Page 103 of The Coven of Ruin
“Are you attempting to be witty now?”
“You know I wasn’t.”Silence. “But who will come?”
“Only one is quiet enough to hear the call.”
Chapter XLV
Hepeeredupatthe towering trees. The branches rocked in the wind as if beckoning him to enter.
“A godswood,” Medusa stated from beside him. “They’re in there? How?”
Brune wasn’t sure. He had seen many impossible and fantastical occurrences born of such fickle things as magic and heart. And something told him this was no different.
Removing his weaponry, he set his ax and other effects on the grass outside of the forest out of respect. “I’ll be back,” he said before stepping into the embrace of the woods.
The entire forest awoke and conspired to lead him. Branches pointed, dead leaves twirled and danced on the dirt floor, and the gust at his back spurred him onward. He stepped carefully, not wanting to crush anything under his weight. It had let him in, and he didn’t want to insult such an honor.
Blood and bootprints adorned the path he took. There were two pairs of tracks as far as he could tell. One far smaller than the other—Trista.
As he rounded a bend, the forest grew quiet. And there was Ares, his head turned to the side, his arms out as if he had been holding someone, and they were removed from his limp limbs. He rested on a bed of moss, and though blood covered him and drenched the area around him, Brune couldn’t identify any wounds upon first inspection. He crouched, careful not to crush any of the dainty white flowers that grew between the roots of the trees.
Placing his hand over Ares’ chest, he waited.There.His heart beat faintly against his hand, and his chest expanded slightly.Alive.Standing back up, he walked past Ares to look for Grae or Trista. There was evidence that there had been at least one other body there.
He is all you are to collect.
“There are no others? A witch or another god of war?” He peered around the woods as if they would suddenly appear.
The trees whispered to each other, and then, as if they had come to some consensus, the voice said,He is the only one. Look no further.
Though he wanted to ensure that there was no one else, he trusted the forest if for no other reason than it had led him to Ares.
Brune swiped up Ares’ blade and swung it over one of his arms before crouching down to get his brother. He smelled faintly of the witch and fire. But he knew not to ask the godswood for anymore. Slinging his brother’s body over his shoulder, he left the way he came.
He heard their voices long before he cared to open his eyes.
“Is he still dying?” Medusa.
Yes,he wanted to say.Yes, and please leave me to it.
Brune’s deep rumble sounded before answering. “I’m not sure.”
“Isn’t there something we should be doing then?” she hissed impatiently. “And where thefuckis Grae and this witch that could be his cure anyway?”
The witch.
He tried to climb out of whatever black pit of the Underworld he was in, but only darkness remained. The voices of his family faded, and he knew nothing more.
When the pit had enough of him, it spit him out. He sat up even before opening his eyes, reaching for a sword that wasn’t there.
When he did open his eyes, he was greeted by his sister, her arms crossed over her torso. Two snakes peered at him on either side of her head with their fangs bared as if he had startled them when he awoke.
“Where is she?” His voice was harsh.
Medusa’s gaze narrowed on him, but she didn’t respond. Still upset with him, then. “He’s awake,” she called out.
Brune’s heavy footsteps sounded moments before he appeared, filling the doorway with his hulking form.
“Where is she?”
