Then a woman’s voice interrupts us.
“Stone?” she calls out disconcertedly. “Stone, is that you?”
Stone looks over his shoulder and quickly shuffles off me, taking cover in the silk linens.
“Jaymes!” Stone returns the shocked expression. “Jay, I…uh…I’m sorry. I can’t believe you had to witness this.” His gaze shifts. “Astor!”
He doesn’t even give her an apology. His guilt is splattered all over the walls. It’s disgusting.
Without a word, Astor turns and storms out the door without the decency to even shut it behind her.
“Jay—cover your eyes!” Stone demands.
I cannot resist smiling. “That bitch has annoyed me since the day I met her.” I can feel the lacerations from Stone’s eyes while he regretfully lies next to me. Jaymes, on the other hand, appears to have the same satisfaction from watching Astor flee the scene. But then her gaze aims at me and turns dark. She opens her mouth to speak and I see that snake-like tongue I’ve shaped for her. Fierce, yet repulsive. So, she has chosen to side with the Taoiseach. Then it dawns on me why Harris had me seduce Stone. He wants him all for himself. And I am helping spread the gap between all who are close to him.
The Taoiseach has claimed the remaining Advocates for himself, and the religion is in upheaval yet again. My efforts have declined this realm to every man for himself. I am a prisoner of my own creation. What have I become? It is apparent I am no good for this land. It is time for me to leave.
45 Elder
Four seasons earlier…
T hum-thump, thum-thump, thum-thump.
“Ugh…” Pain. Pain everywhere. What is that constant thumping? There is a soft texture against my cheek.
“Halt, Helios!”
I faintly hear Stone.
“Let’s stop to rest.”
I can sense him sluggishly dismounting, unwilling to open my eyes.
I’m draped over Helios like a butchered sow curing in a meat locker. Except this meat locker is also an oven. I move my arm the slightest, and a sharp jolt rushes through my spine like one of those rhinoceros stepped on it. Too much pain. The last thing I remember is leaping from the rooftop of the McLarin Mansion. I guess I didn’t survive that too well. I scrunch my eyes tight and let my head fall limp against the tiger.
“Go check the area,” Stone demands.
He must be speaking to Jaymes.
“Look for anything you can find. Berries, roots, grubs, anything is better than nothing. We’ll need some water too. We’ve been traveling parallel to a creek not too far off, so you should be able to fetch some there. Helios won’t be able to trek much farther without refueling himself as well. You can take him with you.”
Through the barrier of my eyelashes, I see Jaymes hesitating. If it were me, I’d just follow orders. But not Jaymes.
“Stone…don’t you think we should go back to look for mom and dad?” she asks calmly. “I don’t get it. I don’t understand why you have us running into the wild.”
“Jay…err…we had to leave. How do I say this? I’m sure mom and dad are handling their own against those intruders, but if we were to go back, we’d probably just get in the way. We’d only be another concern, just another thing for them to protect. Trust me. I’ll make sure you’re safe, and we’ll head back home when the time is right. For now, please gather some food and water for us. I need to check on Elder to find out how severe the damage is.”
It’s bad. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to focus on anything other than the pain. I realize I’m lying on the forest floor now. Half-decayed leaves and dry soil press against my cheek.
“They’re dead,” Jay proclaims with an even tone.
“We don’t know that!” Stone snaps.
“Fine. If you say so.”
Too careless to open my eyes, I hear her feet shuffle and twigs snap. She’s leaving.
“But I do have one question,” she adds. “How do you suppose I fetch water and bring it back, Master Stone? All I have are my scant undergarments. I don’t even have shoes to scoop with. Not that we’d want to drink out of a shoe, but still.”
My senses fade, along with my thoughts.
Oh no! My nose itches. I scrunch it and wiggle it around, but it’s not doing the trick. Here comes some pain. “Argh,” I groan and go limp after rubbing my knuckles against it. My arms aren’t broken, but the slightest movement shoots pain through my spine.
“It’s my fault you’re in this condition,” Stone’s voice sounds. “I’m sorry.”
