Page 192 of Of Blood and Banes
Her eyes flick back and forth between the bracelet and me. It’s the same exact gesture her best friend—Celeste—did when she thought her father died the first time.
I can only imagine how hard her brain is trying to trick her into believing it isn’t real, since he hadn’t died the first time. Even now, the reality of losing Marge is a painful stab. There are still times I catch myself subconsciously looking to ask her a question. Or share with her a finding. Expecting a whack anytime I use profanity. And yet, I have to remind myself she’sgone.
What awful, hellish things the human mind can do under grief’s nasty veil.
Melaina’s lip begins to quiver as she grabs the bracelet and looks at it.
“I’m so sorry, Melaina,” I whisper genuinely.
The walls of her self-assurance crumble, and I pull her to me in an embrace. She dips her head into my shoulder, crying quietly as I rub her back. After a few moments, she leans back as she wipes tears from her eyes.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “And I’m sorry for what I said about Darian?—”
“Don’t. You’re right. Which is why I’m not going to be…” I tilt my head to the side to imply it, “him. Again.”
I stand and help her up off the floor. “Though, I’m glad to see you and Archie are back on the same page.”
She smiles sadly. “He’s just as gracious with his forgiveness as you are.”
“I’d argue, even more.”
We both giggle, the lightness of it cutting through the sadness.
She takes her hands out of mine to wipe the wetness away on her cheeks. “The Vitalan council sent notice they want us all to report to Millton for discussions on who should take my father’s spot. They want us there in two days’ time.”
“But…shouldn’t we head to Bayrock and see if we can find the elder Honora to translate the Queen’s journal? What happens if she moves again before we can locate her there?”
“I know. I have the same concern. We still don’t know what it’s going to take to kill the King, nor a plan to execute it.”
“What do you think we should do?”
Her head rears back. “You’re asking me?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t I?”
“Because…” Her shoulders relax. “You’re supposed to be the chosen one. You’re supposed to lead the Vitalans, so you should be the one to make the decision. And after what I did last night?—”
“I’m sure there are many people who’d love to argue that. Preferably with swords. But…I forgive you, Melaina. Don’t letyour grief override your heart and kindness. I want to know what you think.”
“Thank you…” She clears her throat before continuing, “Millton is a two-day trek from here, and Bayrock is at least a week away. I think we can split up our forces. If we have the dragon riders take the journal to Bayrock, they could get there in less than half the time. The rest of us can travel to Millton, and after the council meeting, we can meet them back here in Nightfort.”
“I think that sounds like a solid plan. Though, do you feel like you can trust all the dragon riders on a mission of their own?”
“If my father trusted them and forged a blood pact with them, I will trust them, too.”
That’s right. With Sethan dead…I glance down to my palm where I sliced the skin to make a blood pact with him. The scar has lightened to a shade that makes it almost invisible. The only way I can see it is if I angle my palm enough the light catches it just right.
“There’s one more thing.” She retrieves a paper on her desk and holds it out to me.
I take it and scan it, only to find it’s filled with the same five lines, repeated over and over in a foreign language. “What is it?”
“Before he died, my father said this was written multiple times throughout the journal. And the few words he did know were‘air and night.’He seemed to think it was important, so I wrote it down on a separate paper, just in case.”
I brush a thumb over the corner of the page as if it’ll reveal what the incomprehensible words really mean. “I think it’s the prophecy.”
“What’s odd, though…” She leans over to me, then underlines the top sentence with her finger. “Is he said this wasn’t translating the same as the prophecy we all have known since we were children. Some of the words look similar but are different.”
I blow out a breath. “Well, I really hope the dragon riders can find Elder Honora quickly.”
