“Alluria, I don’t want you to give up your life for me,” he began, but she pressed her lips to his.
“I’ll give up nothing but that which keeps us apart,” she murmured against his lips. “Do you not want me to do so?”
“Dea comora, all I desire is you.” Caol’nir nestled her against his chest. “Have you never noticed how well you fit in my arms, how you are the perfect height for me to kiss, how my hands fit around your waist? I wonder if you weren’t made for me.” He stroked her hair for a moment, smoothing down the soft strands. “You were meant to be mine; I’ve thought that from the first moment I saw you. I will stand by your side, no matter what sort of life you choose.”
Alluria smiled. “I chose you long ago.”
Chapter Ten
Caol’nir and Alluria left his chamber once the child sun had risen. Caol’nir first checked the corridor, ensuring it was empty, then he beckoned her to follow. With Alluria walking a few paces ahead of Caol’nir it looked as if he was merely escorting her though the palace, not returning her to the temple after a night spent in his chambers. As they approached the temple’s northern entrance, they noted a flurry of activity, and Caol’nir stepped in front of Alluria.
“What has happened?” he demanded of the con’dehr at the door. The guard indicated the cells and stated that the god had come, but it had gone…badly. Caol’nir strode toward the cells, ignoring the pleas of others to keep back. When he entered the tiny room, he lost his breath as his stomach heaved.
Whatever had been with the priestess had ripped the girl to pieces, most of which were smeared across the walls. The girl’s cot was demolished, the sleeping furs rent apart and so blood-soaked it looked as if dead animals littered the floor. Caol’nir could only stare, unable to comprehend what could have caused such carnage, when he heard Alluria’s stifled scream.
“I told you to stay back,” he snapped, regretting his harsh words when he saw her terrified eyes. “I need to get you out of here.” Taking her elbow, he guided her out of the cell lest her bare feet touch what was left of the girl.
“Ethnia,” Alluria murmured.
“What?”
“Ethnia,” she repeated. “Her name was Ethnia.”
Caol’nir frowned, then turned to the con’dehr he’d last spoken to. “Who knows of this?”
“Only the two of us,” he replied. “I was waiting for another guard before I advised your father.”
“Bar the room, and keep all others from entering until me or my father declare otherwise,” Caol’nir ordered. The guard assented, and Caol’nir added, “I’ll see Alluria to her cell.” Once they were inside, Caol’nir pulled her into his arms and carried her to her cot as she collapsed in sobs.
“Is this to be my fate as well?” she wailed. “Murdered within my own temple?” Caol’nir hushed her and stroked her back.
“I will find you a safe temple,” he promised. “I will take you away from here.”
“I don’t want another temple,” she said, her musical voice hoarse with sobs. “I want to be released from this servitude.” Alluria raised her eyes to his, and he was struck by their beauty, even swollen and streaked with tears. “I want you to be with you.”
“I don’t know what to do,” he whispered. “Nalla, I only want you to be safe.”
“Just claim me and end this nightmare,” Alluria said bitterly. “Olluhm hasn’t only forsaken me, he has forsaken us all.”
Caol’nir drew Alluria against his chest and kissed her hair. He wanted her as well, but had no idea how he was supposed to claim a priestess, or a former priestess for that matter. “Before we do anything, we need to go to my father,” he murmured against her neck. “He needs to know what is really happening here.”
###
Once Alluria had progressed from hysterical to despondent, the priestess and her guard made their way to the Prelate’s chambers. They came across Caol’non on the way; the brothers were never far from one another. Caol’non asked why Alluria was so distressed, but his twin replied he would tell him while he told their father.
Upon entering the chamber they found the Prelate conferring with Fiornacht. The two fell silent when they saw the twins, one grim-faced and the other confused, and a priestess who had obviously been crying.
“Has something happened within the temple?” demanded Tor.
“Have you heard what befell a priestess last night?” countered Caol’nir.
“I know that Olluhm came. Is she with child?”
“She’s dead.”
Caol’nir’s father and brothers were stunned, and Alluria whimpered as she covered her face with her hands. Tor told her to sit and she obeyed; as Prelate, he held more authority that the High Priestess and was second only to the king.
“How did she die?” Tor asked slowly.
“She was ripped apart by whatever took her,” Caol’nir replied.
“Why am I just learning this now?” Tor demanded.
“Because the fool you assigned to the morning watch saw fit to wait for another before informing you,” Caol’nir shot back. “I’ve seen her cell, and there is very little left of her.” Alluria’s shuddered, and Caol’nir whispered, “Be strong, this will be done soon.”
“Why are you in the company of a priestess?” demanded Fiornacht.
