Death's Angel

by Colin Lindsay

  “You might as well join me,” he said to the air. “She’s your Goddess, isn’t She?”

  Kala was mortified that she’d been caught spying and had no choice but to enter and take a seat near him. “The Goddess and I have a complicated relationship,” she admitted, not understanding it herself.

  “She is hard to fathom,” he agreed. “She spared Forest’s mother and took my brother as payment. She gave me a niece but took my son.” Jarom’s voice faltered at the mention of his son. “She demands balance and I try to accept it. Some days are harder than others.”

  Kala thought about what he’d said while he knelt in silence. The Goddess had spared her repeatedly. What is my price? She wondered.

  Jarom rose, placed a hand on her shoulder, and they walked back together, careful not to wake the others on their return.

  In the morning, Kala borrowed the habit of one of Grey’s priestess companions so that she could sneak a visit with Eden. She pulled up the hood, lowered her head, and hurried off to Eden’s room. She stopped by the dining hall on the way and picked up a basket of fruit and cheese.

  Arriving at Eden’s door, she nodded to the guard stationed outside and knocked.

  Eden opened the door a moment later, paint smudges on her fingers and cheeks. Her eyes went wide when she recognized Kala.

  “The lunch you asked for,” Kala said and communicated with her eyes to play along.

  “Thank you, but I didn’t mean to make you bring it here, only to have it ready for me so I could bring it back here. Would you like to come in and share it with me?”

  “That’s kind of you, but not necessary,” Kala replied, her eyes communicating otherwise.

  “Nonsense. I insist,” Eden told her and whisked her inside, smiling at the guard as she did.

  Ensuring the door was closed, she turned and hugged Kala fiercely, then guided her to the settee far away from the door. “What are you doing here?” she asked her once they’d sat down, holding hands.

  “I’d like to say I’m just here to visit, but I have to confess that I have a favor to ask.”

  “Anything.”

  “Can you copy the exterior of a book if I brought it to you?”

  “Of course. How close a copy?”

  “An exact replica,” Kala admitted sheepishly.

  “Ooh, okay. That’s tougher, but it can be done if I have the right supplies. What can you tell me about the book?”

  Kala gave her all the details that Brother Grey had relayed to her.

  “I’ll have to pick up a blank manuscript from the library, but that would be noticed because the project I just started doesn’t require one,” Eden told her.

  “I might be able to help with that,” Kala told her. “I’ll stop there and get as close a replica as I can from Tallie.”

  “You’ll have to show her the book you want copied, and she’ll know something fishy is going on.”

  “That’s a chance I’ll have to take,” Kala concluded. “I think Tallie likes me, so I hope that counts for something.” She looked at her friend and wiped a smudge of paint off her nose. “By the gods, it’s good to see you,” she said.

  Eden leaned in and hugged her again. “I want to know everything about your adventures since you left.”

  Kala shifted uncomfortably. “I went to Bayre, the city marked as ‘capital’ on your maps.” She paused, not sure how to say the next part. “I met Skye there,” she finally confessed.

  Eden stiffened but tried to mask it by rolling her shoulder muscles as if to loosen them. “That’s good,” she lied. “Is he here?” she asked.

  “He is,” Kala admitted.

  “Please don’t bring him here. I’d die of embarrassment.”

  Kala took Eden’s hands in hers. “He’s so sorry, Eden. I think he’d die of embarrassment before you would.”

  “Well, that makes me feel better,” Eden said through a smile. “That probably makes me a terrible person.”

  “Hardly. He was a jerk, and he knows it. You’re one of the most wonderful people I know. Sometimes when my life goes to hell, I cling to a picture of you in my mind, and I remind myself why I don’t just curl up in a ball and hide from the world.”

  “You’re sweet,” Eden gushed and turned to the fruit and cheese. “We can eat this, right? I’m starving.”

