by C. J. Archer
"There were a lot of things I wished I'd told you last time you left but never got the chance," the Master of Merdu's Guards said. "I repeated them in my head dozens of times, and promised myself that if I did have the chance to say goodbye to you, I would speak them aloud." He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. "But now I find I can't remember the words."
"There's no need for this," Balthazar said. "I know I'm old but I have no intention of dying on this journey."
"But do you have any intention of coming back?"
Balthazar looked away.
"I wish you were content here," Rhys went on. "I wish you wanted to stay with us, your friends. Your brothers. But I understand your need to learn more. I wouldn't say I'm happy for you to leave, but I'm satisfied that this is your new calling."
Balthazar lifted his gaze to Rhys's, and Rhys suddenly drew him into a fierce hug. When he let him go, Balthazar rested both hands on the head of his walking stick, shoulders hunched. "I'll write."
Dane assisted Balthazar onto the wagon seat beside Max. I had already said my goodbyes to the palace servants and now I shook each of the priests' hands in turn. When I came to Rhys, he didn't let my hand go.
"Take care of him, Josie," he murmured. "He's like a father to me."
"I'll try," I assured him. "If he'll let me."
He smiled sadly and released my hand.
I joined Max and Balthazar on the driver's seat, and we set off. Kitty had been smuggled into the back of the covered wagon with our luggage, early that morning, and Meg now sat with her. Dane, Erik, Quentin and Theodore rode ahead on their hired mounts. Quentin and Theodore waved to the gathered servants and priests, and Erik blew kisses to the women.
I searched the crowd for Brant and found him standing with the other guards. I released a pent-up breath, glad that he wasn't following us. Our pace would be slow, however, and it would be easy enough for him to catch up.
"Either he is truly happy for me to go or he's a good actor," Balthazar said.
I thought he meant Brant at first, but then I followed his gaze to the powerful figure of the Master of Merdu's Guards. "You still don't trust them?" I asked.
"I don't know, Josie. I really don't."
It took some time to make our way through the busy city to the bridge over the Upway River. Once on the other side, we waited at the checkpoint while Vytill border guards looked through our luggage for taxable goods.
I stood on the riverbank while they worked, and gazed back across the river to Tilting. The king's castle rose above the sea of slate roofs but it was the bell tower of the high temple that drew my eye.
The document conjured by the sorcerer and found in the temple archives had set in motion events that led me here. I was far from my village and I was about to travel far from my country. Trepidation and excitement both gnawed at my gut, but a feeling of hope rose above everything.
Dane drew up beside me. He stood close, our arms touching, and gazed at Tilting too. "You'll be back, Josie," he said quietly.
"I know." But whether I'd be back with or without him remained to be seen.
* * *
Available from 5th May 2020:
THE PRISON OF BURIED HOPES
the 5th book in the After The Rift series
A Message From The Author
I hope you enjoyed reading THE TEMPLE OF FORGOTTEN SECRETS as much as I enjoyed writing it. As an independent author, getting the word out about my book is vital to its success, so if you liked this book please consider telling your friends and writing a review at the store where you purchased it. If you would like to be contacted when I release a new book, subscribe to my newsletter at http://cjarcher.com/contact-cj/newsletter/.
Also by C.J. Archer
SERIES WITH 2 OR MORE BOOKS
After The Rift
Glass and Steele
The Ministry of Curiosities Series
The Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy
The 1st Freak House Trilogy
The 2nd Freak House Trilogy
The 3rd Freak House Trilogy
The Assassins Guild Series
Lord Hawkesbury's Players Series
Witch Born
SINGLE TITLES NOT IN A SERIES
Courting His Countess
Surrender
Redemption
The Mercenary's Price
About the Author
C.J. Archer has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She spent her early childhood in the dramatic beauty of outback Queensland, Australia, but now lives in suburban Melbourne with her husband, two children and a mischievous black & white cat named Coco.
Subscribe to C.J.'s newsletter through her website to be notified when she releases a new book, as well as get access to exclusive content and subscriber-only giveaways. Her website also contains up to date details on all her books: http://cjarcher.com She loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through email [email protected] or follow her on social media to get the latest updates on her books:
