Chapter 49
Esmyra
They’d been walking in silence for what seemed like miles when Jenli finally stopped. “There she is,” she breathed, spreading her arms like she was greeting an old friend.
Before them stood a colossal tree, its trunk wider than any Esmyra had ever seen.
Jenli turned to them, her wild, green eyes bright. “Welcome to my home.”
“Is she kidding?” Draevyn muttered.
“I’m not joking, imbeciles,” Jenli snapped, twirling toward them dramatically as she glared at them. “Now, did you come here for my help or not?”
She raised her hand, fingers splayed, and whispered something toward the tree that was far too soft to hear.
And then the bark rippled.
The crew stepped back as a shimmer moved through the wood like a pulse. Then, with a low groan, the trunk split down the center, peeling apart and revealing a tall, arched doorway. The inside glowed with golden warmth, seeming much more inviting than the eerie woods surrounding them.
Jenli stepped inside the tree and most of the crew followed, all disappearing from sight.
Esmyra blinked in awe. “Let’s keep her.”
“No,” Draevyn and Jak said in unison behind her.
She turned, raising a brow at both of them as she placed a hand on her hip. “It’s cute that either of you think you’re still in charge here.”
“You absolutely do not get to keep the deranged woodland witch,” Draevyn said, eyes narrowing playfully.
Esmyra shrugged. “Well, I think she’s fun. Besides, when’s the last time there was another woman among us?” She pointed to the tree. “And power is power, regardless of how deranged. She could be useful.”
“She booby-trapped a swamp,” Jak groaned.
“All I’m hearing is that she’s skilled in several areas.” Esmyra winked before striding toward the glowing doorway.
After a beat, they followed, and the inside of the tree took her breath away. Despite the bark being solid and pulsing with life, the interior had been completely hollowed out.
Spiraling around the inner walls, stairs were carved into the wood, curving up higher than her sight could reach.
There were rooms tucked into the bark at various levels—some with swinging rope bridges leading to them, others shaped with rounded doorways.
The air within the tree was warm, smelling of sweet sap, herbs, and smoke.
Her crew stood silently in awe, forming a half-circle around her.
Jenli swept inside ahead of them, her arms raised. “Welcome to my humble, hollowed sanctuary,” she called back. “Explore if you like, but do not touch anything.” Her eyes narrowed on Ren, and Esmyra wondered what had happened between them all that time ago.
Jenli danced up a few stairs and flopped into a hammock hung by vines. “This place is very much alive, and she doesn’t take kindly to strangers poking about.” As she spoke the words, the vines holding her up seemed to twist and writhe.
“But go ahead and pick your rooms. Make sure you choose wisely,” she taunted.
The crew hesitated for a moment before spreading out. Their steps echoed on the spiral staircase, creaking as they climbed up to claim their rooms that branched off the winding path.
Draevyn turned to Samwell and Tommy. “Are you two okay with keeping the first watch? We’ll rotate every few hours, but keep sharp. I don’t trust these woods.”
“Aye, Captain,” Tommy agreed, but Esmyra took note that Samwell looked hesitant.
Finally, he gave Draevyn a nod. “I don’t trust these woods either, Drae.”
“If you need a little assistance just yell,” Draevyn said with a laugh.
Samwell gave him a mocking salute before turning on his heel and heading back through the door with Tommy.
Esmyra still hadn’t spoken to him since that day she sank his ship all those months ago. She wondered if he still hated her. She wouldn’t blame him if he did, and frankly, she didn’t particularly care.
But he was here, so that must’ve counted for something.
And Tommy… he hadn’t even looked at her since they rescued her.
If he didn’t forgive her, she may not be able to forgive herself.
Tommy had been kind to her. He’d cared enough to ask her about herself the night she sank Draevyn’s original ship.
And even tried to give fatherly advice after explaining he became a privateer after Blackwood’s beast sank his ship decades ago.
Her heart twisted at the memory, and from having been that beast. Twice now for him in particular.
Once they were out of sight, Jak stepped up to Jenli’s hammock. “I was serious about that favor. We need to speak with you. Alone.”
Jenli tilted her head. “Ah. So, it appears this isn’t a fun little family visit.” Her front teeth sank into her bottom lip. “Business, I presume?”
“Serious business,” he said firmly, casting a glance toward the others still moving about. “Business not even privy to her crew yet. And we would like to keep it that way if possible.”
She hummed and gave a lazy nod. “Come on, then. We’ll go to my bedchamber where it’s more private.”
Draevyn gave Esmyra a curious look and she shrugged.
Jenli leapt out of her hammock and led the three of them up the stairs. They climbed higher than the others had dared, past the obvious doorways, until they reached what seemed to be a dead end of a wall covered by tapestries.
But when Jenli waved a hand, her vines crept along the walls like obedient snakes and drew back one of the tapestries, revealing a hidden chamber wrapped in vibrant color.
The room was circular, the walls hidden beneath layers of deep green and bright tapestries embroidered with gold thread. Small candles sat on curling branches overhead, alongside glowing fungi that cast a soft amber light.
