Free Embers of an Age (Blood War Trilogy) by Tim Marquitz

with doubt.
    “ No, Ree is much more than that, but I understand your reluctance to take my word for you would have been born long after her spirit drifted into the darkness of herself. Ree is truly the land and all that spr i ng s from it. She is the spirit of this world, the world itself, but such wisdom is unnecessary for the conversation at hand.” He gave a shallow bow of apology. “If I might ask, what is your name, warrior?”
    “Braelyn.”
    “We are well met, Braelyn of Ryell, beyond the Languid Sea.” He glanced once more to the north, picturing what lay in her path. Turning back to her , he asked, “How do you intend to reach your homeland? There are many dark races between here and the shore that leads to your realm. They will show you no kindness for trespassing upon their land.”
    She nodded, breathing yet another sigh. “I had given it little thought, to speak true.” Braelyn ran a hand across the O’hra harness across her chest. “ I had hoped there might be a ship I could book passage upon. If not, t hese treasures helped me to escape the desert, and I believe I might well swim back to my village should no boat avail itself to me.”
    Uthul smiled at her courage. He could see the determination in her face as she made her statement. She would likely try. “ There are no ships,” he confirmed, his eyes drifting to the tools. “The O’hra…the things you wear , do they work for you?”
    “They do,” she answered, straightening as though she expected Uthul to demand them back.
    “Then I would ask for your assistance in trade for the means to help you return home.”
    She stared a momen t, uncertainty in her eyes. “I—”
    “Please, hear me out ,” Uthul asked of her, giving her no time to answer. “Our realm is assailed by beasts that have stolen O’hra such as you wear. They cause great harm, devouring those they do not slay outright , and laying waste to any who stand before them for no purpose other than to satisfy their lust for meat and blood.” He drew a step closer. “We are preparing an army to turn them back; an army equipped with O’hra and trained to use it to its fullest. We could use another strong warrior to head the army, and to lead the group to the mausoleum in the desert.
    “You have been there, and returned alive and hale , or you would not have laid claim to the tools you wear . Neither I nor my people can risk travel to the mausoleum since the lake has risen to fill the scar of that which woke our goddess. Your help would be without measure.”
    Braelyn’s feet shifted against the dirt. “Now it is your turn to forgive me, Uthul, for I have no help to offer. I must carry the news of my lost crew to their families and assure my people I am alive. They will waste precious time and resources seeking me out when they should be preparing for winter ’s fall. I would not have them put their lives at risk for a fruitless search. I must return home.”
    “You are someone of importance to your people,” Uthul said without question.
    Braelyn nodded with reluctance. “I am but one woman, one warrior, amongst many, but the foolish council of elders will convince the people that because the crown of our realm was passed to me, their lives are to be second to mine.” She spit in the dirt.
    Uthul sighed and bowed his head. “Then I would not impose upon you, Braelyn of Ryell. Luck in your journey home. If the fate of Ahreele is that we survive the dark days ahead, I would come and visi t your realm ?”
    “We would have you with honor.”
    Uthul said his farewells and set his course again, running off to catch the wind once more. He left the warrior woman behind, casting a glance back to see she had raced north already . She would have been a welcome addition to the force he hoped to build but the battle was not hers to undertake. It was a disappointment, but her appearance off ered Uthul hope there might be yet another way to secure the safety of the realm without