“Alluria heard the girl screaming last night, and came to me for protection,” Caol’nir replied.
“Came to you in your chamber? And you’re calling that protection? ”sneered Fiornacht.
“It’s my duty to protect all of the priestesses!”
“Then why didn’t you seek out the one who was screaming? Too busy ‘protecting’ this one?”
“Maybe if she’d come to me as well, this wouldn’t have happened!”
“Enough,” shouted Alluria. “She has a name. Her name is Ethnia!” She glared from Caol’nir to Fiornacht, before approaching the elder. “Do not fault Caol’nir for his actions. He is right; I went to him. Ethnia’s screams terrified me, and I didn’t know where else to turn. I surely couldn’t have gone to you, Fiornacht. You would have just as likely taken me as sent me back to my death.”
Caol’non laughed and Fiornacht blanched, for once with no rebuttal, and Alluria turned to Tor.
“Prelate, I beg you not to hold my actions against Caol’nir. I was frightened, and acted foolishly. I can assure you that he remained honorable while I was with him.” Tor regarded the priestess and his son, his eyes hard.
“I have no doubt that my son is honorable. A priestess should feel free to approach any member of the con’dehr, at any time, for any reason; therefore you, Alluria, have done no wrong.” He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin. “Now, on to Ethnia…Alluria, would you like to step away as we discuss this?”
“No,” she stated firmly. “I will hear you out, my lord, in the hopes that none of my other sisters are so harmed.” With that, Alluria went to Caol’nir’s side and stared defiantly at Fiornacht.
The discussion was swift, if one could even call it that. Tor gave Fiornacht the assignment of speaking with Rahlle’s apprentices in order to learn what, if anything, could have breached the sealed temple doors and done harm to a priestess. However, he declined posting additional guards in the temple.
Alluria disagreed. “My lord, I believe I speak for all of my sisters when I say that we no longer feel safe in the temple at night. May we be moved to rooms in the palace until whoever has breached our sacred space has been caught?”
Tor rubbed his chin as he regarded the priestess. “Your words have merit,” he said at length. “I know I wouldn’t sleep a stone’s throw from a recent murder. Caol’nir, can you see to finding accommodations for the sisters who wish for such?”
Caol’nir bowed his head as he agreed to his father’s request. Fiornacht glared at Caol’nir, but held his tongue after a quick look at Alluria’s face. As the two left the Prelate’s chamber, Caol’nir did not remain two paces behind Alluria but walked at her side.
“You kno
w something of my brother and a priestess?” Caol’nir quietly inquired.
“I know nothing at all,” Alluria replied with a knowing smile. “I only wanted him to stop shouting at you. His reaction was interesting, wasn’t it?” He fought the urge to wrap her in his arms right there in the main concourse.
“I’ve been trying to quiet him for years without success, and you do it with a few words. My lady, I could not love you more.”
Caol’nir escorted Alluria back to the temple, and as she gathered her things, he spoke with the High Priestess, Sarelle. She was not pleased to hear that the Prelate had decreed that her priestesses could sleep outside the Great Temple, if they chose. She insisted that removing them would only anger Olluhm. Caol’nir placated her as best he could, but in the end, Sarelle had no choice but to concede to the Prelate’s authority.
Once his conversation with Sarelle had reached its inevitable conclusion, the High Priestess stalked off to give Tor a thorough tongue-lashing. Caol’nir found Alluria in her cell, her belongings neatly packed.
“I’ll put these in your new chamber,” Caol’nir said, taking the sachel.
“What part of the palace will I be in?” she asked.
“You’ll stay with me,” he replied. “Once the suns go to rest, you will not leave my sight.”
###
With that declaration, Caol’nir had bowed his head and left the temple, promising to return before nightfall. For the remainder of the day, Alluria performed her duties as best she could, all the while shadowed by Caol’non. She appreciated that Caol’nir had sent his brother to watch over her, but being followed about by the twin of the man she loved was quite unsettling.
To distract herself from Caol’non, She wondered where Caol’nir and his father were. Maybe Caol’nir was trying to learn what had befallen Ethnia, Tor was speaking with Rahlle, and Fiornacht…
Alluria laughed inwardly as she looked at her fellow priestesses, wondering whom Fiornacht had bedded. She was well acquainted with men like him, who thought the rules did not apply to those in such high positions. The way he belittled Caol’nir, only to disguise his own indiscretions…yes, she knew the type. Now, she just needed to know the girl in question.
As the elder sun went toward his rest, Caol’nir reentered the temple, speaking with his twin for a few moments before he motioned Alluria toward him. Wordlessly she followed, her heart in her throat as they traversed the long corridor to his chamber. She didn’t know how to tell him what she had learned when she had spoken first with Atreynha, and then with Sarelle, or how he would react to hearing it.
