“Alright, alright. Don’t expect breakfast on your nameday. I was only curious. What is it anyways? It has a sweet smell to it. Some kind of creamy glazed oats?” I kneel beside him at Jay’s bedside.
“What’s with you this morning?”
I’m hesitant to tell him of my decision. I’ve been so adamant about staying put. It’ll be further proof of my ineptitude. We should’ve sought help the instant it happened.
Goose reaches for Jaymes, but I place a hand on his arm to stop him. “Before you wake her—”
“Damn, Stone,” he whispers. “Don’t you have duties to attend to?”
I force him to look at me. “It’s time I venture into Greenport. My healing isn’t working.”
Goose rises and gestures for me to follow him around the partition. I suppose so we can talk freely without waking Jaymes. “You said ‘I.’ Are you making this trek on your own?”
I nod. “I can return with a Healer who can give Jay the proper care. It’ll be quicker. She can hardly walk. Strapping her into a litter would make for slow travels. Possible, but not ideal.”
“Greenport, huh? It’s pinched between the forest’s edge and the Scarlet Delta. It’ll take a couple days on foot. And that’s if you don’t lose your way.”
“I know my way. And there’s urgency to this trip. It won’t be a leisure stroll into town. I can get there by midday tomorrow and be back before infection spreads.”
“You’re leaving this morning, then? Better put on your best faded tunic and trousers. Don’t want to be alarming the Healers. About that, though…I’m not so certain they have any Healers in that small fishing village. They’re all anglers, angler’s wives, and pillow girls.”
“Anybody will be better than me,” I admit.
“You do realize any Healer worth our time has trained at the Academy?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re aware anyone who’s trained at the Academy is associated with the Taoiseach, the man you’re hiding from?”
“Yes, but I have to take my chances. You know I do. The reward far outweighs the risk here.” I pause and begin pacing. Something isn’t right here. “Why are you finding reason to challenge this?” I ask.
He pats a hand on my shoulder and smiles. “Because I want to get out of this cursed forest, Stone. I want to be the one to seek the fresh air of the delta. And I’m fast on my feet. I might even have time to stop at Abbey’s Alehouse to get my feathers fluffed. It’s genuine jealousy, Stone. But I know you’re the right man for the task. This is your sister and your responsibility. I’ll keep Jay safe while you’re gone.” He saunters back around the partition to tend to Jay.
Something’s off with him. Like he has another motive to stay behind. He didn’t even request that we all go.
I poke my head around the partition. Jaymes remains asleep. She’s been sleeping a lot more the past couple days. Heavier as well. Her deep slumbers have become a concern. Goose peels back her bandages to replace them with new ones.
Through the window, I see a swift movement. Something large and dark.
“Goose. Did you see that?” I whisper.
“What?” he asks dumbfounded and louder than I’d like.
I glower at him and gesture for him to remain quiet. Helios snarls from the comfort of his sprawled position on the floor, confirming my visual wasn’t of my own imagination. The cat rises to his feet and stares at the door. It’s either another Lost Soul or one of those cloaked men. Or the Taoiseach has found us.
“Goose, it’s time. Gather Jay and get her out now. Head north toward Greenport. I’ll catch up to you.”
Without hesitation, Goose gathers some necessities for surviving the forest then scoops up Jaymes, still wrapped in her linens, and heads for the window. We knew this day would come eventually but prayed to Susy it never would.
Goose is already out the window. Not much light is breaking through the canopy yet, which will offer him some cover. I hope whoever this visitor is, they don’t follow them. And what if there’s more than one? I’m realizing how inadequate our escape plan is. I need to create a diversion.
I drop low and hide behind the partition. Fear holds me tight to the wall, unmoving. I take a deep breath and poke my head out. Helios is on all fours, and the hair on his back stands straight up as he growls in the direction of the entrance.
The door swings open, and in steps a woman in midnight red. She’s armed with a kukri in one hand and a fukiya, a style of blowgun often wielded by assassins, in the other hand. A large pommel rising over her shoulder reveals a large sword strapped to her back. Her iridescent armored-silk uniform looks official. A uniform from the Academy, perhaps? The only feature appearing noncompliant is the flesh it reveals. The cross-sash is so tight across her chest she might as well not wear a top at all.
