Page 141 of Of Blood & Stone

“You see the path?” Kharis asked him, pointing towards a cleared portion of trees, “It’ll take you all the way out of the forest and set you straight to Vutror. It’s all flatlands once you get out of here. You’ll see your kingdom in the distance.”

Elnok nodded, his nostrils flaring as he patted the whip on his hip, the object glowing a bright yellow.

“Here,” Sylzenya said, “I want you to have this.”

She dug into her pocket, taking out the compass that had led them to Aretta’s Willow. The piece of bark no longer glowed.

Elnok half-smiled. “Thank you.”

He took the compass, rolling it in between his hands—those hands she wished she didn’t have to let go of.

As he turned, a cavern opened in her chest. He walked into the darkness of Lhaal Forest, his footsteps receding until all she could hear were the chitters and screeches of the monsters waiting for her at the other end of the forest.

Waiting with Distrathrus.

Chapter 34

A Choice

The further Elnok walked down the path of crooked trees, the more his heart faltered. He’d already stopped multiple times, turning around, considering what it would mean to run back to Sylzenya and Kharis—to help them fight.

To stay with her until the end.

But he couldn’t.

Staring at the glowing medicine vial, a sweet relief etched itself into his bones; he’d done it. And yet, as the fog billowed around his thighs, the momentary relief vanished, replaced by a deep chill settling into his veins. He cursed. Sylzenya and Kharis had to fight agod.

How could he leave them?

For Orym.

For Orym.

A shock ran up his spine as he touched the leather of his newly gifted whip. His breaths came easier, his vision sharpened, and his limbs grew stronger. He unwound it, letting it slap against the forest floor with a loudcrack.

Uncanny. This weapon felt less like an object and more like a part of himself. An extension, as if he could feel theground quiver in his veins. Perhaps he shouldn’t be surprised, considering it was crafted by a goddess, but he’d never felt anything like it. He’d always gotten along fine with his sword, rope, and dagger, but now… now he hadpower.

“Power like Sylzenya,” he whispered.

He shouldn’t have uttered her name. It wasn’t that his heart was misguiding him, but rather his heart had been split in half. Gods, he was going to return to Orym and heal him, but at what cost? Leaving behind someone he’d grown to care for just as much as his crew? And what of his role in helping humanity as a whole?

Fuck.

Sylzenya’s righteousness had been rubbing off on him. Humanity’s plight wasn’t his to care for. Those who were closest to him… that was his humanity to save. Sacrifices had to be made to do so, and his obsession with this woman was no exception.

Fool.

This wasn’t an obsession. If itwas, he could say his unyielding desire for her was a problem.

But she wasn’t a problem—far from it.

He laughed to himself. He’d gone as far as thinking she was his personal hell, and she had been at first, but it’d changed so quickly. She’d gone from devoting her life to a crazed lie to denouncing everything she’d ever known and saving his life in the process. She’d understood his pain—met him in it. They’d laughed together, cried together, held each other.

She’d been so easy to be with. He didn’t just tolerate her… helikedtalking with her, looking at her, justbeingwith her.

He shook his head. Dreams were dangerous in this world. He should’ve known better than to grow so attached.

Turn around.

---