Slave's Gamble (Book One of Ordella's Quest) by Jay Stonesmith

Author:Jay Stonesmith [Stonesmith, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty

Ordella walked towards Merisca who was perched, head-bowed, on a log next to the path.

The Islander didn’t look up.

Ordella was tempted to keep on going. It would’ve been easy to dodge into the trees, putting off the confrontation for another day. But Jereth was right. She’d waited too long already. Enough time had passed.

“Hello” she said.

Merisca glanced up. She smiled, then shuffled along the log and patted its bark-covered surface.

“Take a seat,” she said. “You must be exhausted.”

Ordella sat down next to her and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry I was angry with you,” she said. “I had no right to be. My grandmother put you in an impossible position, and I shouldn’t have blamed you for her death.”

Merisca put her hand on Ordella’s knee.

“You had every right. You were hurt and you thought I’d betrayed you. Your reaction was natural.” Merisca swallowed. “Thank you for what you said. It means a lot. I know you will never truly forgive me for keeping Gwenith’s plans a secret from you, and that is something I must live with. But you must understand that her mind was already made up. Even if I’d told you, she still would have gone ahead with her sacrifice. She made me promise silence, and I will not apologize for keeping my word.”

Ordella nodded.

“However,” Merisca continued, “I am sorry for holding onto the item that belonged to your father for as long as I did.” She sighed. “I was weak. I knew how you’d react, and I was looking for the perfect time. I should have given it to you sooner.”

“And I shouldn’t have treated you so unfairly,” Ordella said.

“Neither of us can take back what we said, but we can leave the past behind.” Merisca clasped Ordella’s hand in her own. “I’d like us to be friends again.”

Ordella locked eyes with Merisca and smiled. She’d grown close to Jereth and Hob in the weeks she’d spent in Oakhaven, but Merisca knew where she’d come from. They’d survived the Warren together, and they’d both won the Slave’s Gamble. The bond between them was too important to sever.

“Me too.” She wrapped her arm around Merisca and rested her head on her shoulder.

After a few moments, Ordella sat up and glanced back towards the cave.

“Flynn will be alright, won’t he? Be honest with me.”

“We won’t know for sure until the morning, but between you and me, I think he stands a good chance.”

“Shouldn’t we stay with him? In case he gets worse?”

Merisca shook her head. “There’s nothing more to do. Lera’s with him, and Jereth, too.” Merisca glanced towards the village. “Let’s go and find something to eat. In the morning you can come with me and we’ll check on his progress.”

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