Season of Sacrifice (Blood of Azure Book 1) by Jonathan Michael (best ebook for manga txt) 📕

“Stone,” she stammers and pulls away to make eye contact. “Stone, how… How did you… It’s great to see you.”

I raise a hand between us and press it down repeatedly to signal for a quieter conversation. “Where’s she at?” I speak quietly to set the tone. “I thought maybe she’d be with you. Is she okay?”

“Who?”

“Jaymes.”

“Oh yes, your sister. Yes, she’s safe.”

“What happened? The two of you just disappeared. There were bodies. Where is Jay now?” There are too many questions needing answers.

“It was a lady in red—if she can truly be called a lady.” Her brow turns inward, and her smile turns glum. “She murdered Nero and Crescia. And nearly me too. If I hadn’t persuaded her I was necessary for Jaymes’s recovery, I wouldn’t be standing here now. Dear Susy, I barely made it here. Even after convincing her I was a necessity. She turned your sister against me, Stone. She’s dreadful.”

“Jaymes? Against you?” I scratch at my chin. “Has she recovered? Where is she?”

“Yes, Jaymes was near full health when I saw her last. She is doing well.”

“So, where is she?” I ask yet again. Why is she dodging my foremost question?

“We were able to escape from the lady in red during our trek to the capital. Jaymes was positive you and Goose would follow us north, so we decided to risk getting captured again to rendezvous with you here in the capital.”

“Goose and I split ways,” I clarify. “He’s headed west to Greybark. Where is Jaymes?”

“Jaymes is with Goose.” She spits out in a rush of words, finally answering my question. A silent, dumbfounded moment passes before she expounds. “We crossed paths with him. Jaymes decided to head west with him instead of enduring another click with me. I’m afraid she isn’t fond of me after our venture.”

“How would you have crossed paths with Goose?”

She looks away, out across the growing crowd in the lounge. “You know Goose. He boasts and boasts about his greatness. Well, I believe he had a reality check when he discovered he’d been traveling north. Jaymes and I set him in the right direction, however.” She glances at me but shifts her body away and fails to make eye contact.

“Yeah, I suppose what you’re telling me resonates with Goose, but how could he possibly get so off track? And why wouldn’t they both want to come find me?”

“I don’t know the answer to that, Stone. I can see your dismay, and I’m sorry. Goose was unwavering in his decision to get to Greybark. So, I offered to continue north to find you and relay the message. It was far easier than expected, thankfully. I thought I’d be roaming this city for an eternity. I figured nesting near the port the best approach. And here you are!” She smiles, but it looks forced.

“He always has been a bit selfish and somewhat secretive, and he was adamant about heading in that direction when we split. But I still find it odd. And offensive.” I sit down and look to my feet. I doubt they’ll give me the answers I want to hear, but it feels better than looking at Astor right now. Is she lying to me? If they knew my destination, why wouldn’t they wait for me? And invite me along? I don’t have any cause not to trust her. Everything I know of Astor thus far has been pure, but it is strange the two of them wouldn’t want to connect with me themselves. “So, both Jay and Goose are safe and heading west to Greybark? Together?” I reiterate for confirmation.

“Yes,” she replies with an innocent smile and moves closer to place a hand on my shoulder. “You can relax.”

I reply with a deep sigh. Upon my inhale, a waft of honeyed lavender rushes in. The familiar smell when she first approached me, it’s yao grass. It grows throughout Great Oak Forest back home. The white flowers—or maybe it’s the little black fruitlets—have the same aroma. A sense of repose consumes me. Like a weight has been lifted. “Okay,” I reply.

“So, where to next? I would suspect you can’t go home to the Broken Forest.” She takes a seat across from me.

“Home… The Broken Forest?” The words don’t feel true. “I haven’t considered the next stop. I was so determined to find Jay. I suppose I’ll be heading to Greybark to reunite with them.”

“That might not be a good idea,” she says. Rather abruptly. “Goose didn’t believe their visit would be long. He anticipated returning this way to find you.”

She’s right. He only traveled in that direction to seek out a way to oust the Taoiseach, which means he’ll inevitably find his way back here. Even if I attempted to cut them off, we could unknowingly slip past each other at any point. That risk is more than I care for. But why do I sense dishonesty in her? Why would she do that? Maybe I’m not picking up the cues correctly. She has no reason to be dishonest with me.

“You’re right.” The shock on her face that follows is unsettling. I take a moment fringed with a distrustful gaze before continuing. “His ultimate goal was to make his way back here, so it only makes sense I should wait for them here. Is there any way to send word?”

“Not if you don’t know where they are. Plus, the Taoiseach controls the pigeon service.”

The pigeon service. Right. My father used to get messages from Parliament quite frequently. I can send word to Greybark if I can gain access to those birds. But is it worth the risk, knowing they’ll be headed this way eventually? It could take months for them to make the journey their and back. Of course it’s worth it. “Where are the birds located?”

She pulls