Burn the Stars: Dying Gods Book Two by Kemp Elisha

Author:Kemp, Elisha
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Kitanetos

“Again. Come at me again.”

The winter sun beats down on us, the sheltered courtyard adding to the heat of midday.

Nashua frowns, the lines on his weathered face marking his disapproval, stark as glyphs in clay. “You should rest. Bronze doesn’t temper by heat alone.”

I wave my sword in dismissal, using the back of my other hand to wipe the sweat beading at my brow. I don’t want his old man maxims. I want his blade.

“Again,” I urge.

It’s been five days since Jadikira left. Five days since I overheard Xenodice’s plans to have Adrienne killed.

My blood is practically boiling with restlessness.

“You should be dining with the Minas Crete,” Nashua counters, his sword remaining limp at his side. “You have an alliance to forge.”

Potina’s tits, why does he have to bring her up. I barely manage to suppress a shudder, forcing my face to remain a mask. I am not some newly-blooded youth who shows their every emotion for all to see, and I was raised in my mother’s court. Someone is always watching. Listening.

“If you are too tired old man, just admit it,” I say with a smirk. “I will get someone else to train with me.”

Nashua shakes his grizzled head. “You have enough bad habits as it is. Training with someone inferior will only add unmerited arrogance to the mix.”

I balk at that. “Arrogance?” I don’t have any unmerited arrogance. If I believe I am the strongest fighter of my fleet, it’s because I am.

Nashua looks skyward, as if beseeching Appaliuna himself for patience.

I grip my sword, tapping my foot on the dust-caked paving stones. If anyone has the right to be impatient, it’s me.

Five days. Jadikira should be back by now.

Five days, and I have no idea if Adrienne is safe. If she even still lives…

I squeeze my eyes shut, my throat constricting painfully at the mere thought.

“Where is Britomartis?” Nashua mutters to himself. “I’m just a navigator. It isn’t my job to shepherd princelings into alliances. Goddess help me…”

“My sister is visiting the temple.” I drum the flat of my blade against my thigh, my glance instinctively shifting towards the stone walls surrounding the courtyard. To the watching shadows and empty doorways.

Brita has visited Potina’s temple every day since Adrienne left, and her visits have gotten longer and longer. Last night, she didn’t return to our room until late in the evening.

I know why. I gaze at the stone walls, my gaze unfocused, as I recall our argument last night.

“How can you spend all your time there, with her, when Adrienne could be lying dead somewhere?” I had snapped peevishly.

Brita had returned smelling of temple smoke and lilies, with a look of contentment on her face. What right did she have to look so happy. “Do you care nothing for Adrienne at all?”

Brita had fixed me with such cold look of reprimand, I almost thought I was looking at my mother.

“Of course I care,” she had hissed. “Adrienne is – she is – goddess help me, but

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