What? I don’t remember Stone pushing me off that roof. How could he take the blame? He tried to catch me. He didn’t cause this. Did he?
Stone has good intentions to make me as comfortable as possible, but he prods at my body, starting with my vitals. I wince. I assume to see if anything is out of place. Stone continues to gently rub his hands over me and…
“Urgh!” I erupt with a shrilling groan. Stone throws his hands off me as if he were handling a venomous serpent ready to strike.
“Aha!” He says it like he’s having a splendid time playing a game of scavenger hunt. “Cracked ribs.”
Dammit, Stone, don’t you realize I’m in absolute misery right now? This is no time to be chipper.
Stone prods further, speaking quietly now as he learns where the damage is. My abdomen hurts everywhere. Movement of any kind hurts. My entire body is broken, if you ask me. But Stone searches for the specifics. He lifts a leg, and as I squint through the pain in my spine, I see a pig intestine filled with lard. A meat stick. Not a leg at all. All the muscle and sinew are intact, but there is no rigidity to it. And I cannot feel it. I see the carnage, but there is no pain. Not in my legs. I breathe heavily and faster, unable to control it. The forest around us turns bright. I can’t see anything through the blinding light. Then it all goes dark.
I was in and out of consciousness for most of the journey until Jay was able to properly hydrate me. It wasn’t without a struggle. She weaved magnolia leaves in a creative manner, which held over a pint of water. With a small spout on one end she clenched my jaw and poured. It took a few attempts choking on fluids before she figured a routine to get it down my throat. She was proud of her creation, even going as far as giving it a name. She started with oasis-in-a-bag, then eventually slimmed it down to oasis pouch. She made one for each of us during our journey to the capital. She treated it as an adventure.
Then, once I was able to hold my eyes open for more than a few passing blinks, Stone felt comfortable enough to test his talents on my wounds. I’m not sure if he needed to build up the courage or if he wanted my consent before using his talents on me. My legs remain out of commission, but I’m free of pain for the most part. I didn’t realize the Lahyf talents could eliminate pain without healing the wound. It seems something that should go hand-in-hand. Hiberneyt talents would be more suited for dulling the senses. But whatever he did, the journey has been more tolerable.
Stone and Jaymes mostly ate berries, only the ones they knew were edible, and, on occasion, wild onions and mushrooms. There were several instances in which they had a perfect shot at wild game if only we’d brought a slingshot. Stone and I found it entertaining to watch Jaymes hopelessly chase after the squirrels after they would taunt us from the treetops. Occasionally they would scurry across the forest floor, and that’s when Jaymes would make her move. She wasn’t amused with us heckling her and even attempted to give me a wallop in the kneecap before Stone interfered.
By the time we arrived at the Crimson Capital, Helios was exhausted from carrying us, one after the other, always hauling me plus one. Helios nearly collapsed on more than one occasion, but Stone’s fear and sense of urgency kept him from being too empathetic. He only allowed for a few routine breaks each day, nothing more. If we survive this, I suspect Stone will carry a notable future.
There’s familiarity to the capital as we split the crowd down the thoroughfare. The three of us would explore this place together when we tagg
ed along on Mr. McLarin’s business ventures. But we never ventured too far from the Redwood Chamber where Arden had his business.
Ancient redwoods integrate into the architecture of the older buildings. The natural light of thunder lanterns glows day and night, where they hang from younger redwoods lining the roads. And a hint of foliage remains in bursts where the citizens still care for it. The majority of it is abused and forsaken. And the heavy odor lingering in the air isn’t natural at all. The people aren’t the same as the Old Races who developed this city. We have changed. For the worse.
“Stone?”
“Yeah, Elder. Are you in pain?”
I ignore his question. “Did you know this city was once a beautiful civilization with man and nature coexisting?” Stone’s brow crinkles. I continue, nonetheless. “Every building was integrated into the ancient redwoods that once thrived here in the city. The redwoods were unimaginably large. The largest of them reaching to the clouds with trunks wide enough a hundred men locking hands could not circumference them. They were by far the largest organisms on Azure. Can you imagine all that life?”
