Blood Sacrifice A snippet from Book #3 of the Healers of Meligna. Please note: This has not been professionally edited. Chapter One Mother had put three generous logs into the hearth before we slept. The fire devoured the solid chunks of pine and beech. As the fire dwindled, I knew the time neared midnight. The time when I would leave those I loved to rescue those of my kind: healers. The air grew cold and the scent of damp timber replaced the aromas of beef stew and pumpkin bread. Mother lay on the bed facing the shack’s dirty window, snoring softly, her greying hair reminding me of her growing fragility. Jemely lay next to Mother, her arm draped over Mother’s waist. Klawdia slept leaning against the front door, she would wake when I tried to leave, but I had my excuses already planned. Veneas and the Myrian Monks slept in the barn in order to guard Danaey, Skelkra’s sister. I closed my eyes for a moment, considering the coming hours and the risks I would take. I turned my head a fraction, my eyes straining to catch a glimpse of Nallael’s slightly parted lips and fluttering eyelids to my right. He took deep relaxing breaths. With each of his exhales I breathed in his sweet smell of spicy blueberries. How could anyone smell so delicious? I twisted my body, and his arms constricted around my waist holding me tightly to him. I felt secure in his arms, like a child swaddled in freshly washed blankets that had dried under the summer sun. The faint beat of his heart against my ear made my own heart swell with pride. Nallael wanted me, he cared about me, and that meant more than he’d ever know. I rubbed my hands down his arms and gently lifted his wrists from me. ‘W-what are you doing?’ he whispered woozily, his eyes still closed. Drat. I sat up straight, faced him and ran my fingers through his blood-red hair. ‘The fire goes out, and I need to relieve myself outside. Go back to sleep.’ I stroked my fingers down his long neck and onto his shoulder, and gently rubbed my thumb along his collarbone. He inhaled sharply, smacked his lips together before hugging himself and muttering, ‘Take a shawl, or the cold will claim you.’ In anticipation of my departure, I had left my coat near the doorway several hours’ prior and stacked containers of food and a canteen of water on the bench. I’d slept fully clothed and wearing boots after complaining of the cold. No one had noticed it unusual I’d left my boots on, and after the journey back from Meligna, everyone was exhausted. All I had to do was hide my provisions under my coat before Klawdia awoke. I moved to the fireplace, lifted the dwindling coals with a steel rod to find the hot core. Kindling sat in a box nearby, and I grabbed a handful of the greenest, threw it on the glowing embers and blew gently. The red flushed, the heat recoiled against my face causing an uncomfortable stretching sensation in my cheeks. When licks of yellow reached up from the grey residue to ensnare the unburned twigs, I took green, wet branches and built up the fire until the shadows of the shack retreated. The green branches would make the most noise, concealing my departure. I moved towards the kitchen bench, reached to the left, grabbed the dirty brown cloak that Mother had found for me, and put it about my shoulders. I tied my provisions to the belt of my pants at the back so Klawdia would not see. Crack. Pop. I went to the door, stepped over Klawdia’s legs that blocked the way, and I waited for the fire to hiss some more. Crack. I heaved the wooden barring. Klawdia’s hand seized my calf making me jump. ‘Where are you going?’
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 03:54:39 +0000
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