  “I’m famished too,” Kala replied, and Eden took that as permission to cut up the fruit. They chatted while they ate their lunch. “I’d better be going,” Kala said reluctantly and got up to go.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Eden replied, equally sad to see her go. Eden opened the door for her while Kala flipped up the hood of her habit and stepped into the hallway. Eden stopped her and said loud enough for the guard to hear, “Thank you, priestess, that was a welcome diversion. I’ll be illustrating a tricky part tomorrow, and I have precious little vermillion. Can I trouble you to bring breakfast and dinner to my room? I don’t want to be a bother, but I don’t think I can risk letting the paint dry out while I make the trek to the dining hall.”

  “It’s no bother, miss,” Kala replied. “What would you like?”

  “Anything, I’m not particular, but something sizable enough that I can skip lunch.”

  “As you wish, miss,” Kala replied, nodded to the guard, and walked away briskly as Eden returned to her painting.

  Kala returned to the building they were hiding in, but on the way, she was startled to see the Priestess striding across the temple grounds. She tried not to freeze, remembering Grey’s warning about the Priestess’s observing the slightest details. She continued walking nonchalantly, and soon the Priestess disappeared around a corner. Kala sighed in relief.

  Entering the winery building, she told Grey, “I saw her. She’s here.”

  “The Priestess?” Grey asked.

  “Yes,” Kala confirmed.

  “That’s not a problem. I assumed she’d be here. I scouted around, and I saw another of the oracles descend into the catacombs this morning. The Priestess will most likely take her turn at receiving prophecy tomorrow, and that will give us the better part of the day to exchange the book.”

  Kala filled him in on the details of her visit with Eden and her plan to obtain a blank manuscript from the head librarian tomorrow. He looked unhappy to be involving so many people. “Can’t you just steal a blank book?” he asked.

  “Probably, but I have no idea where Tallie keeps them, and she’d procure a better match if I asked her than if I did it behind her back.”

  Grey begrudgingly accepted her plan. They spent most of the day cooped up in the building while Grey’s companions brought them things they requested to replace what they’d left behind when they’d fled Soren’s forces. Jarom’s people were exceedingly grateful, especially when one procured a couple of bottles of wine, unasked.

  By evening, despite the glow of a pleasant glass of wine, Kala couldn’t stand to be confined any longer and grabbed Skye. “Let me show you the gardens.”

  Grey pursed his lips but didn’t actually tell her it was a bad idea.

  Kala led Skye on infrequently-traveled paths until they arrived at the deserted gardens. “There was no one here the last time, either,” she observed out loud, and led him to an out-of-the-way bench where they sat down, held hands, and took in the beauty around them.

  “Eden wasn’t too happy to learn that you’re here,” Kala told him.

  “Why’d you tell her then?” he complained.

  “I’m not going to lie to her. I thought you realized the inappropriateness of lying to her.”

  “Of course,” he replied, “but it doesn’t mean we have to tell her everything either.”

  “We didn’t gossip about you like a couple of schoolgirls, if that’s what you think.”

  “I don’t think that – I just don’t want to remind her of that episode.”

  “That’s big of you.”

  “I’m serious. I was a heel, and I don’t want to be reminded of it either.”

 
“I like her,” Kala told him. “I’m not going to avoid her just to make you feel better.”

  “That’s not what I was suggesting. Oh gods, never mind. I’ll just take my punishment as necessary.”

  “That’s the attitude,” Kala told him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “You really were a heel,” she concluded, snuggling in.

  “Thanks for letting me live it down,” he replied, stroking her hair.

  He leaned down and kissed her cheek. She purred and shifted her position to meet his lips with hers. He took his time, each kiss an exploration. Her pulse quickened as he moved to kiss her neck. His hot breath in her ear sent a thrill up her spine, and a moan escaped her lips.

  She rose quickly and spun to kneel across his lap, straddling him. He shifted under her as she took his head in her hands and kissed him passionately, running her fingers through his thick hair.

  The creak of an opening gate made them freeze. Footsteps on gravel followed, and they reluctantly pulled apart and quietly fled the gardens. They returned to the building in the vineyards near dark, still flush and cursing the lack of privacy.

