Destiny's Blood by Marie Bilodeau (superbooks4u txt) 📕

“Well, ain’t that cute,” Avienne mumbled, feeling slightly jealous. She was finally on a planet she could call home and she was alone.

“It’s so…dead,” Yoma said. They were on a landing platform, linked by a bridge to a bunker where Mirial’s survivors dwelt. It was the biggest, greyest, ugliest bunker Avienne had ever seen. What they could see of the dark land around them was just as dead as the rest of the planet.

“Layela would have hated this place,” Yoma said with a slight smile.

Avienne gave her a grin. “Weren’t you the one going on about life, back on the bridge?”

Yoma shrugged, and even in the darkness Avienne could see the thief was blushing. “I get…lost, sometimes. Especially since I’ve come closer to Mirial.”

“Sounds fun,” Avienne mumbled. A tall man approached Yoma, bowing deeply before her. Avienne gave a short laugh, to be rewarded by a grin from Yoma and a stern look from the tall man.

“La~dy...?” the man asked, ignoring the redhead. Yoma seemed to hesitate for a moment, lowering her eyes for just a second to hide the indecision Avienne could feel radiating from her.

When she decided which name to give, her voice was but a whisper. “Yoma. My name is Yoma.”

The man nodded, and with style and flourish said, “La~dy Yo~ma, the La~dy A~dina wishes to see you.”

“Lady Adina?” Yoma repeated in a disinterested tone.

Avienne took on the man’s stylized flourish. “No, Yoma, it’s La~dy A~dina.” Another short laugh received another stern look. Avienne felt better. Maybe this planet could offer some fun after all.

“The Lady Adina wishes to speak with you,” the man repeated without the flourish. Avienne gave Yoma a disappointed look.

Yoma grinned and shrugged. “All right, then, lead on.”

The man looked intently at Avienne, his beady eyes almost fully closed. “Alone. She wishes to see you alone.”

Yoma cast a glance at Avienne, who shrugged. “You okay with that?” Avienne heard herself, and winced.

Ardin, I’m starting to sound like you!

Yoma offered her a grateful smile. “I’ll be fine, thanks. I was always the dangerous sister, you know.” Avienne shot her a grin as the two walked off. Gobran and his daughter were also gone, as was the rest of the procession. And Zortan had vanished into a shadow somewhere.

“What, no greeting for me?” she asked the darkness. Avienne walked across the high bridge and entered the bunker. It was ugly, but at least it had been left unlocked. Metal stair upon metal stair greeted her, and she caught the smells and sounds of a city below.

A city meant food and drink.

Avienne began descending the steps two by two. Soon she arrived on stone steps, and, turning another metal wall, she was greeted by colours and laughter and smells of meat. The city went all the way through the large bunker, at least a thousand feet in length, and every inch of it had been crowded with makeshift homes — some stone, some wood, some just colourful sheets used for privacy. She could hear chickens and some sheep, but couldn’t even begin to guess where they were kept in the maze before her. She could smell burning wood and a musk that told of many people and few baths.

She came down the last few steps, some guards looking at her with suspicion and some with surprise. She rewarded them with her best smiles. The people she could see were ratty and tired, but the children ran and laughed and she swore she even heard a dog barking. She could not discern any of the buildings or shelters, from one another, but in such a big area, surely a bar or pub existed.

She grinned wider and entered the chaos, leaving a sea of whispers behind her. She walked along what she believed were the streets, although she often had to duck below hanging sheets. Finally she heard a call that interested her.

“Come get your lunch!” She turned towards the sound, hoping she could locate it. Where there was food, there was usually drink.

Cailan, Ardin and the Destiny had flown hard and well, and it was time that she toasted their good life.

Blood and bones, she intended to be drunk within the hour.

i

The tall man had introduced himself as Gresko Listan. He led Yoma through a series of metal stairs and stone tunnels. Only a few blue-garbed individuals crossed their path, each bowing their heads respectfully. From their weaponry, Yoma guessed they were guards.

The way was poorly illuminated with sparse torches, the shadows thick and heavy. Yoma’s heart slowed and her breath quieted, instincts honed through years of thievery. Gresko Listan’s steps were also muffled and the air around them grew more and more humid the deeper they went. A roar grew louder the further they walked.

“What is that?” Yoma asked, hushed. The man did not lower his voice when he spoke.

“There are places on Mirial that are deeply connected with the star of Mirial. The Lady Adina protects us from such a place.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

The man turned around and examined her briefly, as if deciding whether or not she was truly a child of the queen. Yoma could not help but lift her chin. She had never liked being looked down upon by anyone. As if satisfied, he turned around and waved her ahead around the next corner.

“This will answer your question, Lady Yoma.”

She hesitated for half a second, not fond of letting others follow behind where they could easily slip a knife in her back, but she went ahead, hoping her instincts would protect her if necessary.

The second she rounded the corner, her concerns slipped from her mind. The cave was big, its high ceiling covered with stalactites that shone and glistened with dew. Droplets fell once in a while, as though in a light rain. The roar had come from a large waterfall to Yoma’s left. It formed a clean mist as it tumbled into a lake, and the lake split off into small rivers that crossed the cave before vanishing into the