Page 32 of Of Blood & Stone

“Do you wish to say farewell to your brother?” Kharis inquired.

Elnok glanced towards Tosh. His brother’s hand shook, his wine spilling onto the deck. His black hair appeared newly washed, his maroon shirt still hanging off of him. Elnok gulped as Tosh took a step forward, as if he was about to say something. Instead, Elnok turned back to Kharis.

“There’s nothing to say,” he replied flatly.

Kharis didn’t respond, orchestrating the Vutrorian crew members to lower their boat into the choppy sea. Orym’s pale face disappeared from view. The waves bumped their boat as Elnok and Kharis paddled to shore. Facing away from the royal vessel, Elnok couldn’t help but notice Kharis’ hard stare never leaving the ship. Elnok turned and found his brother leaning on the side of the railing, a look of yearning burned into his sickly features.

At first, Elnok thought his brother was looking at him. But, when he turned back to Kharis, he realized it hadn’t been him at all. Elnok’s stomach dropped as understanding crashed into him like a thick wave during a storm.

He finally knew why Kharis wanted to find the goddess’ tree.

Elnok said nothing to the Dynami during their short paddle to shore, and Kharis kept his mouth closed. It was just as well, because Elnok only had words of accusation.

Once they arrived at shore, Elnok craned his neck towards the forest sprawled before them. Large, dark trees reached for the sky like broken, cracked fingers. A filament of darkness hovered on the tops of the spindly branches, a blanket of perpetual night, preventing the sunlight from piercing through its veil. Opaque mist crawled out of the dense forestation, curling at his boots like claws digging into the sand.

He examined his black leather armor for any defects, sheathing his shortsword into his scabbard with a deafening scrape.

Shit.

He needed to remain calm. So what if he was about to trek into a forest infested with flesh-eating monsters, being guided by a magical warrior who he’d just lost all trust in?

Double shit.

“I’ll need that,” Kharis said as he pointed to the sword, “There’s no killing monsters without properly preparing Vutrorian steel. It’s our only means of doing so.”

“I thought you said you didn’t know why your High One wanted Vutorian weapons?”

Kharis donned a pair of brown gloves. “Vutrorian steel itself is not what we want—it’s what it’s capable of withstanding that makes it valuable. The metal is so strong that us Dynameis rarely need our weapons replaced, and yet the High One continues to request vast shipments. That’s where my concern lies.”

Elnok warily handed Kharis the sword. “I see.”

Kharis took a vial from his pocket. Yellow glowing liquid sloshed in the small vial, bright as sunshine. He popped it open, leveled the sword with the earth, and tipped the vial onto a small groove that ran down the entire blade. The liquid spilled into the thin groove, coursing along the blade like a river of gold on a silver piece of land. The sword pulsed a sudden bright white as the liquid turned solid.

“Orodyte serum,” Kharis said. “It’s a source of power that’s full of impurities, collected by Kreenas when they create food. It allows our swords to slice through the monsters with ease. Without it, steel would bounce off their bodies as if the creatures wore thick armor.”

Elnok furrowed his brow. “What about the orodyte you always have on your chest? Is it not the source of your own power?”

“Yes and no.” Kharis explained, “Aretta gifted Estean men with the power to protect ourselves and our people. This power is the ability to harness the orodyte stone’s impurities, which supply us with heightened strength, speed, and hearing while fighting.”

Elnok said nothing as he accepted the glowing sword, arcing it through the air once, twice. Its weight hadn’t changed, but he could feel the power in the steel; he dared not sheath it into his scabbard.

As Kharis poured the serum onto his own sword, Elnok couldn't help but remember how the man had looked at Tosh that first day on the ship.

He’d been blind to miss the affection.

“So, how long have you been fucking my brother?” Elnok quipped.

Kharis’ golden-tanned face turned pale. “I don’t know what you speak of.”

Elnok scoffed. “Please, save the lies for your people.”

“I’m sure someone of your caliber often enjoys finding meaning where there isn’t any to be found.”

“Someone of my caliber?” Elnok balked, “I know bullshit when I step in it, and I seem to be drowning in it right now, thanks to you.”

Kharis sighed. “We have more important things to worry abou–”

“The one person who can help me get to this damned tree isalsofucking my deranged brother,” Elnok interrupted, “I’d say that’s worth worrying about, don’t you?”

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