Destiny's Blood by Marie Bilodeau (best authors to read .TXT) 📗

Just like you believed you could save Josmere, Layela. I think, in a way, you did.”

He paused as though looking for more words, but just held her a little bit tighter in silence. She let herself be cradled in his warmth. She remembered the first time she had felt that warmth, when her flower shop had been destroyed and death was writhing in the Solarian soldiers. That vision had been different too, she suddenly realized. In the vision, she had been terrified and alone. In real life, she had been exhausted and comforted by Ardin’s presence, much like she was now.

She put her hands over his and closed her eyes. The Kilita’s touch years ago had unleashed only visions of death, and since then, only visions of death courted her mind. He had changed the written future for her, in a way, just like she had for Josmere. She had to believe she had done some good for Josmere. And she had to believe the vision with Yoma could also be avoided.

That, she realized, had been her mistake. She had believed she could avoid death by avoiding fear, but no matter what she did, fear would find her. Even hiding in a peaceful flower shop couldn’t keep fear and death away from her. And if that was to be her destiny, if she couldn’t keep it away, then at least she could fight the bitter end with all of her strength. She had changed Josmere’s future and bought her time — and, in a way, eternal life through her children. Now, she needed to heed the vision and make sure it would come to pass as predicted, and that it would be her blood spilled and not Yoma’s. She knew Yoma had seen the full vision in her waking mind, and also knew she intended to change it, even if it meant sacrificing herself.

But Layela was determined that Yoma would live, even if it meant her death. She needed to make sure of it.

She felt Ardin’s heart against her back, every strong beat turning to the clanging of bells, and she knew she was remembering a vision now. She had tried to recall it just moments ago, but now she fought it. She didn’t need to know how Ardin would die, and live in fear of it. She would enjoy her time with him now, not wait in fear for the moment when it would all end. She would not make the same mistake she had made with Yoma and Josmere.

Life, not death. She gave a short laugh.

“Imagine the army of brats that woman will leave us with!” Layela exclaimed, turning around to face Ardin. He smiled at her, his own eyes full of sorrow and concern.

“Thank you,” she whispered and kissed him full on the mouth. The bells were replaced by the beating of both their hearts and the taste of their tears mingling together.

She imagined Josmere standing beside her, laughing, encouraging her, telling her to take chances, to learn to live again. Telling her she was strong, and she would always be, no matter what the Kilita had once let her see and believe.

She broke from Ardin, traced his strong jaw line with her fingers, saw the fire in his eyes and smiled. She stood, Ardin beside her. It was time to forge her own path.

“It’s about life, not death,” Layela said. She looked down at the freshly dug earth and blew a kiss to her friend.

“Goodbye, Josmere Berganda.”

CHAPTER 38

The landscape spread bleak and forbidden around them, no plant, no water, no life. The companions had walked for the better part of three hours, and their legs now felt heavier, their stomachs emptier and their throats drier.

Avienne leaned on Yoma, her features tight. Zortan had re-splinted her bandage twice, both times just as tightly, and each time the ankle had swollen further. The smuggler did not complain once, but her lack of smiles, jokes and swears was worrisome. A small cropping of hills lay before them and Zortan led them to a spot between three hills, blocked from view.

“We’ll rest here briefly,” he said as he lowered the bag, and then he vanished around the next hill, scouting to make sure the area was safe. Yoma helped Avienne sit down.

“How’re you holding up?” Yoma asked, offering some dried meat to Avienne.

“Bloody painful. If I had two good legs, I would kick Zortan.”

Yoma smiled and nibbled at the meat, forcing the food down. They still reeked of blood and for the first time in her life, she found herself craving a bath. Dirty, she was used to. Disgusting and bloodied, she was not.

She took a swig and handed the water skin to Avienne, who sighed and looked it forlornly before taking some herself. She winced as though it was poison.

“I hope my brother’s having better luck than us,” Avienne said as she handed the skin back to Yoma.

“With any luck, Gobran found them and brought them somewhere safe by now,” Yoma said. She offered meat to Zortan as he joined them again.

“It seems safe, but we shouldn’t linger long.” He crouched by Avienne and felt her ankle. “I’m going to have to re-splint this.”

Avienne shrugged her assent. “If stars didn’t explode in front of my eyes every time you touched me, it just wouldn’t be the same.”

“Just don’t lose consciousness, or we’ll have to leave you behind if the enemy closes in.” Yoma was about to protest, but then she saw that Zortan was smiling. Avienne slit her eyes at him, but the humour in them was obvious. Zortan turned his attention to undoing the splint and Avienne squeezed her eyes shut, her face losing what little colour it had left. The moon, full and bloodied, was now almost over them.

“Why did this moon not shine before?” Yoma asked.

“The moon was created to reflect ether from the sun to the dark side of the planet,” Zortan answered as he skilfully wrapped Avienne’s foot again. “For Mirial, which is so close to