Grounded By Love (The Giant Wars #2)(16)
She pulled against the ropes that tied her to the stake, hoping they might loosen, but of course she wasn’t that lucky. The rope was well tied, and she only ended up scratching her already raw wrists.
Turning back to face the rock giant she watched as he lifted his sword, about to swing it down upon another one of the village men.
Letting out a cry she leaned against the ropes holding her. “Please don't kill any more of them!”
Even though the villagers had no love or respect for her, it didn't mean she wanted to watch them die in front of her very eyes. Wishing them ill was different than seeing it.
Irate voices drew her attention away from the rock giant and the village men. Looking over to her side she saw a group of women, and one of them held a lit torch in her hand. The blood drained from Claira’s face. She was so close to being rescued, and now it looked so far away.
“No,” she whispered softly as she stared at the women approaching the platform. “No! All I did was help someone in need!”
The woman threw the lit touch at the kindling below Claira's feet. The smoke climbed up first, choking her and stinging her eyes. Then she saw the flames licking at the timber below her feet. The heat of the flames tickled the bottoms of her soles.
A scream ripped through her throat, as the flames came up to eat away at her flesh. She was barely able to hear the answering roar from the rock giant. She was in too much torment to clearly process what was going on around her.
Dismay sank into her chest, as dread soared through her.
She thought she’d black out from the pain, but with one glance she saw the rock giant finally push his way through the villagers. He forced the horse to jump onto the platform, cut the ropes, and swung her onto the front of the saddle.
He pushed the horse into a gallop, while the villagers stared after them in shock. She supposed they were too stunned that a rock giant had foiled the burning of the so-called witch.
Claira was the one being rescued, and she could hardly believe it. She was scorched, but she was alive, and she had the rock giant to thank. She had no idea why he’d done it. Claira raised an eyebrow. Perhaps the rock giants weren't as ferocious as everyone wanted to believe.
She wanted to check his wound and look over her feet and wrists, but she didn’t want them staying too close to the village. Once the villagers recovered from their shock, a few might come after them.
As they rode through the day, Claira drifted in and out of sleep. Sleep helped her escape the pain of her semi-scorched feet. She also hadn’t much rest in the past few days with worrying about the rock giant, and then about her own safety.
She felt bad he was the one who was guiding the horse and staying awake. It wasn't fair of her. He was probably in more pain than she, but he wouldn’t hand over the reins, when she tried to take them from him.
Chapter 7
They traveled through the night, and by early the next morning they arrived at a small river. The villagers could reach them if they wanted, but Claira and the giant needed to get some rest off the horse.
After picking a spot to set up camp, he dismounted and helped her down. She noticed how gentle he was with her, setting her down lightly. Trying not to hurt her feet?
Maybe she’d found herself a gentle rock giant, assuming such a thing existed. Time would prove whether or not he truly was a gentle giant though. He could just want a healer, and then get rid of her the moment he had no need for her.
Now that the fire wasn’t licking at her feet she could admit they hadn’t been burned too badly. They were only slightly singed. She’d be fine, especially if she went out to search for some herbs.
He left her to stand beside the horse, as he took a pack and set up a tent.
Claira was glad she’d decided to leave his supplies on him when she found him on the battlefield. Or else they would’ve been sleeping out under the stars, because where ever he intended to go she assumed it would take a few days.
It might not be night, but she was ready to doze off. The bumpy horse ride hadn’t allowed her much rest, and she wanted him to take it easy as well. He could’ve reopened his wound, yet she wasn't in the right condition to be helping him.
The skin on her feet would definitely start to peel, at some point, within the next day or two. What she needed was to find some plants she could use to speed up her recovery or to at least cover up the aching pain.
She watched, as he set up the tent, and a shiver ran through her body. She was about to go on an adventure with a rock giant. Part of her was thrilled by it all and part of her had to wonder if this was a good idea. There was no way to tell what his intentions were or where he might be leading them.
He had to be going back to his people, and she couldn't imagine them welcoming her with open arms, though maybe she shouldn't be so quick to judge. Even though her own people didn't welcome her, it didn't mean the rock giants would ostracize her.
If she made herself extremely useful to them, they might come to tolerate, perhaps even accept her among them. She was a dreamer, what could she say. Claira just wanted to settle down and practice her healing in peace.
“I will be back with something to eat. You will stay here.” His voice penetrated the air and caused her to jump a little.
“I don’t…” She trailed off, as he turned on his heel and left. “So much for that then.” She grumped. If he wanted to bleed to death, then that was his problem. She wasn’t about to stop a full-grown rock giant warrior from stomping around the forest.