Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles Book 1)

by Penelope, L.

  Jasminda tapped into the maelstrom of emotions surrounding her and struggled to parse them out. The strongest by far were from Oola—pain, shame, anger, heartbreak, and finally, relief. Oddly, Jasminda could sense nothing from the man in front of her, who could be none other than the True Father. Eero. His emotions were a vast emptiness. Were he not standing directly on the caldera she would have thought he was blocking her Song somehow, but perhaps he had no feelings left after centuries of tyranny.

  Oola lowered herself before Her twin until Her feet hovered over the ground. She reached for him and ran a finger across the grotesque mask. Jasminda once again pushed forward, drawn toward the two as if by an invisible chain. Having spent so much time inside Oola’s head, worry blossomed within her at the Queen’s reaction.

  “You have returned,” Eero said. His voice was nothing like that of his younger self. Hollow and raspy, it was the sound of death. Both Oola and Jasminda flinched.

  “I have come back for you,” Oola said.

  They spoke quietly, just for the two of them, but Jasminda made out their words.

  “You came back to take from me what is mine,” Eero grated.

  Oola dropped Her hand. Jasminda was now close enough to see the tears welling in the Queen’s eyes. Her worry grew.

  “I came back to right my wrong.” One tear broke free and streamed down Oola’s cheek. “What have you done, brother?”

  Eero raised his hands to his mask and pulled it off his face. A silent shudder went through those on both sides. None alive had seen beneath the mask he’d first donned centuries ago. Subjugation and misery had altered the collective memory, and the Lagrimari had forgotten their leader was not an Earthsinger like them. They’d forgotten why he preyed on them and stole their power.

  The jeweled mask fell from his gloved fingertips. Beneath it, Eero’s face was unchanged from the young man Jasminda had seen in Oola’s memories. The shock of the crowd was oppressive. It slammed into Jasminda, forcing her to throw up a shield against the assault.

  “Will you embrace me one last time, sister?” Eero’s words echoed those he’d spoken before betraying his twin all those years ago.

  Oola’s emotions sharply changed. Guilt came to the forefront, her resolve to right her wrong was slipping away under the weight of the familiarity and love she still felt for her brother. His amber eyes held a warmth that did not correspond to the emptiness inside him. Oola could not sense it, she had always been blinded to him, just as Yllis had said, and even now, even now, as Jasminda observed, she continued to be so.

  Jasminda needed a way to get through to Oola, to make her see her brother for what he really was.

  Your Majesty. Jasminda thought a message, the way Osar and the Earthsingers of old had. She did not know if it would work, she had little control over the vast power now bursting beneath her skin, but she had to try. He is not the boy you knew any longer. You must not allow him to sway you. If the message had gone through, if Oola had heard her plea, she gave no acknowledgment. Instead, her self-condemnation seemed to grow.

  Jasminda trembled. History could not repeat itself again. “We have to help her,” she whispered to Jack.

  “Help Her?”

  Jasminda never took her eyes off Oola. They’d thought her a goddess, but she was a woman, a woman with a broken heart who had nothing left in this world. A woman caught in a vortex of pain.

  “She can’t do it. Even after everything . . .” Jasminda wrung her hands. She too knew heartbreak. She too knew loss. But somehow Oola had allowed those emotions to overtake her resolve, and now she faltered when she needed to act.

  “We have to stop him before he harms her.”

  Jack’s expression was incredulous, but he nodded. The True Father was now bound from using Earthsong by the caldera, and if Oola’s feet touched the ground, she’d also become powerless. But in the final vision Jasminda had seen through Oola’s eyes, Eero had even then been bound by Yllis’s blood spell. The bracelets on Eero’s wrists had been calderas. But those bracelets had not stopped him from stealing his sister’s Song. To do that he must have used pure blood magic, Jasminda surmised. And blood magic had allowed him to destroy the calderas.

  If the True Father were to access his power now, there was no telling the amount of damage he could do.

  Jasminda strained to remember the words Eero had spoken after he’d stabbed his sister, words Oola had not understood for they had been in the tongue of the Cavefolk. The words invoked the blood spell, and if Eero used it, so could Jasminda.

  She stooped next to a fallen soldier and pulled the knife from his belt. Jack’s gaze was questioning, but he made no move to stop her. She squeezed the knife’s handle and moved closer to the standoff between the twins with Jack on her heels.

  Oola’s face was clouded in misery as Jasminda circled around Eero and approached him from behind. His shoulders stiffened, but he did not turn. Instead, he took a step closer to his sister and wiped the tears from her face, then wrapped his arms around her waist.

  With a yell, Jasminda ran forward and plunged the knife into his back, then whispered the string of words that would bring him to the brink of death and release his Song.

