The Jade Arch by Christa Yelich-Koth

Author:Christa Yelich-Koth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christa Yelich-Koth
Published: 2019-12-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

Jayla stared at the ruined house, its marble walls cracked and crumbled, its insides ground to dust. Hot amber streaked her face. Her heart ached at the demolished site, the loss for her brother, and the random brutality of the world.

Her brother wiped his brow, then dropped the sledgehammer. Marlita had lived alone and because he didn’t want anyone to desecrate her home, he destroyed it. He limped over to his mount, the body of Marlita draped over the moki. Jayla could see her eyes, staring straight ahead, not seeing anything. Whatever the Smoke Hunter had done to her brother left him weakened. He’d expended so much physical energy smashing apart the house, he’d stumbled and fallen, injuring his leg. With a rough voice he’d told Jayla he was fine, but he couldn’t hide the limp.

They’d taken as much as they could from her house for supplies to help them on their journey home, plus a couple small keepsakes that Jaydon hoped would comfort Marlita.

Jaydon climbed onto his mount slowly, the pain etched on his face in a grimace.

“Are you positive about taking her back home, Jaydon?” she asked. “She is, after all, a Marble person.”

He let out a few huffy breaths and gathered the reins in his hands. “I’m sure. I don’t know what kind of reception we’d receive at the Marble border with an almost lifeless body. We must return home so Father can request an official delegation with a Marble healer to help her. I don’t want to be responsible for a misunderstood conflict.”

Jayla could hear the royal tone in her brother’s words. They’d been trained their whole lives to always think of the kingdom first. But the waver in his voice betrayed his true feelings. She knew he worried the Marble people wouldn’t help them. Their truce was new and as such, fragile.

“Very well. I’m sure Jayman will help us the best he can.”

“At least we got the resin first. We can trade for the extra food we’ll need.” Jaydon urged his mount forward.

Jayla frowned while she gave her own beast a gentle nudge, trotting next to her brother. “We can’t use that. Father needs it.”

“Father doesn’t know how much we obtained so he won’t know we traded any.” Jaydon’s voice sounded desperate and angry.

Jayla kept quiet. She knew they’d have to trade quite a bit to acquire what they needed. Marlita had planned to help them with her own provisions, but Jaydon didn’t know where she kept the secured storage area. They would definitely need the innkeeper’s help.

“Don’t forget, he offered us a free room for another story. I know he said only the rooms, but I’m sure, considering our situation, he’ll help us with supplies as well,” she said.

Jaydon’s eyes lit up. “Do you think so?”

“I do.” Her stomach tightened in a knot at the thought, nervous about performing again. But another part of her felt excited. She could almost feel the words forming at her lips, ready to come out.

Can’t think about that now, she thought.

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