Of Dragons and Donkeys (The Hearth Cycle Book 1) by Catriona Buhayar

Author:Catriona Buhayar [Buhayar, Catriona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silurian Press
Published: 2023-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

WHEN THEY REACHED the army’s camp at the forest’s edge, they were greeted by two tired guards and a flock of hangers-on. The guards removed everyone’s bonds except Callie’s. They were ushered into a wooden stockade. Callie was pushed into a cramped metal cage. She stumbled and dropped to the ground. She didn’t get up.

“You can let her out,” said Agatha. The guard just laughed.

Agatha tried again. “No, I promise. She won’t hurt you. She’s just lying there.”

“We know what she is,” the guard replied. “You can save your breath.” He let himself out of the stockade, leaving the prisoners alone.

Bertie and Agatha ran to the edge of Callie’s cell. The other prisoners gave them a wide berth.

“Callie,” pleaded Bertie. “Callie, please.”

Agatha wrapped her arms around Bertie. “I don’t think there is anything we can do right now.”

“But they are torturing her.”

“I know. I know. But until we can get her out of that jacket, I don’t think anything will help. And to get her out of the jacket, we need to convince the guards. Or the person that the guards report to. That man.”

“How do we persuade him to take off the jacket?”

“I’m not sure. We can’t make the argument that she’s not magical when the copper makes her pass out,” said Agatha.

“We could try to fight our way out.”

Agatha looked around the stockade. There were ten others, mostly huddled together near a smoky fire. Another two were talking quietly off to the side. No one would look towards Callie slumped on the ground.

“We need to talk to that grey man. Offer him more if he’ll take that jacket off her,” said Agatha.

“More of what? More of zero?”

“Well, we don’t tell him that.”

Callie moaned and rolled over.

“Callie. Callie. Wake up,” said Bertie. “Please.”

Called moaned again and her eyelids fluttered. “Bertie.”

“Oh, Callie. I’m so sorry.”

“Bertie. I itch and I hurt. How could they know to put this on me?” Callie wiggled on the ground and then gave up, lying on her back with her hair in a messy pile around her head.

“Those men are here too. From the fight.”

“I guess they won the bigger war,” said Callie.

“Don’t worry,” said Agatha. “I’m going to try to talk to the grey man.”

“Ugh.” Callie closed her eyes. “He was scary.”

“Bertie, stay with Callie,” ordered Agatha. She got up and walked to the edge of the stockade.

“What do you think she’s going to promise?” whispered Callie.

Bertie shivered, goose bumps moving down his arms. “Hopefully, just money.”

There was some movement by Agatha, and a gap opened in the barrier. Two guards carried a soup tureen and water barrel into the stockade. The other hostages hurried towards the food.

“Do you want anything?” asked Bertie.

“Water sounds lovely,” replied Callie.

Bertie joined the crowd, finding a cup for Callie and shoving a roll into his pocket. Agatha had somehow disappeared during the arrival of food, and Bertie squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to think about what Agatha was doing.

After Callie had drunk some water (and also had quite a bit poured on her by Bertie), she lay on her back and stared up at the blue sky.

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