  The stolen Songs inside him catapulted at her, their attack violent. She kept a hand on the knife but her knees buckled under the onslaught. The Songs were tainted; they battered ruthlessly. Her connection to Earthsong flared as her own Song fought back. Like a virus infecting her, the stolen Songs wore away at her shield, dragging her under. They were oily, slick with a layer of malevolence from their former host. Jasminda took them on, having no other option, but feared she would not survive the struggle.

  Her knees hit the ground, and blackness swept over her vision.

  Suddenly, another Song brushed against her consciousness. Oola was trying to link with her. Jasminda gladly gave up control of her Song, and the practiced strength of Oola’s immense power took over. The queen funneled the stolen Songs away from Jasminda. Her hand, still clutching the knife impaled in Eero’s back, was covered by Oola’s. Blood ran down Jasminda’s arm.

  Using the same spell Yllis had discovered to trap his Song in her pendant, Oola manipulated the energy to force the stolen Songs into the knife before pulling the blade from Eero’s back. The sickly taste of blood magic fled Jasminda’s tongue as the Songs were imprisoned.

  Oola pulled both their hands away, and the knife clattered to the ground, the blood on it spreading, hardening, transforming into the red stone of a caldera.

  Jasminda fell back, gasping for breath, as Oola released their link. Jack was there behind her, propping her up, his arms buoys in the whirling sea, keeping her afloat.

  Eero crumpled to his knees screaming, his brittle shell pierced at last. Jasminda slammed her shield into place as the man’s emotions sprang free of their bonds. She did not want to experience the suppressed feelings that five hundred years of ruthless brutality had forged.

  Oola’s tear-stained face stared blankly at her brother’s weeping body. Her attention moved to Jasminda, eyes heavy, but grateful. “It is done,” she whispered, then shot into the air, soon becoming a dot against the sky.

  "Your Majesty." A phalanx of uniformed men approached, each bearing stripes marking them as generals. Jasminda pried herself from Jack's arms, intending to give him space to deal with the endless duties that must await him in light of all that had just happened.

  "One moment, if you please,” Jack said, holding up a finger. He extended his hand to Jasminda who grabbed it without thinking. He pulled her forward, away from the men and towed her along, moving swiftly through the multitude of people, all of them in various stages of confusion or awe.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, darting a glance behind her at the frowning generals.

  “I have no idea. Somewhere without all these blasted people.” He quickened his pace.

  They were nearly at a run when they reached the outer buildings of the base. Jack led them into a structure she q
uickly recognized as the storage room they’d slept in on her first visit. It was only days ago but it felt like another life.

  He pulled the door closed then turned to rest his forehead on hers and brought their joined hands between them. A single overhead bulb barely illuminated the space, but his face was so familiar to her it did not matter.

  "I'm sorry I put you in the dungeon," he whispered, his breath warming her mouth.

  "I'm sorry I tried to run away. So there, we're even. No more apologies." She could not keep the smile off her face, even as the exhaustion of the past hours took hold.

  He captured her lips with his, and her fatigue melted away. She wrapped her arms around him, drawing him close, feeling energized by this stolen moment.

  Beyond the walls of the storage space, voices called out searching for Jack.

  "You have much to do now, Prince Jaqros. Or should I call you king?"

  "Only if I may call you queen.” He took a step back and bent to one knee. “Jasminda ul-Sarifor, will you marry me?”

  Her heart stuttered at the sight of him before her. He brought her hands to his lips. “Will you love me? Honor and protect me? Rule with me? Be my queen? Repair the damage of the two lands with me? Grow old with me? Have children with me? Make this world a better place with me?”

  Tears pricked her eyes and her whole body trembled. Her answer stuck in her throat, but she pushed it out.

  “Of course, Jack. Of course.”

  She fell against him, and they both toppled to the ground.

  The generals had to wait quite a while before their prince returned.

  The Queen Has Arisen

  “Week-long Celebration Scheduled Across the Land”

  “Elsira Enters New Age of Hope”

  The shortest Breach War in history ended only hours after its commencement, and the faith of thousands of Elsirans was renewed when our beloved Queen awakened from her five centuries of slumber. Details are still coming in at this time, and we still do not know what prompted this miraculous resurrection, but a source from within the Sisterhood stated that magic was almost certainly involved. . .

  Queen of Deception?

  “Reactions To Her Appearance Shock Many”

  [Continued from page A1]

  One witness to the awakening, speaking on the grounds of anonymity, shared his displeasure with the revelation of the Queen’s physical appearance. “To think, we’d been praying to a grol this whole time. I just can’t believe it.” Others call such statements blasphemy. Syllenne Nidos, High Priestess of the Sisterhood, decried the “false believers,” saying, “Those whose faith was built on any assumption of the Queen’s appearance must search their hearts and remember all of the blessings She has provided to so many. We must work together to heal the years of false thinking, both about magic and those who bear it.”