Her long, dark hair is pulled in a tight ponytail, and she wears a weaved bandana the same color as her uniform folded up, concealing one eye. There’s something familiar about her.
She ignores Helios as if he’s a yapping town dog. If a hostile, full-grown tiger doesn’t concern her, she’s either a half-wit or she’s going to kill me.
She scans the common room, seeing nothing of concern because there’s nothing to see except radial walls, a couple tables, and a basin. She steps in my direction with flowing curves and silent feet. Behind her, Helios prepares to pounce. I have to do something, but what? She’ll kill him if he attempts anything.
Not knowing what else to do, I step out from my pitiful hiding place.
“Helios, hold!” I call with a stern tone. What I really want to do is scream and run. He retreats onto his hind legs with uncertainty, unable to sit still, his jowl curled. “Hi. I’m eh…” I need a name. Not my own. That would be ludicrous. A name. Whose? “Eh…Elder. Elder Alderock,” I say with a squeak in my throat. And I find myself displeased with such an awful choice. My childhood best friend! It’s all I could think of. I don’t deserve his name. Not after what I did. A flood of guilt courses through me.
She cocks her head, and her one visible eyebrow raises high into her forehead. Oh no. What did I say?
“Uh… Um… This is quite a surprise. I don’t get company. Ever. Can I help you?”
I approach her with an outstretched arm in a welcoming manner, hoping I appear ignorant. I need to distract her long enough for Goose and Jay to get a decent lead.
“Are you the only one residing here?” she probes.
Her eyes, or one eye rather, is murderous, and her assertiveness demands attention. My first impression is intimidation, but I also sense a familiarity about her.
“No name?” Play stupid. “You must either have a sad story or one of infinite tales to not have a name. I’d guess the latter.”
“My name is of no concern to you,” she snaps and repeats herself. “Are you the only one residing here?”
“Typically, the name of anyone who enters my home is a concern of mine, but I have a hunch I shouldn’t ask you again, so I believe you. Your name is of no concern to me.” I can’t keep a nervous grin from appearing on my lips. “The answer is no, I’m not the only one who lives here.” I stop there and don’t give her any more information. I respectfully answered her, so hopefully it doesn’t result in me losing my head. I need to draw out this conversation. And try not to get murdered in the process.
“Well?”
“What?” A dart is going to pierce my skull any moment. I know it.
“Don’t test my patience. Who else lives with you?”
“Oh, of course. Helios does.”
“The tiger?”
“Yes. He’s a great companion. Ancient for a tiger, but that doesn’t stop the two of us from having some bard-worthy adventures. I acquired him when he was just a cub, so we’ve been through much together. We have heroic tales, tales that put us red in the cheeks, knee-slappers, tear-jerkers, all kinds of tales. Would you like to hear one of them over breakfast? I’m a great storyteller.” That’s a lie. Just ask Jay. I k
now nothing of suspense. I drag on about boring details. And I’m predictable. What am I saying anyways? Words pour from my mouth like spilt milk, splattering all over, making a mess. I can’t tell if it’s fear or a protective instinct that drives me to act this way.
“No,” she replies sharply.
I better cool the nonchalance before I test her patience.
“I’m not interested in the tiger. I am searching for a young girl. Your age or younger.”
“Do you have a name? Of the girl, I mean. Not your name. We’ve already established it’s of no concern to me.” My voice shakes, and sweat builds on my brow. I give an awkward half-smile. She has to know a lie is going to come next.
“Jaymes McLarin, of the McLarin family. You’ve heard the name, no doubt. That is, if you ever get out of this hole you live in.” She scans the room with her lip curled. A show of disgust. “She’s the fugitive wanted for murdering her parents.” Her gaze narrows. “The two executed for conspiring genocidal warfare. You must know of them. They had plans to usurp the Taoiseach. I seek a word with their daughter.”
