Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“She snuck into our village and attempted to free the monstra. We captured her straight away.”
Another mystery. Water maidens hated Ian and his monsters. Why try to free one beast?
Earnest, Gerald told me, “I don’t want you to feel trapped here, Rye. You are a welcome part of my family. The oracle who will lead us to abundance, out of lack.”
My shoulders rolled in. “But no pressure, right?” I muttered.
“Oh, there’s pressure. Lots and lots of pressure. Good families are hungry,” he said, leaning toward me. “We’ve done more starving than eating since the monstra arrived. They’ve burned our crops, stolen our animals, and killed our strongest soldiers. We grow weaker every day, barely subsisting on whatever we can scavenge. So take whatever time you need, but I suggest you be quick about it.” He raked his gaze over me a little too slowly for my liking. “Other options have started to look quite…tasty.”
8
FIGHT CLUB
My conversation with Gerald ended when four older women entered the hut. I remained seated before the fire as they settled items around me. A bundle of clothing, each garment lined with fur. Small bottles of perfumed oils that smelled faintly of vanilla pods and wood smoke. A pitcher of water, threadbare rags, and a clay bowl containing a meager handful of bruised berries and wilted leaves. Unmistakable hunger glinted in their eyes as they repeatedly glanced at the food.
My throat tightened. I accepted each gift as gratitude warred with guilt. They’d given me the best they had; I knew it. But more than the offerings, they’d placed their hopes in my hands, expecting me, the so-called oracle, to save their families from starvation.
How very different from my first visit, when I was chained to a bed and slathered with “spices” to sweeten my meat.
But…the water. The pitcher sat to the left of me. Droplets slid down the sides and pooled on the floor, glimmering like liquid diamonds and wafting the most sublime perfume.
“Where did you get this water?” I breathed out, collecting a droplet. It immediately absorbed into my skin, and I laughed with delight. That tickled.
“It came from our south well, Oracle,” one of the women said with a tinge of confusion.
Did she not know how special this water was? As I inhaled, its very life force filled my lungs, infused my bones, and energized my cells. Even my ears reacted, sounds suddenly sharpened. A faint drip. A continuous ripple. Almost as if the water…breathed.
Magnificent.
“They’ll bring you to the arena when you’re ready,” Gerald told me, giddy again. “Your friend will slay the monstra, and we’ll feast.”
The women cheered.
“Give her silence,” he told them, and they immediately went quiet. “Let her focus inward. She’s foreseen a great store of meat in our future and must only perceive where it hides. She told me so!”
His excitement spread until the atmosphere vibrated with anticipation. He exited then, leaving us with the faint echo of his boots crunching the frozen earth outside.
My hut mates dipped the rags in the living water and wiped the grime from my skin. I closed my eyes, savoring the sensations.
Silent as ordered, they followed the water with scented oils. It was only then that I realized the claw wounds Jasher gave me were gone. Healed as if I’d taken serpens-rosa, a medication able to mend the worst of wounds in minutes.
An ingredient in Elowen’s serum?
The women stripped away my mother’s sapphire blue dress and replaced it with the fur-lined garments—a dress and leggings softer than anything I owned.
When they finished, they pushed the bowl of berries and leaves my way, urging me to eat.
“You guys share this,” I told them. They refused at first, shaking their heads. I forced a smile, adding, “I’ll think better on an empty stomach.”
That convinced them. With gratitude and reverence etched into their features, they each took a berry and a pinch of leaves, as if they were handling rich, rare chocolate. The sight pierced me straight through the ribs.
They were almost drunk with happiness as they brushed and braided my hair.
So badly I wanted to ask about the Ember of Everlight, but after Gerald’s horrified reaction, I didn’t dare. Instead, I retreated into my head, cobbling together a plan from shards of dread and hope.
Goal: Leave the camp with Jasher uninjured…without running away from Gerald.
Impossible?
Bonus: Find food for the people before we escaped.
And what about the monstra?
Soon, Jasher would be forced to battle it. I wasn’t worried about the outcome. Not physically, at least. He’d fought one before and emerged victorious. Emotionally, however…
He considered the monstra his brothers. Had only killed one to save me and our friends.
Perhaps he would view this battle the same way?
My head ducked. No. No, he wouldn’t. Right now, he hated me. He wanted me dead. At least he couldn’t blame me for the coming battle.