Page 14 of Storm of Ink and Blood

Ajay addressed Suvanna and Apsara once again. “You understand what’s at stake here?”

They both nodded.

“Absolutely.”

Ajay dipped his chin. “Then you are welcome as far as I’m concerned. We could use as many powerful allies as possible. But first, you’ll need to meet our leader.”

LETTER

Dear Zarya,

Things in Dharati remain unsettled. We’ve completed most of the repairs since the attack, but everyone is still on edge. Rumors are surfacing about what caused the blight, and it’s no longer a secret the darkness nearly found its way into Rahajhan. It’s making everyone nervous, and it’s only a matter of time before speculation spreads to the other realms.

Unrest is also stirring in the vanshaj quarter, and I can’t help but feel like these events are connected. Whispers of rebellion are traveling across the continent, and the nobility are sleeping with one eye open.

Vikram is making decisions I cannot support and lashing out at everyone around him. Amrita has changed since you knew her. Or at least that’s all that I can assume. Since only Vikram can speak with her, I must take him at his word when he conveys her wishes. She does not seem concerned about the citizens, and all those dreams and plans she once spoke about appear to be forgotten.

Koura returned to Dharati last month to monitor her pregnancy and confirmed the child is healthy, so at least we have that to be thankful for. To answer your question, she’s growing inside a clear seed nestled in Amrita’s womb much like a baby would inside a human mother, but instead, she is nourished by roots and sap rather than veins and blood. When the time is right, the child will be born when the seed splits open to welcome her into the world.

I wish I could bring more auspicious tidings, but it seems things are shifting more than we understand.

I hear Suvanna and Apsara have made their way to you and are sure to be useful in your endeavors, but I do urge you to be cautious, Zarya. These are ever more dangerous times, and I worry about you. Give my best to Yasen, and I hope you’re both taking good care of each other.

It’s quiet here without you.

Row

SIX

Once they’d set Apsara and Suvanna up in their guest bedroom, Zarya convinced Yasen to accompany her into the forests beyond the city, where she was hoping to explore her magic’s strange reaction to the ink.

She also planned to tell him the truth about everything. She couldn’t keep this secret festering inside her any longer and had to share it with someone. She only hoped he wouldn’t look at her differently.

But he already knew more than anyone, including her dreams in the forest with Rabin and her reaction to Meera’s tattoo in Dharati. He’d been the first witness to her magic, and he’d never let her down. She knew she could trust him with this.

A loud smack followed by a huff of annoyance drew her attention behind her. Yasen was frowning as he flicked his fingers. “What are we doing out here exactly?” he asked. “I’m being eaten alive by these fucking things.” Another smack and another grunt signaled the untimely death of yet another mosquito.

Zarya waved a hand, forming a thin shield of air around them both, blocking out the tiny bloodsuckers.

“You couldn’t have done that twenty minutes ago?” Yasen asked, stomping through the bushes. “I was dying.”

She huffed out a laugh. Yes, she could have done that twenty minutes ago, but where would the fun have been in that?

“Poor Yas,” Zarya said. “Such a tough life.”

He snorted. “Tell me you at least brought something to drink.”

“That I can do,” she said, digging into the bag slung over her shoulder and pulling out a small silver flask. After tossing it to him, he opened it and then sighed.

“Much better.”

They walked in silence for a little longer while Yasen nursed his drink.

“How much further are we going?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. We need just the right spot.”

“Oh, thank you, very helpful,” he grumbled, but she ignored him as they continued to push through the bushes. The smoke from the factory explosion was finally starting to clear, and the high moon offered just enough light through the tree cover. It wasn’t a particularly dense forest, so Zarya wanted to be deep enough to properly shield them. After another few minutes, they came upon a small clearing with a large, flat rock in the center.