Season of Sacrifice (Blood of Azure Book 1) Jonathan Michael (red novels .txt) 📖

finally caught up to you this time. Goose, are you alive? You’ve managed to kill the beast, son, but you ended your own life in doing so. Just as I would expect. You never were any good at seizing the opportunity. It’s probably for the best. My father’s voice fades, and the shroud of the grim envelops the dark forest.

A spark of contrasting light in the ever-growing crimson shadows. An unsuspecting adolescent Sprhowt stood up against a gang of Dihkai to protect his kin. He failed, but in his failure, there was value. It is apparent to me now. They require a fear more potent than death to reclaim virtue.

4 Stone

T he horizon has swallowed the sun, leaving an orange and red glow in its wake. Although it’s not the black of night yet, it might as well be in the thick of the wood. I regret not grabbing a thunder torch, but at least I have Life Bringer with me for protection. Goose may have been right about my hasty decision-making. But there wasn’t any time to waste. Not for Jay’s sake.

“Helios, you might have to be my eyes and ears tonight.” I whisper.

After heading north on a game trail for a brief period, I jog west toward the Forest Road, keeping a steady pace. Helios casually trots by my side. Because there isn’t a clean, solid trail with landmarks leading directly to the Forest Road—that would defeat the purpose of our hideout—most of my trek involves ducking and hurdling low branches, hopping over grounded trees, and forcing my way through thick patches of undergrowth. The Broken Forest isn’t lacking in obstacles.

The road must be close, but it’s difficult to gather my bearings in the night. Even with my vision adjusting to the dark and having the red glow of Cerise protrude through the canopy here and there, I can’t see beyond my reach. The twigs and branches constantly jump out at me as I rush past them. I continue at the same pace, regardless. If not, I may never overtake Jay and her captors.

THUD!

“Damn! What in Susy’s name was that?” I mutter, now lying flat on my back. Helios slaps my face with his scratchy tongue. I take a few moments to reclaim my senses and gradually climb back to my feet, noticing a searing pain between my shoulder blades while doing so. With both hands, I slide Life Bringer from my shoulder harness to inspect the dual blades. All is well.

“Damned trees are swinging at me.” Unable to see it, I feel around for the culprit. “It might be time for you to take over, boy,” I say to Helios while rubbing his neck.

I seize Helios’s tail. He turns and nips at me, but I ensure him this isn’t a time for play with a scratch behind the ears and a nudge forward. It’s going to be slow travels from here on, but I’m better off so I don’t encounter any more aggressive tree limbs.

With the slower pace, I doubt my decision. I know the Forest Road is the clearest route to the Crimson Capital and that’s where the Taoiseach resides, so it only makes sense. But this feels wrong. Did I make the right choice? I hope Goose is having better results than I am.

Helios guides me farther than I anticipate without an end in sight to the thick heavy undergrowth. Why aren’t we there yet? Why hasn’t the undergrowth thinned out?

“Helios, halt! Where are you leading us, boy?”

I take a few long, deep breaths and try to get a bearing on where we are and where we need to go. I’ve relied on Helios in the past, and I find it hard to believe he would lead us astray. But we’ve been out here for far too long. Maybe he’s getting too old.

As I scan the surrounding area, there’s one direction which I can see further into the wood than all others. Almost as if there’s a glow. The sun has set, and thunderbugs wouldn’t be that concentrated unless they were contained and magnified. A lantern, perhaps?

“Helios! By my side. Stay close.” I head in the direction of the glow, curious and thankful to see beyond my reach.

“What is that awful smell?” I say with a choking breath. “Helios… You need to lay off the scavenging.” My nose crinkles in a feeble attempt to ward off the smell. Maybe there’s a carcass around here somewhere. It’ll lure unwanted scavengers if it hasn’t already. I better not linger too long.

The glow shines brighter and brighter until I see its origin. It’s a thunder torch. When I pick it up, it’s clear it’s one of Jay’s handmade thunder torches.

My spark of hope burns brighter. Jay is close. And the Forest Road must be nearby. But I’m afraid. Afraid of what this means. Afraid of the horrors that could have caused this.

The stench grows stronger. I loathe to locate the carcass emitting that putrid smell, but I’m compelled to search the area, for Jaymes’s sake.

Helios acquires an excited bounce in his step and trots ahead of me.

“Helios, no! Leave it, Helios. Leave it!” He ignores my command. “Dammit!” I clench my jaw and cover my nose before chasing after him.

I didn’t think it possible, but the smell becomes so repulsive to the point of burning nostrils and a scratchy throat. A watery sensation builds in the back of my throat.

“Hugh! Whugh!” I can’t withhold it. A small amount of grainy liquid bursts out of me.

In my moment of weakness, I dump the thunder torch, and it settles behind the base of a tree. I plant a hand on the tree and find it covered in a thick, wiry fungus.

Helios lets out a snarling growl from his jowls. My ignorance has put me into a difficult situation. This isn’t a