass.

Her heart raced, and her mouth went dry. How dare he leave her alone? Why? What was out there that could make him act this way. Why didn’t he need his sword? How was he to defeat their enemies without a sword?

A distant branch snapped, then another. She flinched, her ears straining to hear anything approaching. The night was dark, the tree cover made it even darker. She knew in the depths of her soul. Sound would be her only warning, and it wouldn’t be much.

It was as if she were buried in a black cave. Waiting to be devoured.

A soft whoosh above her made her cringe. She looked up where the smoke from the fire disappeared into the leaves above. A dark shadow passed above the trees.

The shadow briefly blocked out the stars. No form, no substance, just a dark patch on a dark sky. Moving slowly, searching.

She froze, as a primeval fear rose inside of her, making her want to scream. What was it? What could make her feel such dread?

The night remained quiet. She continued to grip the sword as she searched the sky above her. Holding her breath, she waited. But, the shadow was gone. It didn’t reappear. Leaving her with a sense of empty hope.

What could it have been? Her insides had turned to ice. Where was Drake, had he seen the shadow? Did he know what was out there?

Her heart threatened to break at the thought of him hurt somewhere. Needing her help. Should she go look for him?

The thought of stepping into the night, away from the fire, sent a new bolt of fear through her. No, Drake had told her to stay there. She would do what she had been told. For once in her life. She would listen.

Another branch broke. Snapping like a whip. She jumped, but nothing happened.

Slowly, the night returned to normal. First, a few insects began to chirp, then a frog joined them, calling for a mate. Her heart began to return to normal.

If the animals weren’t afraid, then she shouldn’t be, right? After all, who would call for a mate if they were in danger of being eaten? It wouldn’t happen, right?

It felt like hours passed, but at last, she heard Drake call her name from the forest.

“Elsbeth,” he said. His voice, strong and secure. “It’s me.”

He stepped out of the darkness and into the soft yellow glow of the fire, like a god returning to earth.

She didn’t think, didn’t ponder what was the right thing to do. She just reacted by dropping his sword and throwing herself into his arms.

He was safe. The monsters of the night had been defeated.

She felt his arms wrap themselves around her as she sunk into his hard chest. The man was like a rock in a raging storm.

Her rock.

“You bastard,” she said stepping back, then punching him in the arm. “Don’t leave me alone like that again. Do you hear me?”

He chuckled and shook his head.

“You were never in danger, Princess. I assure you.”

She wanted to argue with him. Wanted to pound her fists into that large chest of his so that he would understand. She had been afraid. Very afraid. A situation that she did not care to repeat.

He glanced down at the blankets laying on the forest floor. The scarred eyebrow rose slightly.

“It’s going to be a cold night. Are you sure you want to sleep all the way over there?”

She could have sworn there was a silly smirk behind his normal scowl. Her cheeks immediately burst into flame. He could not be suggesting they sleep next to each other.

“I assure you, Drake,” she said, “my sleeping next to you is not going to happen. While it might fulfill your wildest fantasies. I do have standards.”

He laughed, “Don’t get too excited,” he said.  “It wasn’t your body I wanted. Just your warmth.  But then, that would be like asking a bull for milk. A person can’t give what they don’t have.”

Elsbeth felt the air rush from her lungs.

The giant oaf. How dare he?  He had the refinement of a lump of coal. What was worse, the idiot wasn’t even aware of how obnoxious he was. It was like talking to a stone.

She watched him throw a few sticks on the fire, then lay down on his blanket. The man didn’t have a care in the world.

She wanted to scream. He was so frustrating. Instead, she scurried to her blankets and wrapped herself up tight. She‘d show him cold. If he thought she was standoffish before. Wait until tomorrow.

Drake woke to lavender and warm softness. He smiled to himself. Sometime in the night, Elsbeth had crawled in next to him.

It was amazing what a cold night would make a person do.

He lay on his side, his arm draped across her middle. Her sweet curves nestled in next to him. It was enough to make a man forget himself and his responsibilities.

Sighing to himself, he pulled her closer and enjoyed the moment.

Drake’s mind wandered to the night before. He had not expected to sense another beast. Not here, not now. He had been surprised. Something which was never a good thing. He hated surprises.

Luckily, the beast had fled once he had risen to join it in battle.

Still, it worried him. Why now? Was it the medallion? Had it called to the other beast?

He could feel the medallion nestled between her breasts pulling at him. Begging him to take it. But, duty restrained him. His ancestor’s promise bound him.

Elsbeth began to stir, she sighed contentedly in her sleep and scrunched back into him, wiggling her hips to find just the right spot. As if drawing strength and warmth from his body. He was perfectly all right with that. He could lay here all day with her in his arms.

He began to grow hard next to her. How could he not, with an ass like hers pressed into him?

