Page 59 of Vows of Sacrifice

“What’s going on?” I asked.

He only answered me in a low voice when he was close enough to me:

“Creatures from the Abyss in the dunes around Tarnton. We must intervene, as caravans of merchants are blocked from entering the enclosure because of these monsters.”

My head jerked back, betraying my surprise. Creatures from the Abyss? In the middle of the day?

It was indeed an urgent matter that required my intervention. I turned to my wife to inform her of my temporary absence, but to my astonishment, she was no longer there!

“Ashana!”

Her first name was forced out of my mouth without me even thinking about it. The seller handed me a letter whose paper was made from baked tree bark. I unfolded the letter while the man in front of me explained:

“He came out of nowhere, grabbed your lady and phew! They had both disappeared and all that was left was this paper! I’m so sorry! There was nothing I could do! It all happened so fast!”

From the tone of his voice, I knew the seller wasn’t lying and that he was genuinely fearful of my reaction. My jaw tightened as I read the words written in rather rough Osacanian: “I imagine you want your flame back, so I suggest you join me at the oasis. Your loving brother, Kynnen.”

If the air dragon had wanted to get my attention, he’d succeeded.

9

ASHANA

“Who are you and what do you want from me?”

He’d dropped me at the oasis. Here I was, now soaked to the skin and furious. I didn’t know how my captor had done it, or why, or who he was, but for some reason, the man standing before me looked strangely familiar. Especially his scar.

A broad smile split his lips as he happily bit into a strange fruit. It wasn’t an apple, but it looked like one.

“Pretty. I’ve seen worse, but I’ve seen better,” he commented as he eyed me.

I was dumbfounded. Had he just said I was ordinary? Did he think I wasn’t aware of this “detail” about my appearance and that I was going to get offended? For my part, it was something else entirely that stunned me at that moment . . .

“Ho . . . How did you do it? By what miracle? Magic? Is that right, you’re a sorcerer?”

The moment before, I was with Dovah, and the next, in the water of the oasis near the castle. The man burst out laughing, his head thrown back.

“So, you don’t know anything?”

I crossed my arms and pursed my lips. I hoped my glare would be enough to dissuade him from attacking me if that was his plan. My attitude only accentuated his mocking smile.

“I have no intention of hurting you. My name is Kynnen. I’m Dovah’s brother. I’ve come to see you to be sure.”

“Sure?”

His smile faded instantly.

“That you are who Paivrin says you are. The flame of the lord of the ashes.”

We didn’t have time to pursue the conversation further; Dovah appeared out of nowhere—was this an ability common to members of this family?—and he seemed beside himself.

“She. Is. My. Wife.”

To which Kynnen raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, and?”

“Who authorized you to lay your hands on her?” my husband continued coldly.

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