  The next day, Kala and Grey woke early and headed to the Priestess’s quarters, but stayed as far away as they could and still be able to see her leave. They busied themselves while waiting by pretending to prune a row of bushes. They didn’t have to wait long, as Grey assured her they wouldn’t, before the Priestess left her quarters and headed for the catacombs.

  Once she was out of view, they hurried to her room. Kala turned the knob and found it locked as she suspected it would be and began to pull out pins to pick the lock, but Grey pulled a key out of his pocket. Kala put her lock-picking tools away. “You’re really going to have to tell me sometime what you’re doing with a key to her chambers,” she told him.

  “Today is not the day,” he told her and turned the key in the lock, opening the door to her room. He moved around her bed and carefully slid a book from between two others on the bookshelf beside her bed. He handed it to Kala, along with the key. “Return the copy exactly as we found it, or she’ll notice,” he told her unnecessarily.

  “Got it,” she replied and hurried to the library, leaving Grey to lock up behind her.

  She slipped through the main door of the library and headed straight for Tallie’s office, rather than to the front desk. She peeked her head in and knocked when she saw the head librarian bent over some records at her desk.

  Tallie looked up, and her eyes widened with recognition. “What brings you by?” she asked warmly.

  “I am on a clandestine mission,” Kala confided.

  “The best kind,” Tallie smiled conspiratorially and leaned back in her chair.

  “I need to make an exact copy of a book, at least its exterior. Do you have a blank manuscript that is as identical as possible to the original?”

  “Hard to say without seeing the book. Show it to me.”

  Kala handed her over the book.

  Tallie took it and looked it over. She turned it over and examined the front cover, then froze. “It’s not possible,” she said.

  Kala was deflated.

  “Oh, no, dear. I didn’t mean it wasn’t possible to make a copy. I can help you with that. I meant that it’s not possible that they exist. They’re a myth.”

  “Who’s a myth?” Kala asked.

  “You don’t know? It’s your book. Where did you get it?”

  “The less you know, the better, but truth be told, I have no idea what’s in that book.”

  “Then I’m not going to be the one to tell you.” Tallie glanced at her supply cabinet, but then rose. “I don’t have anything here that would pass for the age of this book. Let me see what I’ve got in the back. Do you mind if I take it with me?”

  Kala was nervous about letting the book out of her sight, but her instincts told her that she could trust the librarian. “By all means,” she told her.

  Tallie carried the book the way one might a priceless treasure or an explosive and headed into her back rooms while Kala waited in her office. Tallie re-emerged a moment later with a second tome that looked to be the same size, color, and vintage. “This is the best I’ve got,” Tallie told her.

  “It looks perfect,” Kala told her.

  “I wish I could say that you’re right. You’re playing with fire with that book. Good luck.”

  Kala stepped around the desk and hugged her. “You’re amazing,” she told her and rushed out while Tallie sat back down, muttering to herself.

  Kala swung by the dining hall and picked up some convincing breakfast food that she placed carefully on top of the books, which she hid under a napkin. She then rushed over to Eden’s as quickly as she could without drawing attention to herself.

  She greeted the guard outside Eden’s door and knocked. Eden opened the door. “Just put it down on the table, priestess.”

  “As you wish, miss,” Kala replied and entered her room, peeling the napkin back to reveal the hidden books.

  Eden nodded and shooed her out. “Thank you, priestess.”

  “Would it be okay if I brought your dinner by a bit before sundown?”

  Eden cringed at the thought of having to do such intricate work so quickly but steeled herself for a day of hard work. “That would be fine. Could I trouble you to take away the remains of breakfast when you return?”

  “Not a problem, miss,” Kala told her and took her leave. She swung past the dining hall again and selected a few foods that she thought her party would appreciate, then headed back to their hideout at the winery.

  Kala burst in and seeing Grey sitting on his bedroll, cornered him. “What the hell is in that book?” she asked.

  “Tsk. Language,” he chided her.

  She looked over at her swords and gave serious consideration to beating an answer out of him.