My blood boils when the horrendous lies explode off her tongue. “Does all of Vedora really believe that?” I think aloud, regretting it instantly. I close my eyes, as if deep in thought, but truly, I just need to breathe to keep my composure. “Seems far-fetched if you ask me, but you didn’t.” I catch her gaze again and look away before it petrifies me. “Sure, I’ve heard of her. And her parents. But wasn’t there more to the story? Wasn’t there more than just one of them? And hasn’t it been several seasons since that incident? I’d have pronounced them deceased by now. Do you have reason to believe she’s in the area?”
She cocks her head and ponders my question. Shit! What did I say? It shouldn’t have required thought. What did I say?
“Yes. I do. Have you seen her?” she interrogates.
Her answers are short. She knows not to give me too much information. Me, on the other hand, I can’t stop my tongue from moving. My heart is pounding. My skin is dripping with sweat. My breaths are short. And my tongue is going to betray me. If we continue discussing this matter, she’s bound to put two and two together, realizing I’m linked to the one she’s after. What do I do? I have to take this conversation in another direction. And why is she solely after Jaymes anyhow?
“Well, I don’t get visitors, and I rarely head into town. I’m self-sufficient out here, but to answer your question, no. And sorry about Helios’s lack of manners, by the way. He tends to feel threatened even by the littlest squirrels parading about outside.”
She steps past me to look around the yurt, inspecting our sleeping quarters. My heart beats violently. Of course she’s unconvinced. Why a young man would be living deep in the wood all alone is beyond me, unless he has something to hide, especially in the infamous Broken Forest.
“You say you’re the only one who lives here? Then why are there three bed mats?” she asks with obvious distrust.
She knows I’m lying, but she’s disciplined enough to keep her composure until she gathers more facts. Charming charisma is the best way out of this. And charisma is just below tree-climbing on my meager list of skills.
“My mother and father…” I take a long pause. “There was an accident almost a season ago.” I fight the tears. I haven’t spoken much about them since the accident, so the pain is genuine and it’s working to my benefit. “I assume you know what lurks in this forest?”
“Why do you lie?” She turns and hurries for the door. She knows they’ve fled. I always have been a terrible liar.
“Wait.” I want nothing more than for this woman to leave, but I have to keep her here longer. I cannot be selfish.
She pauses at the door.
“I’m not hiding anything. You already know of the other two that reside with me. That is clear. I protect them. That is all.”
“Protecting them from what? Why do they need protecting?”
She knows who I am. I’m bewildered why she continues to play along if she’s only after Jaymes.
“From visitors like you. We recently encountered two Lost Souls, or Cryptids as you probably know them. When I saw a large shadow wisp by, we sort of… well… we panicked. It’s not something we wanted to experience again.”
“So why lie?”
“With no intentions of offending you in any way, you are a terrifying woman.” The confession lets me breathe easier. Lying doesn’t suit me well. “And you’re armed not only with a small blade and fukiya in hand, but with a claymore strapped to your back. And beyond that, if it isn’t enough, I was threatened by your forceful entrance and your lack of concern for Helios. What other reasons do you need? My sister is not the one you seek." I take a deep breath to restrain the fear in my voice. “And the story of my parents was the truth. My sister and I had naught but the gutters after our parents died, so we fled the capital to avoid the malice taking place in those gutters. We feel safer out here. It was the logical thing to do. So, how about breakfast?” I attempt to change the subject.
“What?” Her lips press flat.
“Breakfast? My brother and sister have fled to town, but I would much rather have a meal before meeting up with them.” What did I just say? Damn my fear-filled tongue.
“Heading into town, you say? I assume you mean Greenport, being it is the only town for leagues. Maybe I will stay for breakfast. My stomach hasn’t had a meal in over a day.”
Great. And that meal was doubtless a young man like me. “Wonderful.” I reply with as much false cheer as I can amp up. “Helios and I would appreciate the company.”
What have I done? She wasn’t supposed to say yes. I was just trying to keep her here long enough for Goose and Jaymes to get a good head start. This woman is my enemy, and now I’m breaking bread with her.
There’s something about her though, something that both fascinates and terrifies me. Much more of the latter. Her beauty is stunning and her scent inviting, yet I fear she’ll bite my head off with the slightest misstep. I know her from somewhere.
