Page 69 of Whispers of the Elderoak

She quietly looked at him, then nodded.

“Why didn’t they kill you? How long were you there?”

“I don’t know,” she said.

She could tell he didn’t believe her, but he didn’t push.

“Very well,” he said, and rose to help the others prepare dinner.

As he was about to walk away, she asked, “What are you going to do with me?”

“That depends on you,” Jorrar said, turning to look down at her. “The king will have many questions and if you are deemed a threat, possibly execution.” His eyes briefly softened before he turned back and joined his friends.

Execution?

The panic set back in. Of course she wasn’t a threat. She couldn’t fight, wasn’t strong and had no idea where she was. But what if the king had her killed for opening the portal? She was a liability if she could open more and if Deidamia found her again, it would put their whole world in even more danger.

She leaned against the tree, watching the group as Jorrar cooked over the fire. It smelled amazing, and her stomach growled in response. She hadn’t had anything but apples, dried meat, bread and cheese in days and no real food in weeks. The other three sat and watched him quietly, always making sure one of them had an eye on her.

When dinner was done cooking, Jorrar brought her a wooden bowl and spoon filled with a hearty stew. She thanked him and ate as best she could while her hands were still bound together.

Closing her eyes, she almost moaned as she took the first bite. Nothing had ever tasted this good in her life. At last, something with flavor and substance, filled with foraged vegetables and the meat of some game they had likely killed during their travel. The meat melted in her mouth, and she sipped on the warm broth contentedly. There had always been something about soups and stews that comforted her, as if wrapping her in a warm hug.

“Did they even feed you at all?” Quinn asked, noting Ava’s pleasure at the stew. “I’ve never seen anyone react to Jorrar’s shitty cooking in such a way.”

Jorrar made a face as if he was used to Quinn’s comments. Casimir watched the three of them with a flicker of amusement but said nothing as he ate his dinner.

They seemed easy around each other. Used to the antics and jokes.

She glared at Quinn, irritation rising before she had a chance to realize it. “Anything tastes amazing after you’ve been living off stale bread and old meat for weeks. Even Jorrar’sshitty cooking.”

Quinn gave her a flat look as Raine snorted at Ava’s comment.

Raine pointed at her with his spoon. “I like you. Even though you stabbed me.” He paused and smiled wider. “Actually, that makes me like you even more.”

“You’re an idiot,” lamented Quinn.

Ava allowed herself a small smile. At least one of them liked her. They finished their meal in silence, and she supposed the silence here was preferable to the awful screams and sounds back at the army camp.

After dinner, Quinn approached her and untied the rope from the tree.

“What are you doing?” Ava asked with trepidation.

“The general assigned me to take you to the creek. You stink.” She glanced at her as she grasped the rope. “Come on.”

Ava stood and followed Quinn into the woods where they stopped before a clear stream illuminated by the moonlight, snaking its way through the trees. Quinn untied Ava’s wrists, watching her closely.

“If you run, I’ll shoot you in the leg with an arrow,” she said as she dropped the rope and pulled a bow off her back. “Throw your clothes onto the shore.”

Ava walked to the stream, and though she wasn’t keen about being naked in front of a stranger, she was so caked with dirt and grime the temptation of feeling even a little bit cleaner overrode her remaining modesty. After tossing her clothing onto the ground, she lowered herself into the stream and sighed. The water was waist high and surprisingly warm, soothing her aching muscles.

“Why isn’t the water cold?” she asked.

Quinn was leaning against a tree, arrow nocked into place and aimed directly at her. “Hot springs.”

Ava settled lower into the stream, allowing it to reach her neck and closed her eyes, pretending there wasn’t a fae warrior poised to shoot her at any second. “It’s lovely.”

“They sure did a number on you, didn’t they?”

---