  He sighed and motioned for her to sit close beside him, which she did reluctantly. “It’s the history of the anti-Church, an order of fighting priestesses that doesn’t share the orthodoxy of the Church. They’re rumored to intervene in the world, but not the way the Church does when it prunes it back.” He said it so lightly that Kala cringed. “It’s widely believed that they’re a myth, but I know otherwise,” Grey continued.

  “How do you know?”

  “The Priestess used to be one of them. None were her equal, but she did not accept their philosophy, so she broke with them and came here. Why do you think she’s so fearsome?”

  “She doesn’t seem so fearsome.”

  “She is. Don’t you remember that I told you she was the one that trained me? Believe me when I say that ‘fearsome’ is an understatement.”

  “What have I dragged Eden and Tallie into?” Kala despaired.

  “Our only hope, I assure you,” he replied, but she was not reassured.

  “If any harm befalls them, I will hold you responsible.”

  “Without their help, harm will befall us all. It’s only a matter of what manner of harm befalls us and how far in the future it does. We’re trying to remedy that,” he reminded her.

  She got up and stalked over to the others.

  “That didn’t look like a friendly conversation,” Skye observed.

  She handed him some fruit and some rare cheeses. He took some and passed the rest along to the others.

  “It’s okay,” Kala replied. “I just fear that I may have put Eden and Tallie in grave danger.”

  “That’s not good,” he agreed.

  “Desperate times call for desperate measures,” she sighed and took a bite of fruit herself.

  Kala waited until near sundown, then headed out to see Eden. She grabbed a plausible dinner from the dining hall and went to her quarters. No sooner had she knocked than an exhausted Eden opened the door.

  She nodded at the guard and shepherded Kala inside. “I’m beat,” Eden told her. “Can you lay it out for me?” she asked and closed the door on the guard. She pulled Kala over near the balcony.

  “Do you know what yo
u brought me?” she asked Kala.

  “I’m so sorry, Eden. I wasn’t told what it was until after I brought it here.”

  “If the forgery is discovered, my life is forfeit,” Eden told her.

  “I know. I’m sorry. Do you want me to take you away from here to safety?”

  “I imagine that would raise suspicions.”

  “Probably,” Kala had to admit.

  “Then, you can’t. I’ve been worrying about it all day. I’m trusting you with my life,” she concluded and handed Kala the basket containing the books that she’d re-wrapped in the napkin and placed the uneaten fruit and rolls on top.

  Kala hugged her. “I’ll do my best to merit that trust.”

  Eden opened the door for her. “Thank you for dinner, priestess, and for taking away what I didn’t have for breakfast and lunch.”

  “My pleasure, miss,” Kala replied and turned to go.

  “Wait a moment,” the guard stopped her.

  Kala turned slowly to face him, and he beckoned for the basket. Kala held it out toward him. He reached in and pulled out a pear. “I hope you don’t mind, miss,” he said to Eden.

  “Not at all,” Eden replied, relieved, and retreated into her room to still her racing heart.

  Kala nodded to the guard and withdrew as well. She felt in her pocket for the key to the Priestess’s quarters and hurried there. She was crossing the commons when she spied Brother Grey shaking his head subtly and motioning with his eyes toward the academic building. The Priestess exited, rubbing her temples.

  Kala ducked into the doorway of the building that contained the Priestess’s chambers, despite Grey’s vehement objections from across the commons. She raced for her door and opened it with the key as quickly as she could. She swung it open quickly, stepped inside, and closed it behind her, hurriedly locking it, and pocketing the key. Hearing the Priestess’s footsteps, Kala pulled the replica from the basket and slid it into place between the neighboring books. As the Priestess turned the key in the lock, Kala placed the basket in her teeth and swung out the window. She ducked her head below the sill just as the door opened and froze, hanging on for dear life to the stone wall. She heard the Priestess moving about the room while she prayed that she wouldn’t be spotted clinging to the wall outside her window. She heard the Priestess sit down at her desk and begin transcribing her visions. Kala began to shimmy down the wall as quietly as she could. Her arms shook from the effort, and she breathed heavily through her nose as she descended into the bushes below. Stepping out onto the grass, she turned to see Brother Grey talking to a pair of young monks, keeping their attention focused away from her.