A large, round mattress sat nestled against the far wall on the floor, with plush, mismatched quilts and pillows piled on top. The floor was layered with thick rugs, and strange trinkets hung from the ceiling like crystals, bones, and dried flowers.
The room didn’t feel cold like a throne room, or the barracks below the deck of her ship. It felt like a tiny little sanctuary hidden in the heart of their realm’s most dangerous forest.
It felt safe.
“Make yourselves at home,” she said, flopping onto her bed. “Now, what was it you needed to ask of me? And why were you blubbering about gods out in the swamp?” Her eyes grew sharp, flicking between the three of them.
A long silence stretched between them.
Jak averted his gaze to the floor, Esmyra was at a loss for words, and Draevyn stood rigid at her side.
Because where could they even begin?
Esmyra finally stepped forward. “How much do you know about Rymelle’s gods?”
Jenli stiffened. The color drained from her face, and the air in the room thickened. She no longer seemed playful or indifferent, but wary and guarded.
“That is a part of my life I’ve buried,” she said coldly. Her stare moved to Jak, who still refused to look her in the eye.
Esmyra glared at him, wondering what he must’ve left out of the story as they journeyed here.
“And I don’t dig up corpses. Nothing good will ever come of that. Has anyone ever told you that curiosity killed the owl?” Jenli finished.
“It’s cat. Curiosity killed the cat,” Jak grumbled.
Jenli lifted a finger. “Keep asking questions and they’re going to change the phrase, cousin.”
“We wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important,” Jak rushed out. “You know I would never come to you with this if it wasn’t necessary. If it wasn’t life or death.”
She leaned forward. “You think it’s that simple? Tell me, Jak, do they even know what goes on in the temples?”
“That’s why we’re here,” Esmyra admitted, stepping forward. “Now I know whatever goes on with the gods and their High Priests and Priestesses is the best kept secret of our world, but you escaped. And you must have a reason.”
Jenli’s eyes narrowed. “Jak, what the hells have you told them?”
“Only that I helped you hide.”
“He made it clear it’s your story to tell,” Esmyra cut in.
“But I’m running out of time. And I already know from others that High Priestesses were once known as the realm’s witches.
That when you sacrificed your life to your god to live out your days in the temple, you were granted a greater power than the rest of their subjects. ”
“Wait, they do?” Draevyn asked.
Jenli’s head cocked to the side, a small smirk forming as she stared at Esmyra. “And what else do you know?”
“Your power depends on whichever god you serve. And with you serving Villaem—”
“My power is rooted in the earth itself, and its magic is woven through my veins,” Jenli said, cutting her off. “The art of apothecary is my craft, yet my knowledge extends to all the gifts our land offers, versed in every secret of soil, root, and stone.”
“So, potions?” Draevyn guessed.
“I would say that’s the very baseline.” Jenli pointed to the far wall that was lined with shelves that stretched from the floor to the ceiling, littered with vials of all colors and sizes.
“But it takes more than only the knowledge to brew what I have. A teardrop of blood must be sacrificed, carrying the essence of the divine.”
Confusion seeped into Esmyra. “A drop of blood?”
“No,” Jenli whispered. “I meant tears. They need to be true tears too, drawn out by only raw emotion. Once the blood drops into the brew, it’s a symbol of Villaem granting it power.”
Her brows drew together. “Your tears are blood?” She looked back to the wall, her eyes roaming over the hundreds of bottles.
“I’ve been here for many years. Many emotional, lonely years.” Jenli shrugged. “So, I put them to use.”
“I can see that,” Esmyra said, turning back to face her.
Jenli crossed her arms. “But what makes you think you can storm in here demanding I unravel secrets of the gods for you? Gods you barely understand.”
Esmyra took another step toward her, her brows creasing as frustration settled into her. “I don’t barely understand it.” Her stare drifted between Draevyn and Jak, the latter nodding his head in approval. “I am it.”
Jenli stared at her for a long moment, her eyes narrowing. “What does that mean?”
Esmyra let out a breath. “Showing you would be easier than explaining.”
Still, Jenli hesitated, her fingers twitching against the quilts. Then finally, she released a slow, resigned sigh as she stood. “Fine. Show me.”
As the silence stretched, Draevyn moved without a word. He crossed the room and swept his hand across the tapestry curtains, pulling them closed in case the crew came up to investigate.
“Have you ever heard of velsinyte?” Esmyra asked.
Jenli’s eyes flared instantly. “How do you know of that?”
Esmyra stepped forward before turning her back toward the woman. Draevyn was at her side instantly, but she could feel the tension radiating off of him.
“As I said, I can show you better than I can tell you.” Her fingers reached behind her collar and slowly tugged the fabric up over her head.
Jenli’s breath caught as Esmyra revealed the black marks bleeding beneath her skin. She could feel them as they pulsed faintly, alive with some dark, silent hunger as they fed off her magic.
“I’ve only ever heard whispers,” Jenli murmured, voice hushed now. “It’s supposed to be locked away from our world. I never thought it was real.”
“Well, it is.” Esmyra pulled her shirt back on and turned around to face her alongside Draevyn and Jak. “And it’s killing me.”