AllFreeNovel
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“I’m aware.”
They fell into silence for a long stretch of time again. She tried another tactic. “How old are you?”
“Why do you care?”
“I’m trying to make conversation. To learn something about you.”
“Please don’t.”
“Well, it’s either that or I start singing ‘Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall’ again.”
He groaned. “Fine. I remember watching the humans scratch their first markings on cave walls. However long that was.” It was clear he hated talking about himself.
“Wow. That explains all the scars and stuff. No offense, you look like you’ve seen some shit.”
“That was all since coming here.” His lips peeled back in another grimace. It reminded her of a cat about to snarl. “IdespiseAvalon.”
“What happened?”
“The other elementals.” He was rigid, once more fuming, the memory of his past triggering his rage. “They are greedy, jealous, capricious, treacherous, power-madfools.They took my eye as a warning. The rest was from my fight to survive.”
The other elementals tookhis eyeas a warning.
Gwen’s shoulders drooped. She had hoped to meet some more of them, to see what they were really like. They couldn’t beallbad. Nobody wasallbad, right? She looked at Merlin. Maybe she’d have to amend that belief.
Maybe Mordred was right. Maybe elementals shouldn’t be free. It brought her thoughts back to the Prince in Iron like a trainwreck. God, she missed him.
Night began to fall in earnest, and it was time to set up camp. Surprisingly, Merlin didn’t protest as she led the mare off into the woods, following a small creek, and found a clearing where they could safely set up.
The villagers had given themtonsof stuff. A tent, two bedrolls, plenty of dried goods, some fishing supplies, canteens for water. She smiled. They might have been generous out of fear, but at least they were generous.
Taking everything off the mare, she set it all aside to give the poor animal a break. She tied a rope to the horse’s bridle and attached the other end to a tree, giving the creature access to the creek and some space to lie down and sleep.
Merlin was sitting by the edge of the clearing, staring off into the darkness.
“I’ll see if I can catch us some fish. Do you think we can risk having a fire?” She set out the bedrolls. Eod had no problem claiming one as his own, happily chewing on a stick. She supposed that would be hers.
Merlin squinted up at the sky. “Probably. A small fire, though.”
That was fine by her. Taking out the fishing supplies, she sat by the shore and began putting a hook on a line.
“What are you doing?”
Glancing at him, it was her turn to play disgruntled. “What does it look like? Catching us some fish, like I said.”
“Withthat?” He sighed. “You are an elemental.”
“Yeah, a fire elemental, it’s not like I can just—” She paused, and then looked at the creek. She decided to try something. Sticking her hand into the water, she tried to set the water itself on fire. It hissed and steamed. And then began to boil.
A few fish floated to the surface. Cackling, she quickly rushed to grab them with a net. The water was quickly renewed with more from the creek. Wading into the stream, she decided to repeat that a few more times. When she had collected enough to feed her, Merlin, and Eod, she headed back to the shore.
“It’s like those people who fish with dynamite.”
“Humans.” Merlin lowered himself down until his head was resting atop his crossed arms.
Getting a small campfire going was even easier. After gutting the fish, she put them on sticks and propped them up over the campfire to cook. “I used to love camping with my dad. His family is from Oregon, so every summer we’d go out there and spend a week in the woods. I guess that’ll come in handy.”
Merlin simply grunted. They ate their dinner in relative silence, with Eod happily devouring everything she gave him. After chucking the remains back into the creek, she lay down on her bedroll. She had it to herself for precisely two minutes before Eod was flopped down beside her, curled up by her legs.
