Page 106 of Of Blood & Stone

She paused, her anger surging deeper and wider than she’d ever allowed it. Tears stung her eyes; she let them roll down her face, dripping onto the earth, same as her blood.

So much sorrow and pain.

And Distrathrus was the reason for all of it.

“I need to find Aretta’s Willow.” Sylzenya whispered, “It’s what the bird was trying to tell me all along: if I don’t, I won’t just lose my power, but Distrathrus will try to destroy all of humanity.”

“Then the only way we’re going to find it and survive is if you use your power,” Elnok said.

She looked at Westley, his corpse drenched in blood. “And that doesn’t bother you? That I’ve been draining your land’s rivers and drying your people’s crops?”

“We’re in a forest filled with monsters trying to kill us,” Elnok replied. “Philosophical ideals are a bit arbitrary at the moment.”

Allowing the stench of metal and rot to fill her nostrils, she took a deep breath.

“All I’ve worked towards in my life has revolved around protecting my people, and I mean to continue that endeavor,” she replied. “And your people deserve protection too. The warbetween Aretta and Distrathrus never stopped, and in war, there are casualties. The only way we save more lives is by stopping Distrathrus.However,I’m only going to try and use my power whenabsolutelynecessary.” She sat up, pointing her finger at him. “So don’t go running into battles we don’t need to fight. Understand?”

He raised his hands in mock surrender. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Swear to it.”

He lowered his hands. “Trust me, I don’t want any more death for Druenia either, even if I didn’t give that initial impression. It’s just…” He took a deep breath. “I can’t get Orym’s medicine without you.”

“Without my power, you mean, which I’m not even in control of at the moment.”

“Well, yes, if we want to talk technicalities.”

Sylzenya knew it shouldn’t matter, but shedidn’twant to talk technicalities. She wanted to know if Elnok still cared for her even after their argument earlier. Would he defy his morals to make sure she could fill air in her lungs, just as she had?

But, how could she expect him to care for her in the same way when she'd been the reason his life had been famines and droughts? The reason his friend was dying? It was her responsibility to right her wrongs, and so, she would. She would help him get Orym's medicine from Aretta's Willow.

And if she truly cared about Elnok, then she would leave it at that.

“We should get moving before any more monsters show up,” Sylzenya suggested.

Elnok’s throat bobbed—hesitating. Sylzenya held her breath, a small bout of hope rising in her chest. Instead, he nodded, gathering the supplies he’d taken off the dead Dynameis andsituating them in one of the two leather pouches. Her hope doused as quickly as it came.

She accepted the other leather pouch, filling it with a vial of orodyte serum, five strips of dried meat, two large clusters of nuts and berries wrapped in leaves, and a half-full waterskin.

Barely a day’s worth of food.

Her hands shook as she took out the compass, the reality of everything she’d just done starting to consume her. She had killed Westley—murdered him—with her power, slayed three serpentums, lost track of Kharis, and possibly took away an entire field of crops on the other side of the forest.

And Distrathrus still held her in the palm of his hand.

Acid rose in her throat again.

“Be honest, what do you think?” Elnok asked, interrupting her thoughts.

Sylzenya looked up. He had belted another scabbard around his waist, sheathing a second longsword on the opposite side of his first. Both of the swords tipped just above the ground, as if he had two legs made of steel.

“What are you doing?” she questioned.

“I think it’s pretty obvious. I’m asking for your opinion of my new look.”

“Now isn’t the time.” Her voice wobbled as she turned her gaze to Westley’s body.

“Sylzenya.”

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