Granna's eyes widened. "Impossible. What killed me was no virus. I know because I made myself sick. It was not contagious."
“You did what?” Tressa’s hands shook. The lies of omission piled on top of each other like stones on a cairn, stacked precariously over the remains of their relationship.
“It was time for me to leave. I took a draught that would mimic illness and death. But I took it too soon. I thought I’d be around long enough to see you leave. I can assure you, what took me wasn’t the same thing that killed the other villagers. Their paranoia led them to a false conclusion.” Granna patted Tressa’s hands.
The explanation didn’t calm her. It only fueled her anger. “But others died within the week, suffering the same symptoms as you. Though by the time Bastian fought his way back through the fog and returned to the village, the virus had died out. No one else was sickened.” Tressa rubbed her chin and looked at her great-grandmother. “Does this have anything to do with the honey?”
Granna’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you asking about the honey?”
So she knew something. She had to. “I know the Red was after it and that it’s tied to the bees in Hutton’s Bridge. If you know something, I want you to tell me. Lives have been put on the line too many times. I’m tired of not knowing why.”
“I don’t have answers for you, Tressa. We also know the honey is important to the Red. Mestifito has spent his life trying to discover their reasons, but he has yet to find one. There is much mystery surrounding the honey.”
Tressa stood. “I don’t believe you. After all the secrets and lies, how can I believe anything you say?” She stormed out of the room, leaving Granna behind.
Chapter Eleven
A man stood outside her door, his heels together, toes pointed out. A sword hung from his waist.
Avital bowed. "Hello."
Tressa started, her back hitting the door. “What are you doing here?” Jarrett’s brother was the last person she expected to see in the Charred Barrens. She hadn’t heard anything about him since sneaking into Malum the night of the Descent Festival. In the chaos, Jarrett had lost track of his brother. He’d assured everyone Avital could take care of himself.
“I saw the Black dragons arrive during the fight. I also saw you and Jarrett fly away on one. I stole a horse and rode down to the Charred Barrens as fast as I could. For days I wandered through the dead forest, calling out Jarrett’s name. One of the people found me and escorted me down here, promising the two of you would be arriving soon.” Avital looked over Tressa’s shoulder. “Is my brother in there?”
“No.” Tressa glanced warily at the door. She didn’t want to introduce her great-grandmother to Avital. Not after the fight they’d had. Tressa grabbed Avital’s elbow, propelling him down the hall. “Jarrett stayed in the Drowned Country. He’s helping my friends find something they lost.”
“Then I will accompany you.” The words were friendly, but Avital’s expression wasn’t. They had an uneasy relationship. When Avital was around Jarrett, he came off as jovial and carefree. But he’d decided early on Tressa was a threat to his brother, and he treated her warily as one might a potential foe.
"It's not necessary," Tressa said. “If you want, I can inquire about getting a dragon to take you back to the Sands."
Avital crossed his arms over his chest. "Perhaps I should keep an eye on you.”
“Go back to your room,” Tressa said with a wave of her hand. “I’ll make sure someone finds you a way home.” She walked away, hoping he'd stay at her door, but he followed just paces behind her. Tressa increased the clip of her stride. Avital kept pace.
Tressa stopped abruptly and spun around. "Okay." She held up a hand.
Avital stopped, just an arm's reach away. "Yes?"
"I have to find a place to use the privy. Do you need to follow me there, too?"
"No. But I plan on waiting outside the door." Avital tapped his foot. “I don’t trust you, Tressa. I told you that once. Until I know I’ll be given leave to head back to the Sands, I’m going to stay close to you.”
"I may be in there for a while."
"I have nothing better to do than wait for you," Avital said. "So I will be here when you emerge."
Tressa rolled her eyes and stepped into the women's bathing room, letting the door slam behind her. Through the rising steam, she saw that the large, circular pool of water with steam rising was filled with females, from toddlers to women as old as Granna had been when she died.