Page 57 of Dragonbound

Erann nodded. An image entered his mind only to disappear as fast as it came. He blinked his eyes open. He knew without quite knowing how that it had come from – and been taken away by – the dragon.

There was something he didn’t want him to see.

38

SEREH

Sereh watched Emma. She couldn’t keep her confusion from her face. How had the woman found them? Where had she come from? When she’d gone outside the cave, she’d looked for tracks to determine where Emma had come from. But there weren’t any, apart from right by the cave entrance. It was almost as though Emma had appeared from nowhere. But that couldn’t be.

Sereh held her questions in place. Just. Erann knew Emma. How? Was it a new acquaintance? There was something familiar about Emma, but Sereh was certain she’d never seen her at the Full Council meeting before. But then, she didn’t know everyone in the Eastern Quarter. Maybe it was more a family resemblance to someone she did know. But did she know anyone named Floki? It was an unusual name. Again, some sort of recognition tugged at her. The fire crackled, distracting her, and she was aware of Erann’s mumbling. She glanced his way, but he was sleeping.

‘What are you putting in that?’ She finally broke the silence and nodded towards the pot.

‘Another hare, from your wolf-dog.’

In the corner, Erann’s mumbles had quietened.

‘I imagine you’re wondering how I found you,’ Emma offered, meeting her eyes.

Sereh thought the statement far too obvious and waited for Emma to continue.

‘I… I heard the avalanche. I was travelling alone after the Long Night. I came to see what had happened and I… I smelled smoke from your fire. When I found you, you were both asleep. Erann looked beaten up, so I thought I ought to stay. See if I could help,’ Emma finished in a garbled rush. Sereh listened, but she didn’t believe a word Emma had said. No one travelling alone would carry so many extra supplies. She’d found it almost impossible with two backpacks, and Emma had two baskets. Still she was grateful that Emma had decided to help them.

‘Well, I’m glad you did. It seems you have more supplies than we do.’

Sereh’s stomach rumbled, despite how much she’d eaten already. Emma smiled in sympathy.

‘When did you last eat something substantial before today?’

‘Not sure, to be honest. When was the avalanche? It was before that.’

‘It was yesterday. I’m not surprised you’re hungry. Here, pass me back your bowl, and I’ll refill it with something warm instead of that cold stew you have there.’

Sereh tore hungrily into her refilled bowl. She found it difficult to show more gratitude. Emma’s story didn’t ring with truth, and yet, she was here to help them, to heal them, to make Erann whole once more.

As she chewed the final mouthful, she stood. She went over to check on Erann again. He seemed to know much more about Emma than Emma had offered. When he woke, she’d make him tell her everything.

39

ERANN

The distinction between day and night, blurry at the best of times at the beginning of the Long Day, was meaningless. He lay ensconced in layer upon layer of furs and wolf pelts and continued the slow process of healing. Whenever he woke, Emma or Sereh was there for him, offering food and drink and the means to relieve himself. When the pain was too great, Skaldi provided support.

On the rare occasions he managed to keep his eyes open, Erann was able to communicate further with Skaldi. He explored their unique bond. Skaldi sometimes sent him images while he slept. The dreams he had were disturbing in a way that was difficult to grasp. Something felt wrong. Something felt off. He couldn’t narrow down what it was as his mind was too caught up in everything else. Emma, Sereh, Skaldi, Rankil, his mother, the avalanche, his sister, his brother. He hoped his sister had made it to Uncle Thorkell’s by now. They’d be worried about him. He was worried about them.

He found it hard to concentrate and be coherent when he did speak to Emma or Sereh.

Sereh had been attentive to his every need, but since the arrival of Emma, he’d felt a reserve in her behaviour. He didn’t like it. He wanted to be more open with her.

Finally, on the fourth dawning since the avalanche, he woke, coherent and relatively pain-free. His hands were clamped on his father’s journal, although he couldn’t remember picking it up before he’d slept. He knew Sereh was interested in discussing it and wondered if maybe that had been his last coherent thought before sleep claimed him.

Emma handed him a hot drink and a bowl of soup. He drank both gratefully.

‘How’s Sereh?’ he whispered to Emma. Emma seemed a little taken aback by his question. He imagined they were struggling to maintain civility. Sereh was all prickles and hurt feelings. Emma exuded a calmness she perhaps didn’t feel.

Emma answered in a whisper. ‘She seems… well. Angry but well. Be careful what you say around her, Erann.’ Her caution was edged with the sharpness of fracturing ice.

Erann nodded and then smiled.