Page 25 of The Ember and the Emerald

Shudders rained over me. He didn’t threaten, but he didn’t need to. The implication was far worse.

“But let’s think positively, yes? Once he succeeds, I’ll let you speak with him.” Giddiness crackled in Gerald’s tone. “What a wonderful day this is. Just wonderful.”

Not one to give up, I tried another route. “My friend is shackled, and he needs to stay that way. But bound as he is, he’s in no condition to defeat a monstra.”

The shadow moved, pressing against my back, colder than ice. Air hissed between my teeth. Then its—his?—fingers seemed to stroke my hair. I licked my lips, nervous, confused... comforted?

“I’ll cut the link between his wrists, ensuring he’s able to fight with all his might. All right? This will make you happy?” Gerald didn’t give me an opportunity to respond. “Now, I’ll release you from your bonds, if you do as your queen says and promise not to run from me.”

A promise rose in my throat before I could stop it, as hot as fire. “I will not run from you.” What? No. I tried to snatch back the words, but I felt them fuse with my cells, as if I’d just bound myself with invisible chains.

Why would I do such a thing? Why did the shadow sweep from the hut, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared? And why, why, why did I wish he had stayed?

Gerald unsheathed a dagger, moved behind me, and cut the rope. My shoulders screamed with relief.

“Thank you,” I moaned, rubbing the raw spots on my wrists.

“What’s your name?” he asked, motioning for me to sit before the fire.

I complied, saying, “I’m M—Rye.” The book he and his son had been reading lay open at my side. My blood iced over. A hand-drawn sketch pointing out the best places to cut into a human body.

“Welcome to your new home, Rye.” He draped a fur over my shoulders. “Better?”

Heat enveloped me, and I soaked it in with a sigh. “So much better. Thank you,” I repeated. But this? My home? No. I would escape with Jasher at the first opportunity. “What do you know about the Ember of Everlight?”

The color drained from his cheeks, and he looked left, right. Voice the barest whisper, he admitted, “Only that any who seek it die in monstra fire. Please don’t speak of it again.”

Mmm. Was Ahav’s search what led to his death? But why had no one else reacted this way? Not my mother, Emma, or Elowen.

Gerald sat across from me and placed the pack before him. I stiffened when he attempted to open it. But he couldn’t work the zipper…or cut through the fabric. He couldn’t even remove the journal from the side pocket. A surprise to us both.

Hoping to distract him and also desperate for information, I asked, “What year is this?”

If he found the question odd, he didn’t show it. “The eighth year of King Ahav’s reign.”

Not an exact time, but close enough. Satisfaction tangled with anticipation. Both my mother and father lived.

Gerald pushed the pack aside and smiled, all eagerness. “Tell me where we find this bounty of fresh meat. It doesn’t matter what kind. Deer, beastie, snake, rabbit. We’ll take whatever you offer.”

“Oh. Um. Well.” I squirmed, uncomfortable in more ways than one. Way to put me on the spot. “I need some time to figure that out.”

Disappointment honed his eagerness to a sharper edge. “I beg you to hurry.”

“Of course.” I jumped to another topic. “How did you capture Elowen’s daughter?”

“She snuck into our village and attempted to free the monstra. We captured her straight away.”

Another mystery. Water maidens hated Ian and his monsters. Why try to free one beast?

Earnest, Gerald told me, “I don’t want you to feel trapped here, Rye. You are a welcome part of my family. The oracle who will lead us to abundance, out of lack.”

My shoulders rolled in. “But no pressure, right?” I muttered.

“Oh, there’s pressure. Lots and lots of pressure. Good families are hungry,” he said, leaning toward me. “We’ve done more starving than eating since the monstra arrived. They’ve burned our crops, stolen our animals, and killed our strongest soldiers. We grow weaker every day, barely subsisting on whatever we can scavenge. So take whatever time you need, but I suggest you be quick about it.” He raked his gaze over me a little too slowly for my liking. “Other options have started to look quite…tasty.”

8

FIGHT CLUB