Page 76 of Of Blood & Stone

Thump.

Thump.

Her goddess’ heartbeat—it was in the compass to Aretta’s Willow.

Triumph lit Sylzenya’s chest as she turned to Elnok. “We need to tell the High One.”

Chapter 18

The Dynami Barracks

“Have you lost your mind?” Elnok questioned.

Ironic, he realized, that he’d decided to choose such words, considering a monster had taken over his mind only moments ago. He remembered grabbing the compass from the pool’s tiles, a black substance floating in the water, and then everything turning cold. From then on, it was as if he had been watching through someone else’s eyes—holding Sylzenya by the throat, demanding she explain why the poison didn’t infect her. Every inch of his skin fell prey to someone else’s eyes, his whole body thrumming with the monster’s sole instinct: protect the compass.

But the monster’s intent had been interrupted by the pain in Elnok’s back, searing white hot until he heaved everything out of his stomach, just like with the wine and the plum.

Even now, Elnok’s mind continued to be consumed by a thick fog, but he forced himself to stay focused; he needed to stop Sylzenya from telling the High Oneanyof this.

“You said you saw Aretta’s Willow in Lhaal Forest, so we’ll need a Dynami if we’re going to stand a chance against more monsters,” Sylzenya said, leading them out of the healing poolroom and into one of the willow groves in the main hallway. He was shivering, both of them soaked. “We can only get a Dynami with the High One’s approval. And besides, he needs to know about this. What if there are more ichthys’ in the pool? What if it attacks a Kreena or acolyte next?”

“There are no others,” Elnok replied, the sensations of the creature’s poison still fresh in his body. “It’d been there, alone, for centuries, doing nothing but guarding this compass by redirecting people with its poison. I could sense it, all of its… loneliness.” He pointed to the compass in her hand. “It had every intent to kill when we took it.”

“So let’s perform our due diligence and inform the High One immediately.”

“Look, I know you feel obligated to tell yourever-graciousleader everything, but now isn’t the time.”

“This isn’t about how I feel,” she argued, her voice rising. “It’s about making sure no one else gets hurt.”

“And I’m telling you there aren’t any more monsters in there.”

“Better to be safe than one of my people dead in the morning.”

“It issafe.Anyways, we’ll be thrown in the dungeons if we say anything.”

She flared her nostrils. “You’d risk people’s lives for the well-being of yours?”

“Ah, I see now.” Elnok leaned forward, spinning his gold ring. “You’ve just been wanting to find this compass because you believe it’ll put you in good standing with the High One again.”

She scoffed. “That’s not true.”

He traced the gold chain on her neck before tapping the orodyte. “I’m not so sure about that.”

Eyes widening, she lifted her hand to slap his face, but he stopped her, gripping her wrist before she could land the blow.

“Donottouch me?—”

Covering her mouth with his other hand, he spun her around, forcing them deeper into the grove, her muffled screams hopefully getting lost in the thick branches and leaves. He held Sylzenya tight to his chest.

“I need you to understand the predicament we’re in,” Elnok whispered into her ear, dodging her attempted headbutt, “The High One told you to never talk about Aretta’s Willow, claiming it was a myth, and then we’re nearly killed by a centuries-old monster guarding the one item that can lead us to the willow? And let’s not forget how you proceeded tolieto the High One yesterday, pretending you weren’t still seeking out the tree, then immediately following up with telling your friend that you were trying to find it. Do you see where I’m going with this?”

She stepped on his foot, a sharp pain rising up his ankle. A groan escaped his mouth as he cursed.

He continued anyways, “Not only is there no situation in this in which we aren’t imprisoned, but none of your people can be trusted until we know what’s going on.”

Especially the High One.

She stopped flailing.

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