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

in red stands in the doorway. The unfriendly type with a mask concealing her identity, all except for one pale-green eye.

“Pardon me, you startled me.” Astor greets her while picking up the washcloths she let slip to the floor. A bit too friendly of a greeting, in my opinion. “I wasn’t expecting any more visitors at this hour. How can I help you?”

After Astor politely inquires about the purpose of the visit, I realize the Woman-in-Red is gripping the hair of a corpse. A dark-haired female in servant’s garb. And Nero… Where did Nero disappear to? My gaze darts about the room until I see him face down on the floor right next to me.

“I’m here for the girl.”

We are to be tested. My colleagues and me. This world drives us apart. Can we survive without one another?

14 Stone

“Y

o-yo Goose-o.” I bark, less enthusiastically than I normally would. “Hold on, Goose. Goose! Don’t be such a wailer.” He stops in his tracks without turning around to face me. He’s wandering the docks aimlessly, it appears. I don’t doubt he’s expecting I forgive him for his ridiculous choices. “You’re family, Goose. I can’t let you wander off. Jay will want you here when she comes to, regardless of how you’ve behaved or how she reacts.” What I’m not willing to confess is I want him here too. I’ve had enough loss in my life and am not willing to let my best friend walk out of it. “But…don’t be mistaken, I am not forgiving you for what you’ve done. That’s not why I’ve chased after you.” Astor is. But he doesn’t need to know that. Immediately after he departed, she—an acquaintance—lectured me about what family is and what it means to love your family. Although insufferable, she made me realize how unnecessary my reaction was. “I know it would be best for you to be by her side. Plus, you’re a lost boy. You don’t have anywhere else to go.”

He performs a comical whirl to face me with his best attempt at a remorseful look. A small smile hits his face. “Stone, I’m so sorry. I hope you know I had the right intentions. The result’s obviously unsound, but my intentions were good. You have my word. I’ll do anything in my power to make this up to you.”

“Your atonement will be endless. It won’t be easy.” I place a hand on the back side of his shoulder. “Come on, Goose, let’s go fill our stomachs.” I retrieve a shiny silver rib from my purse and flaunt it.

“Where’d you get that?” He grabs for it, but I tuck it away too quick.

“I’ll tell you over some ale.”

“What about Jay?” Goose asks.

“Astor doesn’t need us by her side. Actually…she kicked me out. Said she couldn’t get the focus she needed. Jay’s in good hands, I think. But I feel helpless…leaving Jay in the care of a stranger.”

“A beautiful stranger. You’re right. She’s in good…soft…gentle…” Goose trails off in thought.

I don’t allow his likely inappropriate daydream to last. “What are you saying? All you need is a pretty smile and lady lumps to be trusted?”

Goose cocks his head and smiles at me. “And soft skin, yes. I like soft skin.”

Astor is lovely. Aside from her apparent beauty, there’s a kindness about her. It’s in her smile. It’s in her eyes. It’s in her words. Jay is in good hands.

We stroll past the piers reaching far into the Scarlet Delta. It’s late in the day, but the sun is high yet and beating down on us. The broiling heat and the shallow murky waters of the delta make for an insufferable humidity. More so, it incubates a wonderful breeding ground for skeeters, the most villainous of all creatures on the entirety of this moon. They suck the blood of their host, only to repay with disease and possible death. Wicked creatures.

“You know, Stone, after a two-day journey in this heat—packing more than a desirable amount, I might add—I’m beginning to draw the mosquitoes. It’s no wonder my charm didn’t work on Astor.”

“I don’t smell anything out of the norm. After acquainting with Astor, I think they smell your eagerness to mate.”

Goose retaliates with a fist to my shoulder. “Do you have a room at the inn?” he asks. “I’m not my freshest.” He tugs at his collar and sniffs. “After we eat, of course. And I think I’ll make it a scented bath. Astor appreciated your fruity aroma, no?”

“So, the dirty duck wants to turn himself into the stunning swan for the pretty blonde. You’re wasting your time.”

“Really? And how so?”

“She’s beautiful—you’re not; she’s well groomed—you’re a slob; she’s properly mannered with a coating of sweetness—you’re too forward, rude at best, and deceivingly sour after your sweet coating rapidly fades. She’d never have it. Jay would be a better suitor.”

“I’m not a slob. Before we landed in the Broken Forest, I was very much proper and clean. You’ll see. I clean up very nicely.” He combs his fingers through his straight locks and gives a charming sway of his hair.

I do what I’m good at and turn the light air stiff. “We’re still being hunted, Goose. You must lay low. That woman who flushed us from our home knows who I am. She wouldn’t admit it and went on her way, but it was far too easy to dismiss her. Our stay needs to be quick and unnoticed as we intended.”

“Damn, Stone. I just thought I stunk a little. Or is my stink a harmonizer in this fish-overlaid town? Suppose maybe I ought to throw a few minnows in my bath instead.”

“You do stink.” Having voiced my concerns, I make light of the situation again. “Have your scented bath, Sheela. Lilacs and strawberries would suit you. Then we can have the handmaids