"Fear is a luxury, obedience is survival..."
The blade missed Adrianna's face by an inch and sliced through the tent, landing outside. She stood frozen in fear from nearly having her face wounded. She looked at Ryker, the man had a frown on his face, and looked ready to take her life.
"Let me make myself perfectly clear, as long as you are in my camp, you play by my rules and do whatever I tell you to. Do you understand?" He asked, his tone demanding.
Adrianna's eyes watered in disbelief, she was cold, hungry and afraid. Yet, the one person she was meant to rely on was the one giving her the hardest time.
He bridged the gap between them, and grabbed her by the wrist. "I said do I make myself clear?!" he raised his voice, causing Adrianna's to flinch.
She parted her lips to say something, but Orion's advice played in her head.
-"The king will reward ya and yer people heavily if ya came back with the rebel's secrets. So for now, do as they tell ya and win their trust."
Locking her watery gaze with his glowering eyes, she nodded, "Yes." She whispered softly, giving in.
Ryker raised his brows and parted his lips, 'She gave in?' he questioned, wondering if he had read her personality wrongly.
Clearing his throat, he retracted his grip then straightened his clothes. "It's good you have a lick of common sense, it'll keep you alive." He said, circling towards his maps.
Adrianna mimicked his mannerisms, contorting her face into a mean scowl.
Ryker sharply turned around, catching her off guard in the most unnatural pose. Eyeing her hands which were weirdly hung in the air he asked. "Are you hungry?"
"Pardon?" she dropped her hands.
Ryker snapped at her. "Are you deaf?!"
Adrianna pouted and folded her arms, refusing to answer his question.
He straightened his shoulders and let out a defeated sigh. "You were tied up in storage for a while, I assume you haven't had anything to eat all day. If your stomach can handle it, there's some scraps we can spare you. Before I make my decision on what to do with you."
Adrianna narrowed her eyes. Was this man trying to poison her? He looked ready to end her life just some seconds ago, she didn't buy the complete one eighty he just took.
"I'm tired, I just want to get some rest." She said.
Ryker grunted, "Suit yourself." Then marched out of the tent without so much as sparing her a single glance.
Some minutes after he left, elder Jael came into the tent, holding a bowl of porridge and a jar of what she assumed was water.
"Please forgive me for not seeing you sooner. Wren forbade anyone from going near you." Jael explained, handing her the bowl of porridge.
Adrianna unintentionally scrunched her nose at the smell coming out of the bowl. Jael caught her frown and chuckled nervously.
"We barely come by milk here, so the women make do with whatever they can find. But don't worry, the protectors came back with a large haul, the next meal will be five times tastier." He said, pouring her a cup of water.
Adrianna's gaze softened, "Thank you for bringing me dinner." She said. As proof of her sincerity she closed her eyes and ate a spoonful of the porridge.
At the back of her tongue, she could taste something bitter and felt something chunky slide down throat.
"See, I can handle this." She said in-between coughs.
Jael passed her the cup of water, "Please, don't make an enemy out of Ryker, he may seem rough but he has our best interests at heart."
Adrianna sneered, "I highly doubt that." She recalled the attack on the mountain and shook her head.
'These people are being played for fools, just how horrible are these rebels?' she thought, taking another bite out of the bowl.
Jael went on, "Everyone at this camp was saved by Ryker, and I believe that he can save you too." He reached for her hand and slid something into it. "From whatever it is that you're going through." He said.
Adrianna narrowed her brows at the small round item he gave her. She opened her fist to see a shiny gold pendant sitting on her palm.
"How did you-"
"You were wearing this pendant when I found you. It seemed important because you clutched tightly onto it even while unconscious, so I held on to it for you." Jael said.
Adrianna dropped the bowl and wiped her tears, "Thank you so much for holding on to this. It was my mother's, and the last thing I have left of her."
Jael parted his lips as though to say something, but he cut himself off with a quiet smile. He got up from the snow, taking the jar of water and placing it next to her head.
He turned to leave, but halted in his step, looking over his shoulder he inquired, "I don't think I've caught your name all this time."
Adrianna froze. Her name was well known all over and outside moonstone. It was because of her father's overprotectiveness that no one got to place a face to her name.
"Freya." She said, tracing her finger across the initial F engraved on the back of the pendant.
Jael's lips curved, "Welcome to the camp, Freya."