Page 161 of Of Blood & Stone

She rubbed the pad of her finger along the sharp edges of the orodyte.

He continued. “To have your parents dismiss your wishes and leave you at the temple all those years ago… It’s never an obligation for a child to remain here, and yet they did so anyways. It was selfish of them. Cruel. This is how you feel about them, is it not?”

“I feel no such things, Your Grace,” Sylzenya replied, the ache in her back growing as she closed her hand around the orodyte. “It would not be our goddess’ way.”

A few stars began to burn in the night sky.

“Nor is lying.”

Sylzenya closed her eyes, begging the cut on her back to cease burning.

“My parents gave me to the temple out of love and duty.”

“And yet, pain does not go unnoticed,” the High One replied, his hands behind his back as he stared at the pond. “It is meant to be felt. It’s the price for life, and it aids you. Feel it, let it be with you, and you’ll find greatness.”

Crickets and the croak of frogs bathed the night air.

“Is that how you found greatness, Your Grace?”

He stared into the sky, a small silence spanning between them.

“Was it not you who told me you were going to become Estea’s greatest Kreena one day?” he inquired.

Sylzenya’s lips thinned. “The words of a child.”

“The dream of a goddess.”

She turned to him, his yellow eyes glowing as bright as the orodyte.

“And so you shall be one, Sylzenya,” he said, eyes lost in the burning stars, “You’ll be the goddess this kingdom has needed for centuries. By my side, we will see Estea survive this famine. Together, this land will become as great as it once was.”

Chapter 39

The Price for Life

Sylzenya’s first willow sang to her, the muffled thump of her goddess’ heartbeat reaching out through its roots.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The final act of Elnok’s life was giving her power—the object to destroy the god who controlled her and everyone on this continent.

She wouldn’t let Elnok’s final moment be in vain.

She ran for the altar, sword in hand.

“Stop, Sylzenya,” Distrathrus shouted, throwing Elnok’s lifeless body to the ground.

But Sylzenya breathed deep, connecting every part of her body until they worked as one, unparalleled strength ripping through her as light crackled along her skin.

Power thrummed fast and hot through her body as she landed on Distrathrus’ bloody heart, sword high and ready to plunge into its beating flesh?—

The dark barrier crashed down on her.

She shouted in anger as the sword grew too heavy, its weight throwing her backwards. Strong fingers gripped her shoulders, pulling her off and slamming her to the floor.

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