Chapter 39 : Refugee

*Kieran*

While my uncle thought I was contemplating whether or not to take him up on his offer to become his executioner again, I was trudging through the forest looking for familiar signs that I was on the right track.

The fire mage who had helped me put my dragon to sleep all those years ago lived in the mountains above the forest and I was making a steady pace toward her home. It had been a while since we had seen each other, and I hoped she had escaped my uncle's clutches when he had gone on his killing spree.

Earlier I had heard Ember say good night to me through our fire mark that connected. How I wished I could be by her side and ask her how her day had been. What had they done after I wished them goodbye?

If I knew Ember, she hadn't just moped around waiting at the cave entrance hoping I'd walk back through the portal. She most likely had found something to keep her preoccupied while I was away.

I smiled as I stumbled across some rocks that had become overgrown wit