She pushed back for a moment, then froze. As if realizing what was poking her from behind. She squealed a little and bolted away from him.

Standing, she smoothed out her skirts and turned away, obviously embarrassed.

He caught a brief glimpse of her pretty blushing cheeks. They looked as red as a cardinal’s wing. Such an attractive quality in a woman. But then, everything about this woman pulled at him.

Smiling to himself, he rose and began to roll up the bedding.

“We have a long way, Princess,” he said, “we should probably be going.”

Elsbeth nodded and looked around.

“I’ll give you a few minutes. Don’t wander far, everything is safe. Nothing will hurt you. But then, we need to be going.”

Again, her cheeks blushed as she realized what he was telling her. She ducked her head and scurried into the bushes.

A few minutes later she returned, her head held high, for all the world, a princess again. She kneeled and helped him finish packing for the trip.

“A cold night,” he said in passing, “it gets like that in the forest.”

She ignored him and concentrated on her pack.

“How far?” she asked. As if wanting to change the subject.

“Far,” he answered. “We’ll eat on the trail.”

She looked at him strangely.

“Sorry, but there won’t be any cooks standing next to some tree, handing out finger sandwiches.”

The look of pure scorn she shot his way was priceless.

Slinging his pack, he helped her with hers, then set off.

The day would again be fair, with a slight breeze. The sun was climbing, the birds were singing. And all he could think about was this woman behind him and how it felt to hold her in his arms.

Should he seduce her? Should he take what she wanted to offer? Nothing about the medallion said that he couldn’t.

Then why hadn’t he?

A subtle shift in his hand this morning. A few gentle words and she’d have given him what they both wanted. He knew it in his soul, the woman was made for him.

But he had restrained himself. Why? His body had craved it. What had stopped him? he wondered.

Sighing to himself, he began up the next hill, occasionally glancing back to make sure that Princess was keeping up.

She pushed a strand of hair out of her face and looked up at him with a scowl. Obviously wishing he would die a long slow death.

A woman after his own heart.

What was she thinking about? Probably cursing him under her breath, he thought. Cursing the big oaf who thought he could take liberties with her body.

Grumbling to himself, he turned and continued on.

The morning passed in silence between them. The only discussion was about the trail itself. Watch that branch. Careful down this slope. Use that root for a handhold. That kind of thing.

If the woman was upset at him for some reason, then the gods be praised. There was nothing more enjoyable in this world than a quiet woman doing what she was told.

He would stop occasionally and gather berries or fiddle head ferns. As he had said, they ate on the trail.

They had stopped for a noon break when he caught her studying the sky. A sick, uneasy feeling passed through him. Had she seen something last night?

If so, why hadn’t she said anything?

What would she do if she knew the truth? Would she run away in fear? For some reason, he doubted that. The woman had a backbone of iron.

No, she’d be disgusted, though. That was most definitely the case. A princess like her, she had to be.

She stopped staring at the sky and returned to eating the berries in her hand.

“It is beautiful,” she said.

He leaned back, surprised. Where did that come from?

“The forest,” she added. “I always thought of it as evil, scary, but it isn’t really. At least not during the day.”

“Don’t become too infatuated with it,” he said. “There are still a dozen things in these woods that can kill you before you realize you’re dead.

She smiled at him, obviously thinking that he was trying to scare her. How little she really understood.

“I doubt that,” she said, not as long as you are here. I don’t think there is an animal in the world that would attack us. Not unless it was a dragon or something. Bears, wolves, they wouldn’t stand a chance.”

He blanched. Why were they talking about dragons? Where was this going? And, what was with the compliment? Had she decided to drop the whole silent treatment and try to curry favor with compliments? Oh, how little she knew him.

“Yes,” she continued, “I think only a dragon itself could defeat you in battle. And even then, it would take a big one, I imagine.”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he studied the food in his hand. If he looked at her, she might see the truth in his eyes.

Pull yourself together man, he thought to himself. You’ve got a long way to go. Don’t let a pretty figure and long eyelashes scramble your brain. Focus. Get her to Sinstra and retrieve the medallion.

Tossing his remaining berries to the side he mumbled, “Let’s go,” as he started up the trail. Not waiting to see if she followed.

Without turning, he knew that pretty forehead of hers was narrowed in anger. Good, he thought. Hate was good. It would help him keep his distance.

.o0o.

Every muscle in Elsbeth’s body screamed in pain. But, she refused to let the oaf in front of her know. She refused to give him the satisfaction of looking down at her. She refused to let the man think she were lacking in some way.

The man was half billy goat. Scampering up hills and down cliffs, like he owned them. Plus, those long legs of his. It wasn’t fair, she had to take two steps for everyone one of his.

