Blood, Fire & Mercy: An Upper YA Adventure Continues (Da'Valia Trilogy Book 2) by Christina Davis

Author:Christina Davis [Davis, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christina Davis
Published: 2021-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Seventh Vestive, 1644

Dear Elkizhi,

It appears I am coming home a war hero. Bryand, too. We chose well when we agreed to side with the upstart Order. With Dhianz’s blessing, this will be my final letter to you and I will see your face soon.

With honor and pleasure,

— Astiand

BLEARY-EYED, NEVA CLIMBED down from her perch to discover that breakfast was a meal of gamey roasted seagull and raw sea slug. It had been a year since she’d enjoyed her aunt’s cooking, but she almost cried from missing the comforts of home as she forced herself to swallow sea slug entrails. Durant had scooped its innards out in front of them, declaring he’d throw it back in the ocean when he was done and that once it healed, they could eat it again the following month.

“These are for you.” Ballard handed out three heavy spears to the newcomers. One end sported a metal-tipped point and the other a steel ring. “We have you properly outfitted now.”

Neva wiped her hands on her pants and grabbed her spear. The wood was smooth from use, but the tips had recently been replaced. She spun it around in a figure-eight, picking up speed. Neva recalled Emiliand wielding his staff against the Ceasekin and the renegades. She would need to practice with the new weapon to really know how to use it, but she had some idea.

“When will the dragons make an appearance do you suppose?” Debo asked.

“Good question,” Crowe commented. His eyes were red-rimmed.

“The birds will go quiet,” Tavo said. “You’ll get no more warning than that.”

Warbler tweeted a sing-song melody and preened.

“I imagine the wardens will go on a hunt before too long,” Ballard added. “They haven’t attacked as often the past few seasons. Used to be every day. But we still see them take flight every week or so. When would you say, Tavo?”

“I said to rely on the birds,” Tavo grumbled. “Counting on my calculations is a gamble.”

“You weren’t too far off the last time,” Durant said.

“The last time?” Neva asked.

“Tavo’s calculations were a few hours off,” Ballard acknowledged. “But he gave us the most forewarning we’ve had in years.”

“Needs to be better,” Tavo deflected.

“Surely you had some method,” Neva said, friendly but serious. If she could learn when the dragons would hunt, then she would know when their lair had the weakest defenses.

“I’m not keen on sharing much with a ganger who has mysterious nighttime visitors while she’s on watch,” Valentine interjected.

“Nighttime visitors?” Ballard asked.

“Are you saying you saw someone here last night?” Neva challenged Valentine, knowing that it would be impossible to prove. Mari hadn’t left any tracks.

“Why didn’t you alert the gang?” Ballard asked Valentine.

“I would have noticed a ganger climbing past me, even if I was asleep,” Durant said.

With as loudly as he snored, Neva wasn’t so sure, but she wasn’t about to point it out since he was taking her side.

“Suppose I didn’t see anything,” Valentine said after a moment. “But I heard voices.”

“Maybe it’s time to move camp,” Ballard said with a frown.

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