A Flame in The Wind

Chapter 6 - Amber

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Amber has yet to be killed, do you guys think she's intelligent enough to get back to Simon or James?

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"Answer me a question," I repeated when the girl next to me, Danica, refused to answer once more.

"I am not obligated to talk to you," she replied with a straight face as she quickened her pace and practically dragged me along the path. I had only known for a short time but could tell she was most definitely not a talker.

"Firstly, can you please slow down? My feet are aching," she took a glance at my feet in the dim light of the lanterns placed along the path, though their light was quite dim. Since I'd acknowledged them last, they felt sticky and bruised. "And second, are you a spy?"

She heaved a sigh that my mother would have surely scolded me for if I'd ever given one like that then gave me a glare, "do you really think I would tell you if I was a spy?"

I gave her a shrug and the annoyance was practically radiating off of her as she continued, "if I said yes, will you stop talking to me?" She did not look back at me while she said those words, but I'd never made anyone this angry at me in a very long time. How could I when mother was breathing down my back her perfect little angel?

"It depends on whether it's the truth. I'm only asking because it would have been a good question as to why you're covered in dirt. I mean it is a retched smell." I couldn't help but ramble as my stomach was beginning to tighten. I also hadn't been surrounded by these many strangers since I'd attended Viscount Weatherby's solstice ball. And that was seven years ago.

Before I could take another step, she halted in the middle of the road, "I will say this once, and you will be quiet until we reach Helen. Understood," I nodded my head hesitantly, "Yes, I am a spy. For the past month, I have been tracking the gods damned military. They have hounds to track any unwanted eyes such as myself, so I must cover myself in retched manure and dirt so they will not find me. I am tired and barely got by on the game I was able to capture during my assignment. I want nothing more than a bath and for silence so that I can get a fucking moment of peace." With her monologue finished she turned around and walked away from me, expecting me to follow along with her.

Quite a mouth, I mumbled under my breath.

"Say something, princess," her eyes were full of so much annoyance that I decided not to correct her on my status and continue walking with her. True to my word I did not utter a single one as we passed many different identical tents until finally, Danica stopped at a modestly sized one. The only difference between the others was that someone was waiting outside the tent.

Danica told the person Verena had sent us, and he lifted the flap up for us to enter. The tent was covered in candles, many of which were placed upon large stacks of books. The firelight came from everywhere, making the tent seem rather cozy. In the back of the tent laid a large desk with two wooden in front and one behind it. For a study in a camp, it was rather nice, but the woman sitting in the chair was not.

If it was even possible, the woman's eyes were even more judging than the generals. From the look on her face and pen in her hand, she had seemed well within her work when we'd arrived. "Danica good to see you girl, but who is the wight behind you?"

"A miss Amber Dequavis, some noble girl that Ean directed towards us," and she recounted what I'd said moments ago before the general.

Helen set down her pen, "We haven't heard from Ean for months," when Danica didn't say anything for the next few minutes Helen dismissed Danica to take care of herself and report later. I just hoped that if I needed to interact with her another time, she would not be as cranky with her attitude. Nonetheless, Danica thanked the woman and left swiftly from the tent quickly enough to avoid meeting my gaze.