Chants

The car rattled along the uneven road, every jolt sending a sharp pain through Emberline’s wound. She gritted her teeth, one hand pressed tightly against her side as if to keep herself from coming apart. Nicholas sat beside her, his face pale and drawn, his leg propped awkwardly on the seat.

“If this thing lurches forward one more time, I might throw myself out,” Emberline muttered. She winced as another bump jarred her wound. “How do people tolerate these infernal machines?”

Nicholas glanced at her. “You’ve never been in a car before?”

“Does it look like I have?” she shot back, her tone sharper than she intended. She sighed and leaned back, her head resting against the cracked leather seat. “Sorry. I’m not exactly in the mood to enjoy the novelty.”

“Understandable,” Nicholas said, his gaze dropping to her hand clutching her side. “Can you hold it together until we get there?”