  Temple attendance has surged in the days following the Queen’s awakening, though so has defection from the religion that many are now calling a cult. Attendance is rising at gatherings of Dominionists, a tradition which originated in Yaly and boasts a growing membership worldwide.

  Jack and Jas: The Peoples’ Wedding

  "Union Blessed by Queen Oola"

  The girl walking down the aisle toward him looked like a mirage. Jack blinked rapidly, not sure if the joy flowing through his body was making him see things. He’d never witnessed anything more beautiful than Jasminda, radiant in traditional Lagrimari green, drawing closer to him to promise her love for all time.

  Usher stood beside him, the sentimental old man sniveling like an infant. Perhaps Jack shouldn’t be so hard on him since tears were flowing freely down his own face, as well. On Jack’s other side stood Queen Oola, who was presiding over the ceremony. Her presence officially passed on the duties of leadership to her chosen successors.

  The ceremony took place on the site of the old refugee camp. In the crowd, a mix of Elsiran and Lagrimari faces observed the union. A peaceful gathering of former enemies—merely a herald of things to come.

  The True Father sat in the dungeon; Lizvette was under house arrest in her rooms, facing the possibility of exile; and her father, Nirall, had not been seen since the day of the breach. An arrest warrant had been issued for several counts of treason, but Jack did not expect the man to turn up anytime soon.

  Without a doubt, the days ahead would be difficult; the collective wounds on both sides were deep. But, with Jasminda by his side as queen, Jack was certain no task was too daunting.

  In moments, she would be his bride. And after the wedding, they would travel back to her valley to allow her to once again see her family’s land. When they arrived, he hoped she’d be surprised by the house he’d had built for her over the ruins of her cabin. Perhaps that would be their vacation home, where she could spend time closer to the memories of those she’d lost. The goats had already been rounded up and safely transported back to the palace, where they would be well taken care of.

  She stepped up to the raised stage and grasped hold of his hands. His heart swelled to near bursting. She cast a nervous glance back at the people in the audience for the nuptials. Jack lightly squeezed her fingers. Jasminda straightened, throwing her shoulders back and lifting her chin. There she was, his warrior bride. He wondered if she had a blade strapped to her even now.

  He couldn’t wait to find out.

  EPILOGUE

  The new king and queen embrace before me, the love between them a living, breathing entity. I numb the sliver of jealousy slicing my heart. I cannot begrudge these children their happiness.

  Every head in the gathered crowd turns to follow Jaqros and Jasminda as they retreat down the aisle. Every head but one. Dark eyes glare at me, not in awe or reverence like the others, but in accusation. I nod in acknowledgement.

  Darvyn. Are you ready to accept my offer?

  His eyes bore into me coldly. He clenches his jaw so hard I think he may break a tooth. What exactly is your offer . . . Your Majesty? He adds my title as an afterthought. His impertinence is actually refreshing.

  You may be of service to our new queen. I still owe her a debt, one even she does not know of but that you can help me to repay.

  He scowls. I am nothing if not your pawn. What would I need to do this time?

  Her father and brothers. You can retrieve them for me.

  And why should I do you this favor?

  I smile, baring all my teeth. Kyara.

  I only have to say her name and his whole demeanor changes. All bravado falls away, and raw pain flashes across his features.

  Do this for me and her life will be spared.

  I call the wind to me and rise into the air, already certain of his decision.

  THANK YOU

  Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book! Reviews mean the world to authors, and they help readers find new books, so please do leave a review at your retailer, blog, or favorite book site. And if you enjoyed the book don’t keep it to yourself. Recommend it and share the love! ☺

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  Acknowledgments

  I am truly fortunate to have such a supportive family, both here and in the other room. I can't thank my parents enough for their consistent encouragement and Paul for the story triage.

  I owe a great debt to the writers and teachers at The Muse Writers Center in Norfolk, VA, the Hurston/Wright Fiction Workshop, and my VONA/Voices family: Junot Díaz, the Kwisatz Haderach and the Fiction Vixens.

  Endless thanks to Danielle Rose Poiesz for bringing order to the chaos and to Marjorie Liu for helping me figure out where to begin.

  Without the generosity of my critique partner
s and beta readers, this book would be significantly less coherent. Thanks to Lauren Dee, for her eagle eyes, and to James T. Egan for creating a cover that still makes my jaw drop.

  To my sistren, Nakeesha Seneb and Kara Stevens, we did it!

  And to Jared, thank you for believing in me and for your gentle, daily harassment encouragement.

  About the Author

  Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She's a romance junkie who self-medicates with happily-ever-afters and steaming mugs of green tea. She lives in Maryland with her husband, an eighty-pound lap dog, and an attack cat. Visit her online at http://www.lpenelope.com.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Reader's Note

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author