Page 88 of Of Blood & Stone

Kharis turned to Nyla. She gave him a nod, as if they’d made a plan of how they were to conduct themselves.

“An acolyte almost died yesterday,” Nyla said, “She was newly ordained and had just begun using her power. So, when she went to the healing pool, she didn’t understand how it worked. A priestess had left her to heal, and when she came back, the girl was lying on the floor, her blood everywhere.”

Elnok instinctively grabbed his dagger’s hilt.

“How?” Sylzenya asked, but they already knew the answer.

“The healing pool no longer heals.”

The compass. Its piece of bark from the tree; the pool couldn’t heal without it in the water.

Shit.

Everything had happened so fast: the monster, the compass, Sylzenya’s initial desire to tell the High One. They’d made an oversight.

A damn important one.

Kharis interjected, “After hearing this matter, I realized how strange it was that, just as you two had found the compass, the healing pool simultaneously could no longer heal the backs of acolytes and Kreenas. So,” he paused, staring at Elnok, “I must ask we go and return the compass to the High One this instant, that way the healing pool can be restored. We’ll advocate for you both, saying how it was an honest mistake, not an attempted murder.”

Elnok’s body turned rigid.

“Or, you can both join us as we find the tree,” Sylzenya argued. “Think about it, we wouldn’t have to rely on only the healing pool anymore. If we had the tree’s location, we could get enough power and healing to sustain not just the current acolytes and Kreenas, but more. Maybe we could even help the outlanders; we could help fight the famine and sickness not just in Estea, but outside of it. We could finish what Aretta had tried to all those centuries ago.”

Elnok’s chest burned with light at Sylzenya’s words. But judging by Nyla’s and Kharis’ faces, there would be no convincing them. Dread slithered along his spine.

“Sylzenya,” Nyla urged, “now isn’t the time to fantasize. We need to return this or else more acolytes and Kreenas could get hurt, myself included.”

“It isn’t fantasizing,” Sylzenya said, revealing the compass, its needle bark glowing and still pointing south, “We have its location. We could make real change with it.”

“The High One requests you bring it to him immediately,” Kharis stated.

Elnok crumpled a doily in his fist. “He requests it? As in… he already knows we have it?”

The Dynami let out a deep breath. “Yes. I told him.”

“Damn it, Kharis.” Elnok slammed his fist, a well of anger he’d been holding since his meeting with the warrior yesterday spilling over. “Youwere the one who convinced me to find this damn tree in the first place.Youwarned me to not trust the High One.What’s wrong with you?”

“You didn’t get him to drink the wine yet?” Nyla asked, looking at Kharis. “He vomited the plum I gave him two days ago.”

“What the fuck are you two talking abou?—?”

Sylzenya’s chair screeched as she stood, grabbing his hand. “Elnok, we need to go.Now.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Kharis said.

The orodyte on his chest pulsed a bright yellow, his eyes flickering like torches, his veins crackling along his arms and neck with magic.

“Come on,” Sylzenya shouted.

Elnok didn’t hesitate as he dashed out of the inn with her, Nyla screaming Sylzenya’s name as he unsheathed his dagger. The square was empty except for the wine fountain in the center and lightning bugs hovering just below the trees. Their footsteps echoed along the stone ground as their breaths heaved through their lungs. A door swung open, glass shattering. Elnok didn’t need to look back to know Kharis was coming for them.

“We can hide in the foliage up ahead!” Sylzenya yelled.

He obeyed, running as fast as he could, the shaded pathway almost within reach, but then, light erupted and blinded them.

“Seize them!” a deep voice boomed.

Elnok blindly waved his dagger in front of him, holding onto Sylzenya’s hand with all his might as footsteps rapidly approached them.

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