“Yeah,” he responds, uninterested. His eyes meander the crowd.
“It’s too bad all the larger ones are long gone. It’s unfortunate what man does to this world.”
Sitting upright on Helios now with Jaymes bracing me from behind, I look down to the river as we stroll past it. Seasons ago, when the ancient redwoods were still about, the river appeared as it is named—the Scarlet River. It was crystal clear with a bright red hue. As crystal clear as a red river can be. Similar in color to the red wines produced in the Garnet Plains, and it flowed with authority. Now, it is more of an opaque red-orange color, which I presume comes from all the traffic and waste of man. Further north, closer to Farrow and Redoak where the capita is less dense, it isn’t quite as tainted. Evidence of the effects of man.
As we traipse through the crowded thoroughfare, we see drifters, traders, residents, businessmen, and a variety of characters parading about in search of the best deal. Market stands litter the street the entire way through. The foot traffic is more than it should accommodate. As Jaymes and I ride atop Helios, Stone on foot, we catch a lot of glances—more than a lot. I can feel holes burning in my flesh from the hot stares, they’re so concentrated.
It’s certainly Helios drawing the attention, the most regal of beasts domesticated by man. And with the three of us looking like homeless beggars, it doesn’t align. I’m sure it’s an unnatural image for the onlookers.
I discount the attention and notice a lavish number of flyers posted throughout the market. One at every market stand and more. All the fruit stands, the rare meat markets, the precious metal kiosks, the brothels, the stable, the gambling hall, they all have flyers posted. And it isn’t a collage of flyers for various events or bargains, but rather all are copies of the same flyer. All with the same image drawn on them.
“Uh…Stone?” I suddenly feel uneasy and vulnerable. Even with a powerful beast beneath me. “Don’t let them execute me, Stone.”
He turns to face me, lips flattened, brow curled inward. Confused eyes.
“They burn those that they hang. It’s common practice. I don’t want to burn, Stone. I want to go back to Azure. Don’t let them execute me.”
Stone tightens Helios’s reins and guides us through the crowd to get a closer look. It’s a crude sketch of Stone and Jaymes with the word reward printed at the top in large font. Below their picture, it reads:
STONE MCLARIN & JAYMES MCLARIN
WANTED FUGITIVES FOR THE MURDER
OF ARDEN & SHAE MCLARIN
PREFERRED ALIVE FOR PROPER
TRIAL AND JUDGMENT
“Susy’s shits!” curses Stone, a little too loudly. Those who didn’t recognize us before do now.
The Taoiseach obviously travels faster than we do, or he sent word. Either way, this creates an enormous challenge for us. “Why?” I ask the obvious question, not expecting an answer.
Stone turns to face us. The terror and confusion on his face are apparent. He silently asks the question Are you seeing the same thing I am?
Jaymes returns Stone’s inquisitive stare with her own confused expression. Her amber eyes are wide and ready to stream tears, but she refrains. Her brown hair is disheveled and matted. There are smudges of dirt all over her face and clothes. Her grey sleepwear is now more of a charcoal color in places with several rips, and it hangs loosely over her petite structure. She looks like a frail, terrified girl, and not only do I see it in her appearance, but I see it in Stone’s eyes as well. I know he will do what is necessary to protect her.
I can only imagine what is going through his mind, but his eyes are saying I am now responsible for her, responsible for making sure she eats her greens, responsible for keeping the boys at bay, responsible to keep her safe at all times, responsible for getting her out of this city and into a safe place away from the false accusations against us and our family. The light comes on behind those sky-blue eyes, making reality clear as glass.
Suddenly, an unexpected, firm grip closes around my right arm as I am forced from Helios’ back and onto my knees. I anticipate severe pain to shoot through my spine, but I’ve lost all sense of feeling. More so than what Stone awarded me. The hard impact is only recognized from the slight bounce quaking through me.
A man donning a white cross-sash and greaves grabs Jaymes and forces her from Helios’ back as well.
I don’t bother to struggle. What could I possibly do in this state?
Another man in the same attire has Stone on his knees, forcing his head down. He’s struggling, but not effectively.
I find myself wishing Helios were still a wild cat, capable of ravaging anyone at a whims notice, but his domestication has created an obedience in which he will only attack if threatened. And he isn’t attacking right now.
My heartbeat noticeably slows as the man puts his hand on my neck. Of course! The white attire, the silver-greyish eyes, these Hiberneyts trained at the Academy. They’re the Taoiseach’s Solite—elite guard of the Crimson Capital.
My heartbeat continues to slow. My eyes grow heavy, and my energy rapidly declines. The capturer no longer needs to restrain me. To lift my arms feels like heaving a bucket of sludge from the pigs’ pen after an entire day of wrestling the hogs. The positive thought of cleaning out the sty motivates me. I look up as far as my eyes will shift in their sockets to see both Jaymes and Helios in the same conundrum as myself. Both are getting drowsy and unable to do anything about it. I crawl over to where Jaymes is curled up and wrap my arm around her. My motivation is hopeless, but I don’t want Jaymes to suffer this alone.
Another positive thought, these men are Hiberneyts, so I know we aren’t dying.
In preparation of what is to come, all knowledge of our roots has been barricaded behind the limitations of four human minds. It has taken generations, but not another soul shall have the ability to extract our knowledge. It is time to abolish the chaos that has worked so laboriously for the grand design.
46 Jaymes
A waning Cerise is lit high in the black sky. Her pale-crimson ambience swathes Harris’ entire manor, giving the already dark envelope a blood-red tint. If I believed in omens, I would take warning. But I don’t.
I cautiously peer inside his chamber through the glass door on the sundeck. His office is dark, all except for one fading thunder lantern and the intruding crimson ambience of that bitch in the sky. There’s a dark figure seated at the desk just as expected.
This may be my death I’m walking into. Though, tonight is as good as any for death. Will he know I’m coming? He knows I frequent his balcony. Does he know I’m here now? I shuffle those thoughts away. Knife in the heart, then straight to the head for the kill. I must be fast. I must be swift. And above all else, I must not hesitate. It’s time. He has meddled with my life for too long.
I put my hand on the lever, and just as I proceed to push down, I see her. Not again. Sh
e floats across Harris’ chamber in my direction. Her presence haunts me far too often to be fearful of her approach. She passes through the glass with a flat palm raised, then a single outstretched finger presses into her lips. She fades away as if a strong gust disperses her.
Heeding her warning, I push my back low against the wall and wait. And peek through the glass. Harris’s dark figure remains at the desk, but another stands across from it now. The light is too dim to make out who it is, but judging by the posture and bulk of the figure, I would say it’s a man. If it were Ellia, I may have proceeded as planned, but I cannot enter the room and assassinate our ruler with an unknown man in the room. I could always take his life as well, but it is rather improper to kill someone you don’t know, who’s not a threat. My mother wouldn’t approve. I look over my shoulder to see if she lingers. She’s gone.
I slump low, moving swiftly across the glass door, hoping neither of the men see me, and I duck under the window next to it. With his window always ajar, it has made for a stellar location to eavesdrop. For this reason alone, I’m surprised the Taoiseach doesn’t have a guard on post regularly.
“What is your intention?” a familiar voice asks.
It’s the Taoiseach with his deep and always controlled tone asking the question, and he sounds rather peeved. A business affair? I sit still and listen intently.
“To rule the realm, of course. And unleash your secrets to everyone. They deserve to know.” The voice is not one I recognize.
“Why not choose a life with a family and companions like the rest?” the Taoiseach asks.
“Think back to what your primal instinct is, Harris.”
This man has little respect for the Taoiseach, referring to him by his given name.
“And what is that?” the Taoiseach inquires.
“To find a mate and generate offspring, of course.”
Season of Sacrifice (Blood of Azure Book 1) Page 59