Season of Sacrifice (Blood of Azure Book 1) by Jonathan Michael (ereader that reads to you txt) 📗

individually on their own bed. And now he apparently awaits their return.

“Carib is building an army, isn’t he?” I ask.

“…”

“I will build an army of my own, then.”

The ape looks at me and gives a curt nod. Then he gestures for me to look out into the wood.

The White Hart stands alone in the distance. I can sense the beast. It requests my presence.

I leap from branch to branch and ruffle Helios’s fur when I get to the base of the tree. I walk toward the divine beast. It is grand, standing more than a head taller than me with the tines of his antlers reaching further into the sky. There is a majestic glow about him. He speaks.

“Guardian of Azure.”

“Guardian?” My brow curls. “You’re certain of this?”

A smaller doe appears from behind a nearby tree. Then, a few more show themselves. Then, a pack of wolves trots into view from the deep wood. And the obnoxious squirrels start chirping in the branches above. Then, a massive brown bear trudges toward the group, raising onto its hind legs with a roar to match its terrifying size.

“The forest is here to serve you,” the White Hart communicates.

56 Astor

“W

here do we come from?” I hold my head in my hands, afraid to face the world.

“The First Four.”

“But where did they come from? What is our purpose? Why is it so hard? Why does Susy give us life, just to endure such hardship? Is it a game?”

Advocate Gunther embraces me. I nuzzle into him and weep hysterically.

“Hardship teaches, dear. Purpose…” Gunther sighs. He pulls back from me and lifts my chin to make eye contact. “Purpose is in here.” He places my hand on my chest.

“How do I find purpose if this…” I pat my chest, “…is broken?” More tears erupt. Gunther embraces me again.

“Where your mind falls short, your purpose is lacking, your science cannot explain, that is where faith dominates. You must have faith. Faith is a strength too few are aware they have. Faith is a power all can wield. Faith is humanity. Faith will heal anything.” He places my hand over my heart again. “Faith is in you. Grab hold of it, and see what happens.”

57 Stone

C erise has waned to a quarter-terra since the day I beheaded the Taoiseach. And yet I continue to roam the grounds of the Academy, mourning my losses. Today is the Autumnal Equinox. Jay loved the turn of the seasons. She thrived with the festivals that accompany it. I will never again get to see that rare smile it brought to her.

Walking along the paved path passing by my former Social Etiquette class, I stop at the top of a small hill. I have visibility of the majority of the campus from this peak. The trees decorate the yards of the school with splashes of orange, red, and yellow. It’s a beautiful sight to most, but it only reminds me of one thing. Soon, all those colorful leaves will fall to the ground and decay, leaving the trees barren and ugly. How am I supposed to find beauty in death? It is too empty, painful, and angering. There is no beauty to be seen here. I continue wandering down the path, unsure of my destination.

Not quite a man in most eyes, and I have lost my entire family. I’m empty. No different than the dead trees. And lost.

I trudge aimlessly and find myself outside the compounds of my nemesis, Harris Martelli. But is he a nemesis? My mind is conflicted, unsure of what to believe. He slayed my sister, to be sure. That will never be forgotten, regardless of what other evil deeds he may have evaded. He is, and always will be, my nemesis, for that one act alone.

The compounds are empty. Harris’ evil tactics were revealed to the public, and he paid the price for it. No normal man would have stood a chance against an entire city of angry citizens. But Harris was far from normal, which is why I had to do what I did.

I look toward the noose rafter. All five members of the former Parliament remain. The four who were hung from the rafter are no more than charred skeletons. Their bones have been pecked clean by the scavengers in the air.

My attention turns to the pike protruding high into the sky next to the other four. Harris’s head remains intact. The same grin permeates his face from when I removed his head. Below the spike, lying on the ground, are a few dead black carrions. All look to be rotting away. Even in his death, he still finds a way to murder. I grimace.

The ironwood door of the Redwood Chamber is ajar. It creaks as I open it just enough to squeeze through. The Grand Atrium within holds many memories. All from a single day. I escaped this chamber with my sister, best mate, and Helios; I battled a woman, which, in the end, I was unable to resist; I lost a childhood friend to my own blade, and of all my company that day, none remain.

I ponder Goose and Helios, wondering if they’re alive, and if so, where? Will Greybark be my next destination? Or do I remain patient, knowing Goose will venture to the capital one day? Or do I go back home to the charred remains of the McLarin Manor where I buried Jaymes?

The entire chamber is deserted. Typically, there would be a few Crimson Guard at the gates and several patrolling the area. Without a proper Parliament, many have deserted, likely joining the Celestial Cloaks, while others have retreated to their barracks to await new orders. Serving the group of elite assassins is not as honorable, but it serves the skillset better than patrolling.

I