Read Online Fathoms of Forgiveness (Sacred Breath, Book 2) by Nadia Scrieva - Free Book Online

authoritative ones in their respective environments, yet they were both able to sacrifice that control and defer to the other when necessary. Despite a few hiccups early in their relationship, their implicit mutual trust made the transitions from his world to hers relatively seamless. He imagined that switching back would be just as easy.
    As long as they were together, he was fairly confident that no changes, however titanic they might be, could ever faze him again. Trevain’s eyes fell upon the smoke behind Aazuria, and he was momentarily distracted from his thoughts. The mock eruption was beautiful in an exotic and morbid way.
    “If people see this, are they really going to believe it’s a volcano?” he asked.
    Aazuria shrugged. “There are plenty of small eruptions that people hardly notice. Even these days, with all of your new machines. Some areas are just so secluded, and some eruptions are so small.” She gestured behind her to the volcano. “It is realistic.”
    “Even without any seismic activity?” Trevain asked skeptically.
    “There is always seismic activity here.” Aazuria forced a small smile. “This is the ring of fire, after all.”
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 7: Violin or Clarinet
     

     
     
    Gingerly and afraid, Aazuria extended her arms.
    Elandria moved forward within the warm, salty mineral water and hugged Aazuria around the waist rather aggressively, to assert that she was feeling better. She gave the older woman a reassuring smile before pulling away to converse with her hands.
    “ Sionna told me everything. I am so happy that you were able to defeat Atargatis. I must admit that when she shot me I spent my last seconds of consciousness fearing the worst for you. I cried tears of joy to learn that you were alive and well. Poor Corallyn. She was so distraught about the whole situation. How is she? Why has she not come to visit me?”
    Aazuria reached out and gently touched Elandria’s long white braid which floated in the water. The water was dark, but the tapetum lucidum in her eyes allowed her to take in enough light to make out her sister’s face and figure. She swallowed before responding. She hated to lie to her noble sister who had always been completely honest with everyone.
    “ Corallyn is doing well. She will come visit you soon.”
    “ Thank heavens,” Elandria signed. She smiled, moving a hand down to clutch her chest. The arrow had gone through her back and pierced her heart. It had taken a strained combination of modern medicine and traditional healing methods to save her. “ I have been so concerned about Corallyn’s state of mind. I wish I could speak with her. Imagine learning that your mother is alive only to lose her straightaway!”
    Aazuria did not know exactly how to respond. She nodded slowly before moving her hands. “ I am sure that Coral will be just fine. The most upsetting thing to her in this whole mess was that you were injured. Now that you are recovering, her spirits will improve.”
    “I hope so,” Elandria signed. “ Please let her know that I will be perfectly fine. I will return to the castle once Sionna allows it.”
    “I will tell her,” Aazuria said, almost cringing as she formed the lies with her hands.
    Elandria immediately picked up on her discomfort. “What is wrong? Aazuria, why are you being dishonest with me?”
    “I… have to go,” Aazuria said. She swam to the edge of the hot spring and lifted herself out quickly, in such a swift motion that Elandria could not protest. Aazuria frowned to see Naclana standing there, with his eyes downcast. A gallon of dread socked her in the gut.
    “Naclana, what’s wrong?” she asked anxiously.
    Elandria was carefully lifting herself out of her healing pod as her sister spoke, and she had to take a moment to adjust to breathing the air. Usually, the transition was more or less seamless, but she had been instructed not to leave the water at all until her health was less delicate. She had