Page 42 of Of Blood & Stone

“Elnok,” Kharis whispered, “Are you alright?”

Elnok released himself from Kharis’ grasp. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“The wine,” he replied.

Elnok scoffed, heat rushing to his face. “A bit of wine isn’t going to burn me with a rod of steel, now is it?”

The warrior let out a long breath.

“Good evening, Priestess,” Kharis announced, “Would you please alert the High One that his Vutrorian guest has arrived?”

The priestess bowed her head as the guards opened the large doors.

“Wait here,” she instructed before entering the temple, the doors shutting behind her.

“Say nothing about Aretta’s Willow,” Kharis whispered.

“Pity. That was going to be the first subject I brought up.”

“Elnok.”

“Can’t take a joke, can you?”

Kharis grunted. “Recite to me why you’re here in Tosh’s place.”

Elnok cracked his neck. “To make sure he wasn’t eaten alive by this High One’s sharp teeth.”

“Elnok.”

“I do have a nice name, don’t I? Much better than all my aliases.”

“By Aretta’s blood herself,” Kharis cursed, “Answer seriously. I need to know you remember your task for these treaty revisions.”

Elnok spun around, smiling widely as he patted Kharis’ armor.

“Are you blind?” Elnok whispered as low as he could, “We’re being watched.”

“I need to know you understand what we’re doing.”

“And you need to understand how precarious of a position we’re in.”

Kharis clenched his teeth. “It’s difficult to trust someone who offers none to me.”

He smiled. “Should’ve thought of that before getting on your knees for Vutror’s king.”

Kharis’ face turned bright red as the doors opened. Elnok spun back into place, hands laced together as he forced a wide princely smile.

“Kharis,” the High One said, striding past the priestess, “This trip took longer than usual, although I now see why.”

Estea’s leader turned his gaze towards Elnok.

Yellow eyes.

Despite his shock, Elnok didn’t falter, keeping his smile wide and beaming. The man’s stare was sharp, like a beam of sunlight focused on a singular point, intent to burn whatever it touched.

The High One extended his arm.

The woman in white wrapped robes emerged from behind the priestess. If the High One’s eyes were meant to tear through bone, then hers were meant to be its salve. The deepest blue, like the ocean right after sunset—full and endless. But her gaze stayed steady on the High One, her face expressionless as she took his arm. Elnok waited for a reaction from her, wanting that mask he’d seen earlier to fall for even the slightest moment.

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