Page 87 of Veinblood
“You’re afraid.” Varam’s words carry the faintest hint of surprise.
“Terrified.” I lift my head to meet his gaze. “Not of the Authority or Sereven. Not of war or death, or any of the things thatshouldfrighten me. But of losing her. Of failing to protect the one person who sees me as something other than a weapon to be aimed at enemies.”
A shout from the square interrupts our conversation. Exchanging glances, we hurry out of the forge. Several villagersare gathered around a woman who is pointing toward the western mountains.
“Smoke.” She spins to face me. “Thick columns of it, coming from the direction of Millhaven.”
Millhaven. A farming settlement half a day’s ride from here. Another village the convoy passed through on their journey to deliver me to Blackvault.
“It could be anything. An accident, or—” someone else says.
The woman who spotted the smoke shakes her head. “There’s too much for it to be a contained fire.”
“How many soldiers would it take to burn a village that size?” One of the men voices the question in a low voice.
“It depends on whether they met resistance,” Varam replies. “It could be a dozen. It could be fifty.”
The villagers exchange worried glances, and several look toward the places where Stonehaven families have found shelter. The fear in their eyes is familiar—the same expression I’ve seen on countless faces over the years when faced with Authority soldiers. The knowledge that safety is always temporary, and that protection is never guaranteed.
“What do we do?” Erya, the village leader arrives, making her way through the crowd and coming to a stop in front of me. Her voice carries the expectations of the entire village. They’re looking to me for answers, for reassurance, for the kind of leadership that will turn fear into purpose.
“First, we need to confirm what has happened. I’ll send scouts to investigate.”
“And if it was the Authority?”
“Then we prepare to defend Greenvale. For now, gather up the children and go back to your homes.”
Varam catches my eye over the dispersing crowd. His expression carries understanding and regret in equal measure. He knows what this means as well as I do.
The choice has been made for me. I can’t abandon Greenvale now. These people have committed themselves to protecting Stonehaven’s families, and that commitment demands protection in return.
Even if it costs me everything.
Chapter Twenty-Five
ELLIE
“When the body fails, the spirit teaches what strength truly means.”
The Healer's Codex, ancient Tidevein manuscript
Sleep refuses to come.I lie flat on my back, staring at the wooden beams that crisscross the ceiling, while my mind goes over everything that has happened over the past two days.
Two days.
Two days since the decision was made to contact the other hidden settlements.
Two days since Vorith instructed Corwin to arrange messengers who could carry the most dangerous question possible into the wilderness.
Are you willing to come out from years of hiding to fight alongside the Vareth’el?
The tension has been suffocating. Every conversation dissolves into speculation about what will happen if the settlements agree or if they refuse. What will happen if the messengers are caught by Authority patrols? Every face shows the samedesperate hope warring with terror. These people have survived by staying invisible. Now they’re considering stepping into the light … and straight into the Authority’s line of sight.
The knock at the door, when it finally comes, brings relief with it.
“All the messengers returned overnight.” Kessa’s voice is tight. “Vorith has called a meeting in the common hall. You’re to come immediately.”
I dress quickly in the pre-dawn darkness, my hands shaking as I pull on my boots. The silver energy inside me responds to my anxiety, wanting to pulse outward, but I force it down.
