Page 102 of Spellcast
Can I trust her, though?
Scanning her features, I read earnestness in her lovely face. Of course. She wants me gone that badly. Gone is gone and that’s all she’s after. Whether it’s me dead or me slipping away and disappearing into the mist.
She holds my stare, waiting for something. My acceptance or rejection? I’m not sure. I sit with her words, fully absorbing them.I will help you leave this place.
I finally respond the only way I can. I nod. A single stiff motion of affirmation, but she understands.
Her eyes light up, and I know I’ve made her happy. She’s been a regular monster toward me—but now she beams. There’s that at least.
She releases the bucket and shovel to me, and I head back down the tunnel with Merik behind me. He follows me as I make my way to the large firepit, stepping inside the ring of gemstones encircling the now banked fire.
“I can do this,” I say, sending him a wary glance. “I don’t need supervision.”
“I know.” He shrugs but doesn’t leave, simply squatting near the edge of the circle to watch me.
Pretending that his attention doesn’t make me nervous, I start shoveling the ash into the bucket. It’s a messy chore, and soon my hands are covered in soot up to my forearms.
“What are you looking at?” I snap as I scoop more ash into the bucket.
He blinks and shrugs, still contemplating me. “I’ve never seen one of you before.”
I hesitate, shooting him a dubious glance before continuing to shovel. “I assume you mean humans. Didn’t you just see soldiers out there in the Crags? Two armies?”
“Well, yes. I’ve seen plenty of humans from afar. Never up close, though.”
“So you’ve never killed a human?”
He shrugs again. “I didn’t say that.”
“Baby adder,” I mutter beneath my breath, sneaking him a glance between dumping shovels of ash.
“Some humans deserve killing,” he adds.
“Inversely, some dragons deserve killing.”
He snorts. “True. Some of us...the skelm? Real assholes.”
“And you’ve killed some of them?”
He pulls an exaggerated face. “Oh, no. I’ve never killed a dragon. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve had my share of brawls and tangles.” He nods, crossing his wrists over his knees. “But killing a fellow dragon—that’s a line I’ve never crossed.”
And yet that’s what he witnessed last night. Dragons fighting to the death. What must he think?
He continues. “Tage...he’s uh, the strongest onyx I’ve ever seen.”
I nod, understanding his admiration. “You could learn a great deal from him.” Better him than anyone else.
He nods, too, agreeing with me. “So. A witch put an invisibility spell on you?”
I blink at the abrupt change of subject. Apparently, he’s been apprised of the reason this pride has a human in their midst. His gaze moves around me, and I wonder if he’s seeing that faint aura surrounding me.
“Yes.”
“How long have you been cursed?”
I exhale. “Too long.”
“You could never find a witch to undo it?”
