The Heartstone Saga, Archibald Bradford [the snowy day read aloud TXT] 📗

the monster girl from the Darkwood.

“Claimed him?! He isn’t a piece of meat!”

Alia sneered.

“From what I have learned, that is all that he is.”

The argument behind her barely gave Escrya pause when she knelt over Jonathan, her thighs on either side of his torso as she proceeded to rain blow after blow into his already broken face, howling out her rage and grief all the while.

Of the people around, a few wore looks of shock and horror, but most accepted it, his end as satisfying as any they could hope for.

But if Escrya’s bond-sisters had been less preoccupied they would have stopped her, not wanting her to bear the weight of the man’s death.

Chapter 55:Colonial Ambitions

Once she was satisfied that Nameless was resting as comfortably as he was able, watched over with fanatical care by Ophelia and the others, Volka finally felt the need to go amongst the wounded and take stock of the people and monsters that she had led into the field.

She paused at the entrance to the tent though, frowning as she looked to one side, her eyes squinting.

Finally she chuckled, if weakly.

“You must be Kriss. I am glad that my husband has such a devoted guard to watch over him. But you must know that you are welcome inside?”

There was no response from the unmoving Chameleon, though her camouflaged form shifted slightly at the Valkyrie’s address.

Volka sighed.

“Suit yourself. I will not force the issue. He will live, by the way. But there are others that will not, so I must take my leave of you. I hope in the future we can get to know one another… sister.”

Again there was no response so she stalked away, though there was a strange glint of red that went all along the Chameleon’s scales, betraying her disguise.

The angel just had that effect on people.

Not far away the Valkyrie spotted Xalanth and Sadie Essig, deep in discussion with a Dryad who was treating the Dragon’s injuries.

With a worried frown, Volka approached them.

“-can save her life but I cannot save her wing.” The nature spirit was saying, her words tinged with regret; “She is far too powerful for our meagre magic to work such a change in her. I’m so sorry.”

Sadie and her bond-mate took the news as one might expect; the Dragon stoic, while the human broke down and cried openly.

“Forgive me, Flametongue.” Volka lamented as she considered Xalanth’s ruined appendage; “I was forced to choose between facing Evadne or helping my husband save her victims.”

Xalanth drew in a raspy breath and shook her head, wiping away a single tear.

“Never doubt your choice Dominar. For it was the correct one. I may have lost the sky, but I would gladly make the trade again. Nina and I managed to end the wretch well enough without your aid.”

Volka dipped her head in acknowledgement.

“That you did, daughter of fire and magic. And your victory this day will echo throughout the ages.”

She leaned in and kissed the wounded Dragon on the forehead before letting the emotional Sadie take her place in Xalanth’s embrace.

“Rest now, hold your beloved lady tight. Others will take up the struggle from here.”

“You ought to do the same.” The Dragon suggested as her arms gripped her lady close; “I am given to understand that the deeds your lord achieved this day have taken a hefty toll on him.”

She nodded sadly, the extent of the toll yet to be known.

“The price had to be paid. He would have it no other way. Which is, of course, the very thing that makes him my lord.”

With that she and the Dryad took their leave, though Volka spared a moment to give the green-skinned girl an unsolicited hug to bolster her spirits.

Many were the spirits in need of bolstering.

Shortly afterwards she met up with Grant and his bond-mates, and was able to help him assuage Bruti’s guilt at tearing off his leg.

With Nameless’s Empathic abilities gone, the Dominar slipped into the familiar role; going amongst the wounded to ease their burdens however she was able as the day inevitably waned onwards in the wake of the battle.

Soon afternoon faded into evening, and Escrya was once more pulled away from someone she loved, this time by a summons from the Amazon Matriarch.

She and the other leaders amongst the Aegis forces wanted to figure out what came next.

But on the way to the meeting, Escrya once more crossed paths with Yana Brael, though this time she wasn’t alone.

Tiana was laying into her like nobody’s business.

“-fought beside you, trusted you, loved you! Then you left us! And when you did it broke our hearts! Can’t you see that?!”

“You are warleader now, Tiana.” Yana’s words were still lifeless; “May you be a better one than I.”

The other Amazon ground her teeth together.

“I do not accept that.”

“You must.”

“No! We have been through too much!” Tiana snarled; “You do not get to give up so readily!”

Yana was silent, her features placid as her angry friend continued to speak her mind.

“We all of us would have followed you into hell and back! But when the time came, you left us behind, left me behind! How many times have I fought at your side?! How many Yana?!”

She lunged forwards and seized her by her top.

“If I am to be warleader than it will be because we followed our traditions! Because I bested you, just as Kar did me before Evadne struck her down!”

“Then best me Tiana.” Yana whispered.

The other Amazon drew her fist back to strike her, but her hand shook and she was ultimately unable to.

“You behave like you are neucta already! But no one has declared this to be so!”

“If my mother saw me this day,