Chapter 24: An Unseen Shift

“It hurts like hell,” Saffron said as the surgeon looked her over.
“It looks like hell if I am being quite honest,” he replied and probed the lump near her eye. She winced in pain. “Thankfully, nothing appears to be broken but you took quite a hit. I am sure I don’t have to tell you, but you’ll need a day or so of rest. The bruising will fade over time, but you will likely have evidence of the attack for the next few weeks. If you begin to feel poorly, send for me.” He said and stood up. He shook Elric’s hand and left the tent.
Elric glowered at her from his position near the flap. She sighed. Her head throbbed and it hurt to have her eyes open. “I am not up for an argument at this time,” she called wearily.
“It will not be an argument because you will be the one listening while I yell at you,” he warned and stalked towards her, sitting on the edge of the bed. Fear gripped him as he stared down at her, the bruise flowering out from her eye. It was a vicious, dark purple. He knew it was worse than it looked as bruises usually were, but it still enraged him.
“Tell me again, why you followed a strange man into the forests alone?” he growled at her, scowling. His long hair was mussed and curled around his face. She reached up and stroked one of the tendrils and sighed.
“As I told you, I believed he was ill. Why would I think that he was part of some grand scheme to kidnap me?” she replied, tired, having already told Elric this nearly ten times.
“Because that is what happens to you! Have you not noticed the pattern? It is as if Death itself is lingering in your shadow!” he exclaimed, his face red. She chuckled and then arranged her face to appear more serious when he glared at her darkly. “Do you not care what happens to you? To me… if you…” he stopped and looked away.
She struggled to sit up. He watched her warily and began to protest but she silenced him with a kiss. She kissed him deeply, conveying what she could not put into words into her embrace. He pulled away.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered, his lips brushing hers.
“You won't,” she said and pulled him back down to her. “What’s wrong?” she asked as he looked at her sadly.
“If I had lost you…I’m not quite sure what I would have done, aside from dismembering whoever those men were,” he replied, rubbing his thumb gently across her lips. She raised her brows at him.
“You didn’t recognize them?” she inquired. He shook his head.
“We only caught the one. The other was able to escape.”
“What did the one you catch look like?’ she asked, fear gnawing at her.
“Red hair, sad excuse for a mustache. Rather tall,” he replied, his eyes dark again. So, no Kingsley, she thought.
“You didn’t get a look at the other man?” she pressed.
“I did. He had dark hair,” he answered. “Why?”
“Just making sure I wasn’t imagining things,” she replied quietly. He smiled slightly and smoothed down her hair. He climbed into the bed next to her.
“What are you doing?” she asked as he nestled close to her.
“Lay down and be quiet. You’re supposed to rest,” he scolded with a smile and opened his arms.
“Shouldn’t you be out there?” she motioned towards the battlefield.
“I’m exactly where I am supposed to be. Now lie down and sleep,” he commanded and pulled her into the crook of his arm. His warmth seeped into her body and she felt herself relax, inch by inch. As she danced on the edge of sleep, she couldn’t help but wonder why she hadn’t told him about Kingsley.
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Saffron heard someone speaking quietly, whispering in her dreams. A sudden wave of frigid air swept over her and jolted her awake. She sat up in the bed quickly, wincing as her bruise twinged with pain.
Elric was not next to her. She squinted through the low light from the fire. He was standing at the entrance of the tent, speaking to someone outside. She saw that it was still dark. She could see nothing beyond the tent besides darkness.
“Okay, we need to move further back. I fear that they are advancing too quickly. If we don’t move now, I worry that they will be upon us come morning,” she heard Wulfstan’s voice more clearly now.
“Have the soldiers begun packing?” Elric asked.
“Yes. I had them start as soon as I received the report from the scouts. It appears that Udril took the past few days to move their troops. They are using different tactics than in the past. I believe it was our false sense of security that led to this. We will begin moving now.”
“I need to find somewhere safer for Saffron to recover. I cannot have her this close to the front.” Elric said, his voice tired and strained.
“Why don’t you send her to Avolire? She will be the safest there. I can arrange for a few soldiers to escort her.” Wulfstan replied. Saffron knew Elric was considering it by his silence.
“That is not a bad idea. I’ll speak to her now.”
“I’ll send a few of my more trusted soldiers to you in a moment. They will protect her as they would you,” Wulfstan said and took his farewell.
Elric turned back inside the tent. “I’m awake so you don’t have to skulk about in the dark,” she called to him as he was creeping towards the fire. She saw his outline free and then stand, with a chuckle.
“Very well,” he replied and lit the lantern on the table, throwing the tent into a cozy, amber glow.
“You heard?” he asked, looking over at her. She nodded. “And?”
“I would rather not leave you but if it will ease your mind I will go. I can still make tinctures there and send them here. As long as I know I am helping, I will be fine.” She said and slid out of bed. Elric couldn’t wait for the war to be over. He just wanted to live a simple life with this woman who would keep him on his toes and warm his bed.
Saffron found her only dress that hadn’t been ruined or turned into bandages. She would have to stop by the seamstress as soon as she returned to town. She couldn’t very well go galivanting about the country in her shift, which had also seen better days.
The dress was stiff from drying in the harsh winter winds, the wool scratchy and uncomfortable against her skin. It was a deep brown. She usually wore it while gathering, since it blended into the trees so well. She loved watching the animals in the forest and being able to hide gave her ample opportunities to study them. She hoped that it would hide any mud from this next journey until she could purchase a new one.
Elric was already dressed as well. He pushed a cup of steaming tea towards her. She sat across the table from him and smiled her thanks. “You’ll love Avolire. You must promise me you’ll be safe there. No wandering or getting kidnapped.” He said. She laughed.
“I will promise no such thing. As you said, it seems to haunt me.” She quipped and drank her tea, letting it warm her. He grumbled and drank his own.
She smiled at him over the cup. He was beautiful. She couldn’t get enough of him. Soon, they would be alone and get to finish what they started all those weeks ago in the castle. She set her cup down and stood.
“I should pack,” she said and began stuffing her few items into her case when a loud roar shattered the sky. She froze as fear snaked its way through her veins. She looked over at Elric whose green eyes had brightened as he listened. She watched as the light from the lanterns danced over his skin and she could swear she saw scales slid along his flesh.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“A dragon. Udril has a dragon.”