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

scampers to the side. “I’ll tell you how to get out if you tell me one thing. Why do you seek wisdom from the grumpy old goat?”

I start from the beginning, explaining our escape into the Broken Forest and the false accusations. I continue to the point of Jaymes McLarin’s disappearance. When finished telling my story, he remains silent. I fail to read his expression and wait for something. Anything. He stares past me, and his lower jaw moves awkwardly as if he has some okra between his teeth. Is he judging me? Did he even listen? His jaw stops moving, and he stares for a moment longer without moving. What is this? Has he some form of spontaneous paralysis?

“Sorry, nut wedged in my teeth,” he says solemnly. I don’t recall him chewing any nuts. I look to his feet and see the squirrel gnawing on one. “You’re not worthy,” he adds.

“I am, so thank you for the delusional judgement, but will you get me out of here now?” My stomach roars with impatience. “And if you have some extra nuts…” I rub my gut.

“What nuts?”

“The nuts you just said were wedged in your teeth?” My brow lowers. He does the same. “You are delusional, aren’t you? Do you even know how to get me out of this cell?”

“Your intentions are candid.” His high voice grasps a lower tone. The squirrel rises to perch on his shoulder and calmly eyes me, as does the old man. “A bit arrogant, selfish, malicious, but genuine. You said Advocate Gunther Wormbit sent you?”

I nod.

A long silence fills the air. “I will help you.”

“You will? Great! How do I get out of here?”

“But only because I believe our current leader has been tainted by his tenacity. He sees past that which he protects. And all of Azure may suffer the consequences of his ignorance if there isn’t fruition. You have an honest purpose that takes courage. Courage that many don’t posses, and that is why I’m going to help you. You may just be the fruit we need.”

“Fruit?”

“Yeah, I’m hungry too.” He pulls an apple from somewhere beneath his grass kilt and offers it to me. “I suppose you can have mine.”

I cringe but extend an open hand to accept it.

“H-hoh man…” The old coot erupts with laughter. “You are hungry. Now I know why you were eyeing Chippie. Here.” He reaches above his head, palm opened wide, and an apple falls into it. “Have this one instead.” He tosses it to me. “You’re a Sprhowt, are you not?”

I nod in agreement, my mouth full of red apple—my least favorite, too grainy, but I’m still grateful.

“A Sprhowt, and you’re not aware how to escape your cell?” His lips purse as he shakes his head. “An infant in the world of Azure, thanks to the Taoiseach. Knowledge of the Seasonal Sciences has dwindled under his long reign. Every generation understands less and less. The education system, I presume, which he controls. If you are worthy, you will know more than he would like. You will be a threat. Do you understand?”

“My life or his.” I nod.

“Now…unlike all other talents, a Greenthumb can work it both ways.” He swings his hips front to back with a disturbing grin. “Accretion…” Forward thrust. “Reduction…” Reverse thrust. “Accretion…” Forward thrust. “Red—"

“Come now. That doesn’t suit me. Plus, you’re a hundred seasons my elder. You’re sure to snap a femur, or some ribs. Your days are done.”

“You have a nasty head on your shoulders. Focus. Or I’ll have Chippie throw some brown boulders.”

“Lay off the rhymes.”

“Why? Are you one of the beholders? Nah. Better watch your tongue amongst our kind, or you’ll find yourself many scolders.”

What in Susy’s name…?

He steps forward and grips the roots at eye level. Not a word. He just stares while gripping the bars. I remain silent, staring back. Part of me fears what he’s capable of. Those without a clear mind don’t see the world as the rest of us do. He could just as well live in the darkness, believing it to be bright as the shining sun. But he’s so old, and he’s a Sprhowt. Not a Dihkai. What harm could come from him?

The bars rip from the ground, revealing the tips of the roots for the first time. Small craters are left behind where the dirt collapses in their place. As they rise, one slips around my ankle and hoists me into the air leaving me inverted. I nearly choke on the apple, but thankfully being upside down helps the half-chewed chunk slip from my throat. I spit it at the old man.

“Argh! Unnecessary,” the old man grumbles. “It was only a prank. A foul man, you are. I ought to leave you up there.”

“Fine. Leave me here.”

He shakes his head at me and taps his booted foot. The root releases its grip and drops me to the forest floor.

“We have a long way to go, I see. First lesson: We are not only capable of enhancing growth, but we can retract it as well. This is not knowledge the Taoiseach has kept from you, however. You simply aren’t educated. The first of…” He starts counting his fingers and throws his hands in the air when he runs out. “…many lessons.”

I rise to my feet and flatten my attire. He stands taller than I initially realized. Staring down on me, a sense of intimidation jabs at me. Non-threatening. Similar to the intimidation you get from looking your grandfather in the eye. His knowledge of the talents is impressive. And how did he do that thing with a tap of his foot? The Academy could have taught me so much had I stayed with my father. “No, I’m not. Educated, I mean.” It’s painful to admit.

That adverse squirrel drops to the ground