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

tissue. I visualize her lacerations mending themselves, and I endure her pain. And there is so much of it. If only I could find her some relief. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, and my body is paying a big toll for it.

Jaymes even more so. She doesn’t have much time. My technique drags out the inevitable. It’s time to seek help outside the boundaries of the forest.

“Morning, Goose.” I speak quietly to not wake Jaymes.

“Oh! Hey, Stone.” His eyes widen, and he shuffles whatever he’s preparing. “I didn’t hear you rise. What’re you doing up so early?”

“Early? The sun’s up.” He’s hiding something. “Is that some kind of special breakfast you’re cooking for me? It’s my name day isn’t it? No, wait…” I hold up my fingers and start counting on them. “I’ll be twenty seasons by then. We’re still a few seasons out.” I scratch my head and ease closer.

“What are you talking about?” Goose replies with a stern look. “When would I ever cook you anything? And what’s a nameday breakfast, for that matter?” He snatches the bowl of mystery meal from the table and heads toward the sleeping quarters.

“Oh, I see. But isn’t somebody other than yourself supposed to cook and serve breakfast in bed?” I raise my voice as he continues around the partition, out of sight. I follow him.

“Stop acting so ridiculous. It’s not for me, it’s for Jay,” he snaps.

“Alright, alright. Don’t expect breakfast on your nameday. I was only curious. What is it anyways? It has a sweet smell to it. Some kind of creamy glazed oats?” I kneel beside him at Jay’s bedside.

“What’s with you this morning?”

I’m hesitant to tell him of my decision. I’ve been so adamant about staying put. It’ll be further proof of my ineptitude. We should’ve sought help the instant it happened.

Goose reaches for Jaymes, but I place a hand on his arm to stop him. “Before you wake her—”

“Damn, Stone,” he whispers. “Don’t you have duties to attend to?”

I force him to look at me. “It’s time I venture into Greenport. My healing isn’t working.”

Goose rises and gestures for me to follow him around the partition. I suppose so we can talk freely without waking Jaymes. “You said ‘I.’ Are you making this trek on your own?”

I nod. “I can return with a Healer who can give Jay the proper care. It’ll be quicker. She can hardly walk. Strapping her into a litter would make for slow travels. Possible, but not ideal.”

“Greenport, huh? It’s pinched between the forest’s edge and the Scarlet Delta. It’ll take a couple days on foot. And that’s if you don’t lose your way.”

“I know my way. And there’s urgency to this trip. It won’t be a leisure stroll into town. I can get there by midday tomorrow and be back before infection spreads.”

“You’re leaving this morning, then? Better put on your best faded tunic and trousers. Don’t want to be alarming the Healers. About that, though…I’m not so certain they have any Healers in that small fishing village.  They’re all anglers, angler’s wives, and pillow girls.”

“Anybody will be better than me,” I admit.

“You do realize any Healer worth our time has trained at the Academy?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re aware anyone who’s trained at the Academy is associated with the Taoiseach, the man you’re hiding from?”

“Yes, but I have to take my chances. You know I do. The reward far outweighs the risk here.” I pause and begin pacing. Something isn’t right here. “Why are you finding reason to challenge this?” I ask.

He pats a hand on my shoulder and smiles. “Because I want to get out of this cursed forest, Stone. I want to be the one to seek the fresh air of the delta. And I’m fast on my feet. I might even have time to stop at Abbey’s Alehouse to get my feathers fluffed. It’s genuine jealousy, Stone. But I know you’re the right man for the task. This is your sister and your responsibility. I’ll keep Jay safe while you’re gone.” He saunters back around the partition to tend to Jay.

Something’s off with him. Like he has another motive to stay behind. He didn’t even request that we all go.

I poke my head around the partition. Jaymes remains asleep. She’s been sleeping a lot more the past couple days. Heavier as well. Her deep slumbers have become a concern. Goose peels back her bandages to replace them with new ones.

Through the window, I see a swift movement. Something large and dark.

“Goose. Did you see that?” I whisper.

“What?” he asks dumbfounded and louder than I’d like.

I glower at him and gesture for him to remain quiet. Helios snarls from the comfort of his sprawled position on the floor, confirming my visual wasn’t of my own imagination. The cat rises to his feet and stares at the door. It’s either another Lost Soul or one of those cloaked men. Or the Taoiseach has found us.

“Goose, it’s time. Gather Jay and get her out now. Head north toward Greenport. I’ll catch up to you.”

Without hesitation, Goose gathers some necessities for surviving the forest then scoops up Jaymes, still wrapped in her linens, and heads for the window. We knew this day would come eventually but prayed to Susy it never would.

Goose is already out the window. Not much light is breaking through the canopy yet, which will offer him some cover. I hope whoever this visitor is, they don’t follow them. And what if there’s more than one? I’m realizing how inadequate our escape plan is. I need to create a diversion.

I drop low and hide behind the partition. Fear holds me tight to the wall, unmoving. I take a deep breath and poke my head out. Helios is on all fours, and the hair on his back