Page 10 of Of Blood & Stone

She clicked her tongue as her gaze roamed his chest then back up to his eyes.

“I know your name isn’tJasper, by the way. No one else cares enough to realize it, but no common man could convince a Vutrorian vessel to his aid.” She paused. “Whoever you are, just make sure you actually start… doing something.”

“And what exactly do you mean bydoing something, Yenna?”

“I followed you for a few nights when you first entered town, but from what I saw, you don’t do much.” The woman raised a brow, “You just… run around, steal food, and bring it back to your friends.”

Heat rushed into Elnok’s face. He hadn’t been careful these past few weeks, his desire to see Orym healed overshadowing his typical pattern of staying close to the shadows. But perhaps it was more than that. After he sent that letter to Vutror, he’d grown careless. There would be no point in hiding much longer.

“There’s something else you should know,” she whispered, “everyone’s trying to say this sickness lasts for a few months, and according to past cases, it did. But more and more cases are proving otherwise. Now, it’s taking people in three weeks or less.”

Elnok’s breathing faltered. “That would mean…”

“Orym has a week, maybe less.”

He formed his hands into fists, his fingers digging into his skin.

She continued, “Whoever you are, this town could use your help. In fact, this entire continent could, so if you have any kind of power that could change things around here?—”

“I’ll be back tonight.” Elnok avoided her gaze as he stood. “Keep him out of trouble.”

He ignored the wounded look in Yenna’s eyes as he left the premises. The guards sputtered, questioning how he’d gotteninto the infirmary. Elnok ignored them as the Vutrorian ship approached the harbor.

He knew Orym wouldn’t like his plan, knew the man’s heart was too wide and too deep to accept a cure that others wouldn’t have access to. But Elnok found no qualms in letting others fall to misfortune if it meant those he cared for lived.

It didn’t matter if Orym had one week left or three months. He’d get him the medicine today.

Orym would be cured by sundown.

Chapter 3

A Price

Torches lined the high sandstone walls of the temple’s altar room. Sylzenya’s bare feet slapped against the cold marble floor. Yellow and orange stained-glass windows covered the ceiling, casting a warm glow onto the willow growing in the center of the room. Large roots protruded from the ground, like ripples in a pond before they dove deep into the earth.

She would seek her goddess, Aretta, through these roots, but she needed to calm herself first. The anger from her father’s betrayal swelled inside her veins, burning against her skin, causing the cut along her back to ache. It was his fault she’d lost her connection to Aretta, his fault their people would starve to death.

“No one’s communed with our goddess through these roots in centuries, Syl,” Nyla spoke from behind, her friend’s voice echoing along the sandstone walls.

Sylzenya closed her eyes tight. “I’m aware.”

“Then why do this to yourself?”

“Because I don’t have another choice.”

Nyla shook her head. “I know you’re upset, but you know orodyte serum can’t be extracted from our bodies onceit’s entered our blood.” Her friend’s warm hand gripped her shoulder. “Let’s take this slow, alright? You’ve already lost too much blood to accomplish this rite properly.”

Sylzenya turned, body rigid.

“My father poisoned me, Nyla.”

“I know?—”

“Hestolemy power from me. He’s doomed our entire kingdom.”

“Sylzenya, please?—”

“They sacrificed my childhood for this, and they take it away without a second thought? Dooming not just our people, but their daughter with it?” Sylzenya’s face burned hot as she curled her fists.

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