Bone and Blood Volume I

33 - Black Forest, Colorado 1927

Unquenchable fire raced along a black pool, bringing heat without light. Hungry sand sucked the world into its coarse, abrasive maw. A disembodied heart beat no matter how many times it was crushed. Fragmented flashes from Torani's fitful sleep. In as much as it could be called sleep.

He fought to reclaim full consciousness. Delirious, he felt around his den. No. Not his den. Just a hole in the ground. A makeshift safe spot. Where was Ile-Ran...? No. Errek. Where was Errek?

Torani was alone.

Panicked, he sat up—bumped into clay. Wormed around. There was already a tunnel open to the surface. Scraping at the walls, he pulled himself forward. Grabbed a handful of grass from above. Both hands out. His torso out. Panting. Frantically scanning the horizon.

"Torani? Are you okay?"

Torani squirmed around to face Errek. Swallowed. Sheepishly pulled himself the rest of the way out. "Evening."

"Did you think I left you?"

"Not by choice. Ilen might have the hunters after us."

"I think she has bigger concerns than us. Your face looks better. What about the rest of you?"

Torani ran a hand down his cheek. Smooth. Unscabbed. "I feel better..." He pulled his collar away to look down his chest. The topmost cuts had scarred over. The ones on his belly still gaped open. If only Serana had come with them. A few stiches would have gone a long way in keeping him together. "I've been worse."

"So, what's the plan?"

"We'll head..." He glanced up to get his bearings. The moon was higher in the sky than he liked. He turned north. The trees were further than he had hoped. "We didn't get very far last night."

"With you trying to hold your guts in? No. We didn't."

Torani struggled to his feet. "Then we need to get moving." His hand conspicuously rested over his belly. It was obvious he was in bad shape. Regardless, he held his free hand out to help Errek up.

Errek eyed it but remained in place. "We could stay underground until that heals."

In staccato, "The cuts won't close until I eat. We have to go."

"Got it." Errek finally took Torani's hand and stood.

As Torani walked, his wounds rubbed together painfully. He was grateful that Errek stayed a step ahead. That he could not see Torani's flinching grimaces.

"I thought it through while you were sleeping..." Errek began. "Maybe we don't have to wait until I reach knight to get Serana. Vaeilentha isn't a queen. I don't think she was what held Serana back. I think whatever was left of Azehralia made her stay. But that can't last much longer, right? Maybe, once you've eaten, we can ask Serana to come with us again."

How long had Errek been referring to royals without their title? Had he had committed that disrespect with other family members? What other pointless risks had Errek taken!?

Except... that no longer mattered. No more queen. No more hierarchy. No more nest. And the family that was supposed to sustain Torani through that loss was fractured.

"Torani?"

"Yes?"

"What do you think?"

"It's safer to wait."

"You know, the longer we wait, the closer Kordi—and Vaeilentha—get to ascension."

"Kordi won't reach prince before you reach knight."