Chapter 9: Chapter Nine

Annabelle woke up in an empty bed, again. The previous night had been awkward and she’d waited until she’d heard Clermont snoring lightly before climbing in next to him. It had taken her ages to fall asleep, her nether regions still tingling from his touch.

The cabin was quiet, too quiet and she knew that Clermont wasn’t there. She knew there would be no message. Parchment and ink were expensive and she had no idea if Clermont could read or write. She stretched like a lazy cat would and found the fire down to embers.

When had Clermont left? It had to have been hours ago. The pot on the hearth in the kitchen was cold which meant he hadn’t made coffee. She ate breakfast, cheese and bread and cut off a piece of ham and ate that too.

She cleaned up after herself because she’d already eaten breakfast, she wasn’t going to leave the kitchen dirty for Clermont to clean. In the bedroom she made the bed and smoothed her hand over the bear skin.

She looked around the cabin that had been her home for a week and stepped out onto the porch. She wouldn’t steal from Clermont. He’d been too kind to her already, giving her clothes and boots, he’d fed her and kept her safe from her pursuers and hadn’t asked for anything in return.

She stepped onto the frozen snow and made her way towards the cave. She knew there was another town on the other side of the forest. A bigger town by the name of Zurchest. It was close to a big river and boats travelled weekly to the coast of Ingham Bay.

She could start over there. She wouldn’t be a slave there as she had no markings on her. She’d find a job and build a new life for herself. Nobody would look for her in Ingham Bay. She smiled sadly as she looked around and saw only trees, the cabin was out of sight now and she’d miss the place. She’d miss Clermont too.

She pulled the coat tighter around herself and walked further away from the cabin but also from the caves. As time passed she cursed herself for not taking food. Clermont wouldn’t have minded if she took food. He was nice enough not to mind.

She should never have given in to her primal desires, never have touched herself. It was a futile discussion she was having with herself. Clermont was a man and he would’ve asked her to leave eventually. It was better this way, better that she’d left before he’d asked.

When her feet started to hurt she sat down on a log and looked around. She should’ve reached the caves a long time ago. Should she retrace her steps? How far was it to Zurchest? She had no idea and now fear settled in her heart. She was lost.

She looked around wildly and stood up. She couldn’t be in the forest at nightfall. She remembered how it went the last time. She had fallen asleep from exhaustion and was caught. She couldn’t get caught again.

Annabelle wandered around for what seemed to be hours and when darkness fell she was at her wit’s end. At least if she’d found the caves, she’d be warm. She wondered briefly if Clermont had felt relief when he returned and found her gone.

He’d probably smiled, a real smile, one she hadn’t seen yet. He’d be making dinner now in his warm cabin. He’d be comfortable too, with the mead she’d seen in the back room. He’d be having a celebratory drink to her absence.

It was completely dark now and she could hear the howl from wolves. She’d never heard them before now, but then again, she’d never listened for wolves. Fear gripped her and the cold seeped into her bones even through her bearskin coat.

Why was life so cruel? She knew the Elders of the temple said that your life was already planned. Things happened like they should. How could anyone want a life like this one she had? Nobody would willingly want to be a slave.

She had too much time to think about her past. She’d never before wondered about the slaves in her former kingdom. She hadn’t worried about their welfare or if they were hungry or cold or sick. She had lived her life carefree with no worries.

She was a spoiled little princess, vain and uncaring. Was this why her life had taken this turn, to teach her a lesson? To humble her? It was definitely working. She was ashamed of her previous life and her actions.

No wonder Clermont didn’t like her, didn’t want her like he wanted the whore who visited him in his house. He’d taken her without thinking, plunging into her deep and making her moan. She wanted that, she wanted Clermont.

That realization startled her. She barely knew Clermont, she didn’t even know how old he was or where he was from. She had no idea if he had any family anywhere and why he was living as a recluse in the forests.

She shook her head to try and clear her thoughts. Clermont didn’t find her attractive but he’d said that her scent, the scent of her arousal, was driving him mad. Was that a good thing? She was sure now that Clermont had a dragon out there, a dragon he could tame.

If that was the case then it was an advantage. If she hadn’t left she could’ve convinced him somehow to make the journey to Dragon Mountain and find his beast. It had been quite a few years since anyone had gone to tame a dragon.

Some said that the dragons had left. After so many of the beasts dying in captivity and some from poisoning, they didn’t want to be bonded to men anymore. She’d never seen her father’s dragon, the beast had died before she was born.

Her father always told her that he had been a magnificent beast, hard to tame, unwilling to follow orders and that he’d been chained up more than anything else. Personally she’d always thought it was because their bond hadn’t been strong enough.

Clermont had a good heart and for some reason she could see him with a dragon, his very own beast. She could see that dragon rain down brimstone and ashes on King Waller. Her eyes snapped open with a startled gasp as she realized that Clermont was royalty. He had to be in order for his eyes to be such a dazzling yellow.

It was too late now. She shook her head again. Even if she could find her way back to him, would he allow her back in? Would he believe her wild story about dragons and kingdoms? The sudden idea that Clermont was living in hiding gave her pause. Had he committed some grave sin and was cast out for some reason?

She found a spot against a tree and slid down the rough bark. She was alone, tired, hungry and so afraid. How did she ever think she’d make it on her own? Too many thoughts went through her mind and she wasn’t even sure if she was rational anymore.

“Clermont,” she whispered in desperation.