Page 85 of Veinblood
I want nothing more than to follow that pull, to abandoneverythingin favor of seeking her out. But everyone in Greenvale is trusting me to protect them, to make decisions that ensure their survival rather than pursuing my own wants and needs. The weight of that responsibility keeps me here, even as I wish otherwise.
I have to keep telling myself that this is worth the torment of waiting. This is worth the constant ache of separation from Ellie.
I make my way toward the blacksmith’s forge, as a group of children run past, their voices high pitched and excited as they play some elaborate game involving hidden treasures and dramatic rescues. The sound reminds me of why I’m here, why this matters beyond my own personal longing. These families, these children. They deserve the chance to build new lives, without looking over their shoulders for Authority patrols.
The forge sits at the edge of the village, close enough to serve the community but far enough to contain the noise and heat of metalworking. Inside, the tools hang exactly where he left them. Hammer and tongs, files and punches, the anvil where raw metal was shaped into useful things.
I run my fingers along the edge of the anvil, feeling the countless small dents and marks left by years of work. A workspace abandoned too soon but one that served its purpose well.
His whispered words to me haunt me still.
You saved my family thirty years past, helped hide our children when the Authority first came for Veinbloods.
The memory of that night comes back—desperate families fleeing in darkness, children who couldn’t understand why theirworld had become dangerous, parents who trusted a stranger to help them disappear before dawn brought searching soldiers.
I’ve forgotten their faces over the years, lost them among countless others who needed help, but the blacksmith remembered. Standing in his workspace, surrounded by the evidence of a life spent creating rather than destroying, I make a silent vow. His death will not have been in vain. Whatever comes next, whatever challenges I face, his sacrifice will continue to bear fruit in the lives he helped save.
The bond flares again, bringing with it a sharp spike of alarm that isn’t my own. My fingers clench against the anvil’s edge. Something is happening to Ellie, and I’m trapped by duty and distance, unable to protect her.
A soft footstep announces someone’s approach, and I turn in time to see Varam coming through the door. His expression is thoughtful as he scans the forge before his gaze stops on me.
“The soldiers’ bodies have been moved. The village elders wanted to bury them, but we took them away from the village and scattered them instead. If anyone comes to check, they’re not going to find them in a hurry.”
I nod, my attention split between his words and the persistent ache of the bond. The practical details feel distant compared to the growing certainty that Ellie needs me.
“Good. What about their weapons?”
“Distributed among our fighters. Some of the villagers have hunting experience. They can make use of the crossbows, if needed. Their horses were added to the paddock with theothers.” He props one shoulder against the door frame, and folds his arms. “The supply riders are due in the next few days, what is the plan for them?”
“I’ll handle them before they reach Greenvale. I have my raven watching. That will warn me long in advance of their arrival.”
“Once they’re eliminated, their disappearance will eventually bring investigation.”
“We’ll have a week, perhaps ten days before that happens.” Long enough to establish defenses, not long enough to feel secure.
“And then?”
The question isn’t as simple as it sounds. As soon as I move against the supply riders, it will change Greenvale from a neutral village into an active participant in my war against the Authority. Every person here—man, woman, and child—will become a target. The blood of innocents will join the blacksmith’s on my hands.
“We won’t abandon this place or the villagers who have risked everything to help us.” These people opened their doors to us. They deserve protection, not abandonment.
“I’ve taken a good look around. The village has natural advantages for defense. The approaches are narrow, water sources can’t be easily cut off. With some preparation, a small force could easily hold against a much larger one.”
“For a time.” But not indefinitely. The Authority has resources a mountain village simply cannot match. “How many of our fighters are combat-ready?”
“Thirty-seven. Maybe a dozen villagers on top of that.”
The bond carries another wave of emotion from Ellie—fear, determination, and underneath it all, her strength. My fingers flex against the anvil, shadows pooling briefly before I force them back. Varam’s eyes catch the movement.
“Is there something I should know?”
“My connection with her is getting harder to ignore.” The admission costs me. Vulnerability has never come easy, especially when lives hang in the balance. But Varam deserves honesty, even when it reveals weaknesses I’d rather not show.
“Can you tell where she is yet?”
“Still northwest. That much has been consistent since the bond returned.” I look in that direction. “If she’s moving that way …”
“Then she’s heading toward Ashenvale,ifshe’s not already there.”
