Page 70 of Whispers of the Elderoak

Ava opened her eyes again and looked at Quinn, suddenly aware of how bruised and battered her body looked. “Yes.”

Quinn’s icy demeanor faded momentarily as she set down her bow and reached into her pocket, pulling out a vial full of purple liquid. “Here,” she said as she tossed it to Ava.

She caught it and inspected the vial. “What is it?”

“Soap.” Quinn left the bow on the ground and crossed her arms, not taking her eyes off Ava. “I bought it for myself. But you smell much worse than I do,” she said.

“Wow… um. Thanks.”

She uncorked the vial and poured the viscous material intoher hand and began to lather her body. It smelled of lavender and lemon, instantly relaxing Ava as she breathed it in.

“Sorry, I snapped at you,” Ava said as she washed her arms. “I’m—I’m exhausted and was starving and… I don’t know.”

Quinn shrugged. “At least you have a backbone.”

“Normally, I don’t.” She tilted her head back to rinse her hair. “I just couldn’t help it. Honestly… the stew wasn’t even that good,” she explained. “I was just so hungry.”

Quinn let out a small chuckle and Ava looked at her. “Don’t tell Jorrar. I don’t want to hurt his feelings,” Ava added.

“As long as you don’t tell the guys I gave you my soap. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Deal.” Ava gave her a small smile and the corner of Quinn’s lips lifted, just barely.

Ava lowered back into the creek and spent the next several minutes scrubbing the rest of the dirt off herself the best she could, never wanting to leave the warmth of the stream.

Ava watchedCasimir as he sat by the fire, taking first watch. She was back in her previous spot, wrists bound and tied to the tree she was leaning against. Quinn had given her some clean clothing; a pair of brown trousers and a tan tunic. She wore the same boots Isolde had given her and though cleaner, she still felt dirt and grime on her skin. What she wouldn’t give to sit in a bathtub for hours and scrub every inch of her body until her skin was raw. As if she could wash away all the horrific memories of the recent weeks along with it.

Alone with The Bear, she was unable to take her eyes off him as he sat on a fallen log. Relaxed and staring into the flames, his sun-kissed skin was aglow from the light. Curiosity getting the best of her, she broke the silence. “Is it true you have a giant pet bear?”

He turned toward her, irritation flickering in his eyes. “Where did you hear that?”

She shrugged. “Some prisoner at the camp told me.”

He watched her, as if he was trying to decide if he should answer and said, “Aro is not apet,” the last word coming out harshly. “Most pets aren’t able to gut you in one swipe of their paws.”

“So… where is Aro? I haven’t seen him yet.”

“Elsewhere.”

“Do the others have animals?” she dared to ask, wishing for the hundredth time that Luna was still with her.

He was silent as he turned to stare back into the flames.

“Can you do magic?” She couldn’t help her questions. She was nervous, yes, but she knew she needed to get to know these fae. Maybe earn some trust.

“Yes.”

“Will you show me?”

“No.”

“Do you always reply with one-word answers?” she asked.

“No.”

“You literally just did,” she said.

He slowly turned his head back toward her, eyes narrowing. “Do you always ask annoying questions?”

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