Guilt of Sacrifice (Shadow of the Dragons Book 3) by JMD Reid

Author:JMD Reid [Reid, JMD]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fallbrandt Press
Published: 2022-04-04T16:00:00+00:00

25

It was on the third day that a plains wolf was spotted. As far as Dhaua could tell, other than having brown coats, they were as fearsome and big as their mountain cousins. But it excited the Hordemen. An animal of their tribe must be a good sign.

Or so Dhaua figured.

It was near evening and the decision was made to camp short of their goal. Euddán, surprisingly, didn’t complain. Dhaua had noticed a change in his demeanor. The stress and anger since the river had vanished. He had even spent the day walking with Vounée and Zai while the three young Hordemen watched on in envy.

To Dhaua’s surprise, the Hordemen left a haunch of meat out on the grass. It had been smoked to preserve it. Then Thaddi stood over it and pulled out her belt knife. She muttered beneath her breath as she cut her hand.

Blood fell on the meat.

“She is invoking a shamanistic rite,” Thaaph said, realizing pheromones filling the air. “For what reason?”

“To draw in a wolf,” Thaddi said in their tongue, her gray eyes glancing over at the shrubmen. “I need to sacrifice one to finish my spear.”

Everyone settled down to wait. As they did, Dhaua found herself twitching. Her vines were full of strange energy. The idea of a sacrifice made her think of what the Apostasy planned to do to Vounée to bring about their plans.

“Will removing Lady Petrification stop the Apostasy’s plans?” Dhaua asked her vinehusband.

“No. They will keep scheming.” Thaaph’s certainty filled her receptors with their pungent aroma.

Dhaua could only agree. “So, do you think Euddán, Vounée, and Zai will stay in the fight?”

“I think they will. Euddán and Vounée definitely will, and Zai seems to think it’s her destiny to help Euddán save the world.”

Dhaua looked over at Zai, studying the enigmatic girl. She was humming along, rocking in place, then she glared at Thaddi. She shook her head, clearly seeing what was to come. Thaddi merely stared back at the girl. Zai shook her head and marched away, not wanting to see it. Euddán watched on with fascination, his hand absently petting Lumi between the ears.

“Isn’t she a squeamish girl?” said Dhaua. “Unless . . . Do you think this ritual is that nauseating?”

“We’ll find out.” A touch of curiosity now emanated from her vinehusband’s pheromones. “What should we do after Vumaidinhu? Where to hurt the Apostasy?”

“Can we even hope to prevail?” Dhaua fought the doubt that squeezed about her body so hard she was surprised her sap wasn’t spurting out of ruptured vines. “We are so few even with them. The task before us is so immense.”

“We are not so alone as you think.” Thaaph glanced at Lumi. “I think she is something special. She was given to Euddán for a reason. He will help her find all her missing pieces.”

“And what will be born from her?”

“I do not know, but I believe we shall find another Lumi at the lake. She’ll grow bigger. I feel, sometimes, that she tries to communicate with us, but she’s too broken to be understood.

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