The Majors, Cold Fury (Book 2)

Chapter 9: Erin POV

I sat reading a book on the couch downstairs.

Yes, you heard me. I was reading a book. We had like, a dozen in the ice palace that weren't schoolbooks, so I had memorized most of them. And I was bored. It wasn't supply day, so I wasn't leaving the cave. Every month I would sneak into a kingdom and steal supplies. Normally it took two days, but it was my favorite time of the month. Sometimes I would snag a newspaper so me and Scott could read about what was going on.

For the past five months me and Scott had been hiding out. We were wanted in every kingdom now. Scott was especially angry that Fwhip had taken over "ruling" the Elven Empire. So were most of the elves apparently. There have been riots in Rivendale against human rule.

I had finally started to get used to the cold. By that I mean I didn't need blankets 24/7.

Scott spent most of his time teaching me how to read. I was doing a lot better than I was when I started at least. Scott said something about me being almost middle school level, which is good, I think. Especially because he said I had something called dyslexia, whatever that meant. Apparently not all people saw their words swim across the page like they were at a pool party.

As I said I was sitting on a couch. Technically, it was a bench with cushions I had found in Mythland, but we're going to call it a couch. I had my feet kicked up on a makeshift table in front of me while I read this book for the hundredth time.

I heard Scott coming down the stairs, but I didn't look up. For like, the first time ever, I had woken up before Scott. I don't know why, don't blame me. The sun woke me up, ok?

"Happy Birthday!" Scott said when he was halfway down the staircase.

"Huh?" I asked and looked up. He was smirking and holding a small cake. "What?"

"Happy Birthday." He repeated and continued down the staircase. "I know its March 1st instead of the 29th but since it's not a leap year I thought we'd celebrate today."

I stared at him in absolute confusion. "Again. What?"

"It's your 15th birthday." He said.

"It is?" I said in shock, dropping my book onto my lap.

He slapped his forehead. "I keep forgetting that you don't remember any of this stuff. Yeah, it is." He put the cake down on the table at the other end of the room.

I got up. "Where did you even get a cake?" I asked him.

"Don't ask." He teased and handed me a fork.

I stabbed into the cake, it was chocolate, and took a bite. "It's cold." I said through a mouthful and a smirk.

Scott gave me the death stare before his mouth twitched into a smile. "Phoenix Draconis Major." He said with a disappointed sigh, shaking his head at my joke.

"What did you just call me?" I asked with a raised eyebrow and scrunched nose.

"It's your full name." he snickered.

I was appalled. "What idiots would name their child that?" I asked, slamming my fork down on the rickety table. "Phoenix Draconis Major. What's your middle name?"

"Gilded." He shrugged. "For these." He tapped one of his antlers. He laughed at my expression. "Your name isn't that bad. You know Xornoth's middle name was Rohan?"