An unspoken war has begun. All the races segregate into smaller groups, not limited to race against race. Lahyf murder Lahyf. Dihkai murder Dihkai. Bodies are piling. There is nowhere to escape. A new era awaits us.
8 Ellia
T o kill him would be no different than killing his sister. Her talent would never join the Taoiseach’s cause. Now that I’ve motioned the idea of her being an ally, I have to bring her back alive. To kill him would be failure. To kill him would be suicide. I’ll keep him alive. Get a meal out of him, maybe some information. Maybe lure him back to the capital where the Taoiseach can decide what to do with him.
What does he do behind that partition? Stone, or Elder as he wishes to call himself, struts out in a light-blue simple tunic with frayed hems, a small tear, and a handful of stains. A small improvement to what he was wearing, but a rag to most. He wears it with dignity. There’s an ingenuous charm about him. My first impression: he’s not like most men. Though, the men I encounter are targeted with a certain intent because of who they are.
Stone proceeds with prepping a meal as he offered. “Hope you’re not panivorous,” he alludes. “Aren’t many grains to be had in the wood. All I have to offer are poached robin eggs, an assortment of fruitlets, and potable water.” He looks at me with a shameful grin.
I scowl at him, and he goes back to prepping the meal. I wonder if he knows Elder is alive, using his name like that. After what happened that day, how could he? After what happened that day, I still don’t understand how Elder survived. Only the Taoiseach is knowledgeable enough to endure a blade through the heart.
Helios continues to glower at me. With a fixed gaze, I attempt to communicate with the aging cat, but there isn’t much there for Instincts. His temperament wanes just a touch. It’s enough to know he won’t attack me unsuspected. He’ll be a difficult one to gain his trust. As brief as our encounter was four seasons past, it’s clear he hasn’t forgotten me.
Stone
and I partake in awkward, trivial conversation about Helios and life in the Broken Forest. I offer few words while his nervous tongue jabbers on. I wish he’d take my lead. Silence isn’t an enemy. Silence gives rise to the better parts of life. He prods further, trying to be inconspicuous with his inquiries, looking for details about my objective and why Jaymes is so important for the Taoiseach to find. Every question is answered with another question or a silent, hostile glare. He continues to pretend as though he’s Elder and has no connection to her. And his attempt at wasting the day is obvious. The charade doesn’t bother me, though. He’s young and terrified. His innocent heart is foreign to me and draws intrigue.
“It was a delight to share a meal with a new and beautiful face.” His face turns red, and his eyes dart away. “Well, we should be on our way before the sun gets too high. Where did you say you were headed?”
“North. I’ll join you on your ride.”
“North!” He chokes on his words. “Is that not the direction you just came from? It might be wise to search the Broken Forest a bit more, don’t you think? It’s an expansive forest. There are others out here. I’m sure of it. Even if you don’t find who you’re looking for, the vagabonds living in this wood are likely to have their ears attuned, full of random knowledge and rumors from the gutters they’ve fled. You’re sure to find a good lead.”
He couldn’t get a lie out smoothly if his life depended on it. I raise a hand, gesturing for his chattering tongue to take a rest, and I stare at him for a long moment.
The lies were cute at first. Watching him squirm. But they’re wearing on me. “No one else lives in this forest…” I correct his fabrications. “…save for the beasts that keep us out. The only humans in the vicinity are the few traders passing through on the Forest Road in route to the Barren Peaks and onto the Blood Plains.”
Stone drops the utensils he was cleaning into the basin and freezes.
He flinches when I rise from the stump I was sitting on. “I hear there is much taboo in that wasteland. The Blood Plains. Worse than what you hear about in the Carnal Islands. The traders that wander in don’t wander out.” I kneel and lay a hand on the tiger, keeping my gaze fixed on Stone. His hand jerks forward subtly. Helios is warming to me, and this young man doesn’t seem to care for it. His prime protection no longer a threat to the assailant. “You’re living on the edge of the realm…Elder. Must be an adjustment from fleeing the capital. Do you ever desire to go back?”
Season of Sacrifice (Blood of Azure Book 1) Page 8