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

A man tends one of the small shops in the distance, and I suddenly become aware I’m standing on the open road. For all to see. A fugitive exposed. A wary feeling grows in my gut, and I remind myself I’m merely a young man going about his business. Elder Alderock to be sure. A drifter with his regal traveling companion in search of a Healer. I step closer to Helios and lay a hand on him. Nobody knows otherwise. I was a boy then. Now a man.

I take a deep breath and slowly exhale. Then I put one foot in front of the other to rekindle my relationship with society. Where to begin?

The common area has a few small shops, one large stone building that appears to be the rally chamber, and another smaller stone building, the local House of Seasons, with Susy’s crest planted high above the organic entryway. Four leaves of life form an X with each of the four seasons blossoming from the center like a spring flower. Toadstools sprout on the north; raindrops trickle to the south; a hibernating tree branches out to the east, and a solar body rises in the west. Coincidence or not, these are the four crests of The First Four. Though, not one of the founding families has lain claim to the birth of the Seezuhn religion.

These buildings all surround a large plaza, which has evidence of the Summer Solstice Festival several weeks back. The area is empty of citizens at the moment. The one man I saw has disappeared. The shops are closed for the evening, and the rally chamber isn’t in use. The only life I see now is an elderly man refueling the thunder lanterns outside the House of Seasons, but he pays us no mind.

There’s a thin border of aspens surrounding the commons and just on the other side is the Scarlet Delta. The main cobblestone thoroughfare carries us through a split in the arbor border leading to the delta, where there’s a bit more activity. My nerves heighten. Along the waterfront are several households, some industrialized buildings, and an abundance of piers. And if my memory serves me right, the public house, which resides underneath the inn, is a short walk through town. That’s where I would find a Healer or information that could send me in the direction of one.

All the local and non-local fishermen mosey into Abbey’s after disembarking their ships to share their exaggerated and glorified fishing stories over and over, and over again, before heading home to their families. And that is exactly where I need to be.

As we stroll into town, Jay and Goose won’t flee my mind. They’re probably finding a place to bed down for the night, which is going to be a new experience for them. They’ll be out in the open. And with her condition, they’re more vulnerable than they already were. My heart races at the thought. This is the first time I haven’t been by her side to protect her. Or near enough anyhow. I can only hope Goose keeps her safe. I know he’ll keep her safe. He will.

I realize I’m still holding the gold rib the Woman-in-Red flipped me. Fidgeting it between my fingers really. It’s not wise to flaunt your gold, so I open my satchel and stare down at the dried meats and even drier bread. I drop it in, parting ways with what I’m now gathering was a stress reliever. I start clicking my fingernails instead.

Several perplexed and muddled glances come my way as I stroll down the waterfront with Helios. None threatening. I think. Only awkward and unwelcoming. Maybe this town is more familiar with oxen, donkeys, and the like. It is a village keener on labor than luxuries.

I look out to the piers and freeze, gripping a chunk of Helios’s fur to get him to pause as well. He curls his head back and nips my arm. A squad of Crimson Guard is inspecting a fishing vessel. One of them shoves a fisherman aside to board his trawler.

“No worries, son,” a passerby comments.

I nearly jump. He’s talking to me.

“That’s normal business over there. Ol’ Crowbill’s known for smuggling more than his share of the river. They’re just enforcing the proper tariffs. They ain’t interested in harassing young lads of royalty.” He gazes down at the tiger with interest. “Where’d you get such a beast?”

“Uh…family. Pardon me, sir, but time is limited. I must be on my way.” I nudge Helios to get moving, who paid no mind to the passerby at all.

The man shrugs his shoulders and carries on as I hurry away.

It wasn’t the smartest of plans, bringing a tiger into town with me. The spectacle of his fur will draw attention from a blind man. With Crimson Guard roaming the village, hopefully I’m not recognized from the wanted signs that were posted ages ago. I wonder if any of them linger after four seasons.

It occurs to me I have a bit of a predicament on my hands. Having just snubbed a potential Healer, it didn’t even cross my mind to ask him. And I didn’t pay any mind to his eye color. I kept my head down and escaped the encounter as quickly as I could. Too busy fearing what would become of me if I were discovered. I cannot hide from people if I must find people.

Abbey’s Alehouse and Inn is right where I remember it, along the thoroughfare past all the piers and boat houses, directly across from Caster’s Jetty.

The public house consumes the entire lower level of the inn aside from a stable around back. The pub level is constructed of old moss-covered stone masonry that’s been stained with the red tint of the Scarlet. I recall a few stories of great floods several generations ago.