Shifting the pack on her shoulders, she kept her head down and focused on her feet. One step at a time. One foot in front of the other. Don’t think of the pain. Don’t wonder how much further. Don’t let him know of your weakness.

Suddenly, she felt him swoop her up in his arms.

“This will go so much faster if you just let me carry you the rest of the way. You are about out on your feet.”

“But …” she said as she pushed at his shoulders. It was like trying to topple a brick wall.

“No buts,” he said. “Believe me, this is easier.”

She felt his massive arms cradle her. He did it with such effortless grace. As if he were holding a bird, afraid to break it’s bones.

Instinctively, her hands went up and around his neck. She could feel his mighty heart pounding against her ribs. The thought reminded her of waking this morning and what she had felt pressing against her backside.

The thought brought an instant flush to her entire body. The pure feminine power that had washed through her at the realization that a man such as this could want her.

Despite every attempt to deny herself, she lay her head against his chest and rested. He smelled of man, she thought. All man, strong, earthy, clean. The kind of smell that could seep into a woman’s soul and keep her warm for generations.

What must she smell like? she thought with a start. Her heart jumped. They had been on the trail for two days. Surely, it could not be attractive.

But he didn’t seem to be turning his nose up. In fact, he seemed to hold her even more gently. As if she were important to him. The thought sent a warm glow throughout her body.

They continued to walk. Or, he continued to walk, she continued to rest.

He focused on the trail. She focused on him.

Where was he from? Did he have a family? Was someone waiting for him at home? A thousand thoughts and questions pounded into her.

But, one question refused to let go, ‘Did he have a wife?’ How could she find out? She couldn’t exactly come out and ask him. He was here to help her through the forest. Nothing more, she reminded herself.

All he wanted was the medallion. She felt the cold metal against her skin. Why did he want it so much? He had been adamant in his refusal to help. Until he had seen her mother’s medallion.

The mystery nipped at her. She despised mysteries. Just as she despised surprises. Life was difficult enough to control. There was no need to add to the drama.

Sighing, she allowed herself to relax. She wouldn’t be getting the answers to her questions. Not today.

They traveled several more miles, all the while he never faltered. Never appeared to tire. He was like a draft horse. Big, powerful and impossible to stop.

At last, Drake stepped off the trail and weaved his way between the trees.

It amazed her, how well he knew the woods. He knew them as well as she knew her castle. This was his home, of course he did.

“Here we go,” he said as he gently set her down.

She felt a cold emptiness when he stepped away from her. She looked around. They had stopped in a small clearing. Enough room for soft grass to grow.

A ring of rocks marked where others had camped in this very spot. Her heart jumped a little when she realized she would be expected to make a fire in those rocks. Could she do it?

He set his pack down, then helped her with hers.

She dropped her own pack and twisted, turning to try and loosen the knot in her back.

“Come, I want to show you something,” he said with a secret smile. The absence of his normal scowl, startled her. He looked like a little boy wanting to share his secret fort.

He grabbed her pack by a shoulder strap and took her hand, gently leading her into the trees. They walked only a short while when they broke through into another small opening.

A crystal clear pool, with steam rising into the air, lay before them.

“A hot springs,” she said in wonder.

The pool was at least a dozen yards across. Someone had dammed up the far end to make it even deeper. The water trickled over the edge of the rocks and down a small ravine.

Thick green moss surrounded the edge of the pool, like the collar of a dress. A faint whiff of sulfur permeated the air, turning some of the rocks on the edge, yellow.

It was magical, she thought. As if fairies would come out at midnight to dance beneath the stars. She looked back up at him. Her brow knit in surprise.

He smiled back down at her. “It will help sooth those sore muscles of yours.”

Her body ached to sink into its warmness.

But, she would have to disrobe, here, outside. The thought sent a tingle through her entire body. A mixture of fear and excitement.

He seemed to read her mind and smiled. “I’ll be back at camp. Don’t take too long. I need my turn.”

With that, he stepped back into the trees and disappeared.

Would he really stay away? she wondered. Could she trust him?

Who cares? she thought. She wanted a bath.

Tearing into her pack, her heart raced as she searched. Yes! He had included it. A bar of soap. Her special Lavender soap. He had transferred it to her pack from her bags at the barn.

The man was a genius. Had he known they would be stopping here? Had he known that she would desperately want a bath?

Genius. An oaf, but a smart one. Pure genius.

Reaching back, she quickly unlaced her dress and let it fall. Removing the rest of her clothes, she stood naked before the pool. Her body tingled from the cool air as she glanced over her shoulder to make sure she was still alone.

What would she do if he stepped through the trees? The thought of him seeing her naked, bare, and vulnerable didn’t frighten her. It excited her, made her feel things inside that a young lady wasn’t supposed to feel.

Shaking her head, she slowly slipped into the pool, one step at a time. Letting her body become accustomed to the hot water.