Page 18 of Between Soul and Vessel
“I’m no longer a novice,” I purred, drawing out the words so she could taste the double entendre. I gave her a playful wink, before I plunged the blade into the oil. Smoke erupted, curling its way toward the ceiling. Avriel let out a gasp of surprise as she watched with big eyes.
Later on, when the blade was cool, Avriel and I sat on a wooden bench. Moonlight spilled through the window, highlighting the beautiful copper hues in her hair—like the leaves in fall. Yes, another favorite of mine.
“Do you see any cracks?” I asked, watching her as she turned the dagger over in her hands.
“No,” she replied.
“Run your fingers along the flat. Do you feel anything?”
She did as I asked, her fingertips whispering across the steel. Something so delicate and something so deadly. It had my mind spinning one too many ideas.
Looking up at me, she answered, “It’s smooth.”
“Indeed. Next time you come, I’ll show you how to make a handle for it.”
“I’d like that,” she said, our gazes catching.
A ribbon of her hair fell in front of her face, and before I could stop myself, I was reaching for it. Gently, I tucked it behind her ear.
The door to my shop swung open, and I swiftly pulled my hand back, looking toward the entrance, where a masked male stood. He was almost as tall as my six-foot-five frame, a forest of curly blond hair piled on top of his head.
“The empress has requested us for Thursday night’sfestivities,” said Aryx, the God of Love—my mentor and closest friend. His eyes shifted between Avriel and me—drawing conclusions that could have us all condemned to have our souls crushed. “Ah, apologies. I didn’t mean to . . . interrupt.”
Avriel jerked upright. “Nonsense. You aren’t interrupting anything.”
“I’ll go,” Aryx interjected while nodding, his metal mask glinting in the firelight as he performed the small action.
“No, no, it’s fine,” Avriel stated. She handed me the blade. “Thank you for showing me how you make these. It’s a beautiful piece. Oh, and by the way, the empress needs those swords made by next week.” Long gone was thesoftness in her voice; now it sounded formal, like she was talking to a stranger.
I hated it.
Suddenly, the door closed, leaving both Avriel and I gawking at it.
“Shit,” she hissed under her breath.
I couldn’t help but smirk as I teased her, “Priestess, I thought you weren’t allowed to swear?”
“He just saw you tucking my hair behind my ear,” she seethed, her eyes as wide as the empress’s polished saucers.
“I’m not sure if he saw that, but if he did, Aryx won’t tell anyone,” I reassured her. “Breathe, Avriel. We’re fine.”
She took a breath, her chest rising. At the end of her exhale, she said, “I hope you’re right.”
Von
The aroma of various herbs and potions, accompanied by an overpowering brine, infiltrated my nostrils as I walked into the infirmary, located in my castle’s northwest tower.
Almost all the beds were filled with freshly departed souls, some still wet from being pulled out of the Da’Nu. Those were the ones who mourned uncontrollably, while the others who had been here longer, who’d had more time to process that they were, in fact, dead, sat in their beds, sipping a cup of tea or eating a bowl of soup.
Soultenders, healers tasked with caring for the souls as they transitioned from their mortal lives into their eternal ones, bustled back and forth, moving from bed to bed. Their dark robes dusted the glass floors as they walked, their shoes crunching the salty remnants that had yet to be swept up. Despite being a river, the Da’Nu had high levels of sodium chloride, so naturally, those who came out of it were coveredin it.
Salt. I seemed to be surrounded by it lately. If it wasn’t because of Ezra and her concoctions, it was because of the river and the souls pulled from it.
Down the middle of the lengthy room, there was a long string of tables that housed various-sized glass containers, chock-full of numerous herbs, spices, and medicinal mixtures. A hand-carved wooden spoon was placed in each one. Reactive metals like aluminum and copper were not to touch the ingredients, because not only did it alter the taste, it could neutralize the healing properties.
Standing at one of the tables was the Goddess of Companionship. Her hands, etched in intricate white flames, gestured as she spoke to one of the soultenders.
The cloaked woman nodded, before she reached down and picked up a small jar from the table. She handed it to Zahra, clasping her hand warmly.
