Page 103 of Ashborne Forged

‘Of course, I’m certain,’ I mumbled through the link. ‘Certain that, barring killing him myself, I have no other choice.’

Kham fed compassion through the bond—he knew how hard this was for me—but I pushed it away. I couldn’t let myself be sucked into that quicksand.

‘You wanted me to confront my past, right?’ I asked bitterly.

He crooned. ‘Yes. But not without preparation. Or warning. Not without—’

‘It looks like God agrees with you. And the time, apparently, is now.’

Kham didn’t respond for a time, flying on for a moment, then a deep, resonant rumble began in his chest.

‘I’m here, Voski. I’m with you. I will not leave you.’

‘I know.’ For the second time that day I had to swallow a pinch in my throat. ‘I don’t deserve you,’ I told him sincerely. ‘Your patience. Your faithfulness even when I’m losing my mind and causing more problems than I solve. How do you put up with me? How do you stick?’

Kham rumbled warmly. ‘It’s quite simple. I’m the good one.’

‘I’m sorry… what?’

My dragon huffed and turned his head to meet my eye as he flew. ‘The only way to prove how good I am, is to let the world see what I put up with. In contrast with you, I shine.’

I gaped at him. ‘I can’t believe you’re taunting me right now!’

‘I really thought you learned faster than this, but clearly this is why we’ve been bonded. Perhaps before you die, you’ll stop being surprised.’

I couldn’t help it. I laughed.

But it died, cold and cloying in my throat a moment later.

‘Kham, I don’t know if I can do this.’

‘I do,’ he sent firmly. ‘And remember: You’re never alone. You will never face that place, or those people alone, ever again.’

34. The Inevitable

SOUNDTRACK: Crawling by Vince Cox, Corvyx, and EpicTrailerMusicUK

~ VOSKI ~

The distance was short enough that it was worth pushing on, but as we reached familiar territory, I prayed fervently that somehow, the Creator would clear the path and we’d draw close enough to Koa that Kham could reach her. That we’d be turned from this course. Even just delayed.

It had been seven years. But I wasn’t ready.

I shook, not with weariness, but tension. Every muscle in my body rigid as I resisted what was to come, to the bottom of my soul.

Kham crooned, then chittered as, all too soon—far too quickly, we couldn’t possibly be here already!—he began to descend. A jagged pulse of fear rocked through me when I recognized the meadow where he’d found me, and Chosen me, passing underneath us and Kham began to wheel.

That should have been a beautiful memory. I should have been thrilled to see it, to relive that precious moment with him.

I felt ill.

The closer we came to land, my limbs locked up. I gripped Kham’s neck straps, tightened knees around his wing ridges, hunched in my seat, and couldn’t move.

Then Kham spoke—reassurance, prayer, comfort… but I couldn’t take in the words.

I knew this ground. Knew the blood soaked into it.

Memories rushed in. Physical sensation. A sick, dark feeling that I’d been running from for over a decade. I found myself leaning back as Kham came in to land, subconsciously pulling for him to turn from this path.