Page 23 of Of Blood & Stone

No longer was he a grown man, but a scared boy.

“Tosh, get back inside.” The Dynami’s thunderous voice came from inside the cabin.

The large Estean man walked out of the double doors, approaching Tosh like he was a newly caught fish about to slip from his grasp. But Tosh didn’t respond as he drank the last of his wine, throwing the glass on the deck.

Fight. Run. Do something, dammit!

“He says nothing to deny it,” Tosh shouted, “But I’ll burn the truth out of you, won’t I, Elnok?”

Elnok stood motionless, sweat pouring down his neck, the scars on his back searing with dark memories.

“Tosh, that’senough,” the Dynami said, grabbing his wrist.

Tosh’s eyes grew wild. “Away from me, Kharis, this isn’t about you?—”

“Tosh, listen to me?—”

“I will not be handled like a commonpeasant!”

A burst of light erupted from Kharis, blinding everyone on the deck. Elnok staggered back, his scars aching with pain as he hit a wall. Limbs nimble once more, he found a doorknob and ran into a musty closet, slamming the door and locking it.

A thin stream of light filtered through a small round window. Brooms, mops, and cloths were organized in a neat heap. Elnok took one of the cloths and wiped his sweat-stained face. Breaths ragged and heart pounding, he leaned both hands on the wall and shuddered. His back still burned, memories of his time in Vutror’s dungeons on the cusp of drowning him. Tosh stoking an iron rod, the tip a bright orange.

No.

He wouldn’t allow himself to think on it. Not here.

Elnok removed his cloak and tunic, retrieving the pot of salve he’d stolen from a merchant three weeks ago. Dipping his fingers in the cool substance, he gently covered the rigid scars lining his upper and lower back. Flexible as he was, he could never reachthe scars settled in the center, and so they continued to burn while the rest fell to ease with the salve.

He waited until Tosh’s shouts ceased before emerging from the closet, his tunic sticking to his back from the salve.

All eyes on deck turned to him.

Tosh and Kharis were gone.

“I told you I was going to kill you for getting on this ship, Elnok,” Orym wheezed as he laid on a cot in one of the ship’s main cabins.

“Quite the threat for someone who can barely lift their head,” Elnok replied.

Orym ignored him as Elnok helped Yenna with folding his friend’s dirty sheets and supplying him with new ones.

“If it wasn’t for him, you’d still be coughing up dust in the village’s infirmary, and I’d still be feeding you whatever kind of disgusting gruel we scrounged that day,” Yenna scolded.

“Don’t encourage his behavior,” Orym retorted.

Yenna’s hands stopped their work. “Talk to me like that again, and I’ll let that Dynami handle you instead.”

Orym’s pale face stained red.

“Apologies, Yenna, it’s just…” He trailed off as he locked eyes with Elnok. “I was told your brother threatened to burn you.”

“He’s never been the best with his words,” Elnok replied, ignoring the way his back still ached.

“Has he done so before?”

Elnok shrugged.

“Elnok.”

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