Page 70 of Of Blood & Stone

She shrugged. “Perhaps.”

“Ridiculous,” he breathed. “I see why you deigned not to tell me this earlier.”

“Fine. How about we go around and knock on every single tree in this temple until we find the one that doesn’t sound as hollow as the rest?”

He crossed his arms. “If it’s in place of harming yourself, then I might prefer it.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not even how trees work.”

“What, like I should know that?”

“I thought time was running out?” Sylzenya snapped.

“That doesn’t mean you should go sacrificing yourself to get a fucking lead that may not even exist.”

“Do you want your friend to live or not?”

The hairs on his neck stood, a chill running along his arms. Yenna had made it clear before he left—Orym had less than a week.

“You don’t have your magic,” he finally said, “Isn’t that why you needed your friend? Because she could connect to your goddess, or however that works?”

She took a deep breath. “Miracles are always possible, Your Highness.”

“Miracles are myths.”

“Then allow me to show you your first one.”

The tenacity in her eyes said it all. She was just as stubborn as Orym, an idealistic view of life that was both infectious and infuriating. Orym and Sylzenya both carried an optimism he never could. And while he found it bothersome and foolish, he couldn’t help but admire it.

“Just stay in one piece,” he finally said.

Sylzenya smiled. “I will.”

Clenching his teeth, he backed away from the tree as Sylzenya kneeled to the floor. Closing her eyes, she let out four deep breaths. Her whispers echoed along the walls, the vast willow seeming to watch expectantly.

His breaths shortened as she placed her hands on the roots. Moments passed, and nothing happened. She grunted. Still, nothing. Sweat started dripping down her back.

“Sylzenya,” he said, stepping forward, “Let’s think of something else?—”

“Wait!” she demanded, a crack in her scar breaking, a drop of blood joining the sweat.

He shook his head as he approached her. “You’re starting to bleed. Time to stop?—”

Suddenly, a golden ray of light sparked from the ground and twisted around her arms. Her yell pierced his ears, then a strong wind rushed through the room, the gale forcing him to his knees. The light flowed like a fishing line, its tip sharp as it speared her back, slicing across the cut and opening her skin.

“Sylzenya, stop!”

But she only kept yelling, her magic flickering in and out of existence. Sucking in as much air as he could, he stood to his feet, engaging all muscles as he ran to her.

But then everything stopped. Elnok halted as Sylzenya released her hold of the tree. She turned to him, tears in her eyes, words sitting on her tongue.

She collapsed.

Chapter 17

The Healing Pool

Not here, the bird had whispered to her.

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