Dragon's Flame by Miranda Martin

Author:Miranda Martin [Martin, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-08T06:00:00+00:00

9

Fallon

After the day we had, I really need a bath. Luckily, that's something I can actually have. I sigh as I lay my head back in the giant bathtub we found in one of the other rooms. Arawn was nice enough to help me carry enough water inside to fill it up just enough to be useful.

I really miss indoor plumbing, but at least it's always so hot here that I don't even worry about the water not being warm enough. Tepid or even cool feels amazing after sweating all day.

I loll around in the water longer than I need to, but what else am I going to do at this time of day anyway? So I stubbornly stay in long after my fingertips are wrinkly and call it time well spent. Still, I can't just become a fish. So I eventually I call it and get out of the tub, reaching for one of the drying cloths we brought with us.

I'm glad we packed for staying out in the desert because the New Villagers really haven't done much to accommodate us. Though after Errol and Arawn protected them so fiercely from those weird looking aliens, they're obviously thinking twice about being so unwelcoming.

There's definitely been a softening towards our group, especially towards the Zmaj. A noticeable one. It's kind of irritating to realize it's because these people see that Arawn and Errol are useful, but maybe the reasoning shouldn't matter so much as long as we get what we set out for here.

It's difficult to divorce my feelings from it though. I feel protective of Arawn now. I don't like the idea of people thinking of him only as a useful commodity rather than a person. But I can't control everyone's thoughts. That's a losing battle.

I briskly rub myself dry, hearing my stomach growl a complaint. I need to go forage for some food. I wrap the cloth around me and tuck it in at my chest to keep it in place before I move back out into the room where we have our pallets.

I hesitate as I see the cloth Arawn has spread over the floor, food laid out on it picnic style, that same fat candle lit, casting a warm glow.

"You already prepared dinner for us?" I ask, feeling a rush of warmth. At the same time, I make sure the drying cloth is tucked tightly around me.

He nods, his eyes heating as he takes in my bare arms and legs, the top of my chest. But he looks away, ever the gentleman. Sweet.

"Please, sit."

He gestures to the small cushions he's fashioned with blankets. I sink down onto one, sitting on my calves and keeping my legs together. I feel even more vulnerable without all my clothes on, but maybe I could just eat quickly and then grab them.

"Thank you, Arawn," I murmur as he hands me a plate. "I'm really hungry."

He smiles.

"Of course. I knew we both would be."

I smile back at him, taking a bite of the food.

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