Page 22 of Of Blood & Stone

“Can you ever learn to mind your own business?” Sylzenya asked as she leaned forward, “Or better yet, can you ever just let me be?”

She smiled. “Where’s the fun in that? Now, drink up. I don’t want to be able to remember a single word I’ve said by tomorrow morning.”

Sylzenya grinned, finishing her third cup. Everyone drank well into the night, the final wine bottle emptied, their white robes stained crimson.

Despite the High One’s confidence, Sylzenya had difficulty ignoring the direction given to her in the vision. The bird had given her a path and spoken of a price. What could be more torturous than her current state of powerlessness?

The search for the compass was wishful thinking anyways.

Absurd.

Aretta’s Willow had either been lost for centuries or was a simple myth. Searching for it would only be a distraction, and her people had survived this long without it. She had a cure on the way and a new task.

All she needed to do was focus on the Vutrorian King and his whereabouts. She’d keep a careful eye on him whenever he chose to see the temple, would report all his comings and goings, and anything he said or chose not to say.

Sylzenya’s task was to protect her kingdom, and she would not fail again.

Chapter 6

A Plan

Waves rocked the royal vessel as Elnok balanced a plate of grilled fish in his hand. His brother’s crew did a fair enough job pretending the long-lost Prince of Vutror didn’t just board the ship with his group of ragged thieves two days ago, but wary eyes found him nonetheless, their whispers just loud enough to carry on the wind.

I heard he went mad after the king and queen’s death.

I heard he’d always coveted his brother’s crown.

I heard he killed a guard during his imprisonment.

Rumors tossed to and fro like the sea crashing into the ship, but Elnok had little care for such talk. If they believed him to be the one who was mad, then so be it. After he found the healing tree in Estea, he’d never see these people again, for he had no intention of reclaiming his royal position. All he needed was his crew in good health, and he would be satisfied.

“Pay no mind to them, Your Majesty,” the woman steering the ship called from above. “They’re just bored, is all.”

Elnok took a bite of the fish, the taste of salt and the sea causing his stomach to grumble for more. He’d been approaching a week since he’d eaten anything that wasn’t dried seaweed.

“And what of you, Captain?” Elnok inquired.

The woman smiled, black hair sweeping across her deeply tanned face.

“Difficult to find boredom when steering this hefty of a ship.”

“There are days that require far less effort, I’m sure.”

She raised a brow. “I was told you’d been killed by pirates.”

Elnok swallowed another bite of fish. “A worthy conclusion.”

“Not really,” the captain replied, “because if you were able to escape those Vutrorian dungeons as a young lad, then I found it hard to believe one of those lousy groups of marauders brought your end.”

Elnok huffed a laugh, but then a cabin door slammed open, and his heart stalled in his chest.

Across the deck stood his brother, the King of Vutror. Tosh’s eyes were wide and bloodshot, the remnants of wine dripping from his mouth, staining his white satin shirt. Elnok pulled a dagger from his belt and flipped it in his hand. Everyone on the ship ceased their work. Blood pumping loudly in his ears, Elnok took a step back, the plate of fish in his hands falling to the deck, shattering into pieces.

“He’s going to steal it from me,” Tosh yelled from across the deck.

Grab your sword.

But Elnok couldn’t move. After all these years of training his body to obey in any circumstance, his arms and legs refused. No longer did he smell the brine of the sea, but that of damp stone. And no longer were there open skies with passing clouds but dark gray bricks and a rod of hot steel.

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