###
Caol’nir opened the heavy chamber door for Alluria, and scanned the room. “I don’t know how to do this,” he confessed. “I know we should just act as we always do, but I’ve never been faced with the possibility of having you for the entire night.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean that I would have you, I meant…” Caol’nir shook his head. “Gods, I sound like a fool.”
“It’s fine,” Alluria mumbled. “I’m just so glad I’m here, not where…” She cleared her throat. “Thank you, for allowing me to stay.”
“Of course,” he said. “It’s just that no woman has ever spent the night here. Well, except for you.”
“Well, I promise I won’t try to seduce you.”
Caol’nir smiled as he pulled her against him, shaking his head at her candor. “I should be making you comfortable, not the other way ‘round.” He kissed her forehead and led Alluria to the hearth, but as he sat in a chair she again sat on the floor. Caol’nir shook his head as he got down on the floor across from her, watching her as she stretched out on the thick rug. “How is it that you always go about barefoot, yet your feet are always pristine and white?”
“I practice an ancient art,” Alluria said mysteriously.
“Is it some sort of a spell?” Caol’nir asked
“It is called bathing,” she replied, nudging him with her foot. “You should try it, warrior; it will work for your feet as well.” Alluria laughed at his indignant face.
“Exactly how often do you wash your feet?” he asked.
“Obviously more than you do.”
“You enjoy teasing me, priestess,” Caol’nir rebuked as he crawled toward her on his hands and knees, not stopping until an arm was on each side of her hips and his lips were a hair’s breadth from hers. “I thought you were trained to be demure.”
“I never claimed to be a good student.” Caol’nir brushed his lips against hers; Alluria wound her arms around his neck and kissed him hard and they slowly sank to the floor.
A knock at the door roused them. “I expect that will be our supper,” Caol’nir said; he had thought to speak with the kitchens earlier in the day, knowing that the sight of him and Alluria dining together in the hall would cause rumors neither wanted to deal with. Caol’nir grabbed his cloak and draped it around Alluria’s shoulders, hiding her priestess robes. Fortunately, the saffira who attended them that evening was polite enough to not stare at the woman reclined before his hearth. After she left, they shared a simple meal of bread and stew. Once the bread had been reduced to crumbs, Caol’nir poured two measures of wine. He had no sooner handed it off to Alluria than he caught her smiling into her goblet.
“Does wine always make you smile?” Caol’nir asked.
“I was remembering the first time you brought me wine. I’d just come to Teg’urnan, and I was miserable. Everyone kept saying that I should be glad to be here, that it is a privilege to serve the Great Temple, and that I didn’t know how lucky I was. I just wanted to go home.” She stared into her goblet for a moment, swirling the wine. “I even hated my cell, barren and cold with no windows. My prior cell had beautiful, wide windows, and I could always see the sky.”
Caol’nir tucked Alluria’s hair behind her ear. “I had no idea you were so sad. If I’d known, I would have tried to help you.”
Alluria turned to kiss his open palm. “You did. It was my fourth morning in Teg’urnan, and as I lit the censers a warrior had the audacity to approach me, his face split by a silly grin.”
Caol’nir laughed softly, remembering their awkward first conversation. “I was afraid you’d shout at me, and send me away.”
“I nearly did! But then you held out a jug of golden eastern wine, not the horrible red wine they have here in the palace, and said you thought I might like something of home.” She looked at the pale liquid in her goblet as she smiled. “You were the only one who understood that I might be homesick, and I had never even spoken to you. How did you know?”
“I didn’t. I only knew that if I was suddenly taken away from the only home I’d ever known, I would miss it terribly.” Caol’nir dipped his finger in his goblet and stroked Alluria’s lower lip with his damp fingertip, then bent to kiss her. “All I knew of the east was that their grapes are white, not red. If I had to do it again, I would bring you herbs instead.”
“The wine was perfect,” she said as she stifled a yawn.
“Are you tired?” he asked, and she nodded. “You may have the bed, I’ll stay here.”
Alluria raised her head, her brows peaked. “You don’t want to share your bed with me?”
“I didn’t think you’d want that.”
“Now you know better,” she said as she rose. Caol’nir quickly stood behind her, and then he swept her into his arms and carried her to the mound of furs. Alluria squealed as she twined her arms around his neck, and he murmured for her to be silent lest someone come to her rescue. Caol’nir sat on the edge of the sleeping platform, holding Alluria in his lap while avoiding her eyes.
“Is it true?” He asked; tradition dictated that if a man was so bold as to claim a priestess Olluhm would strike him dead before he completed the act.
“While I personally do not know, I can tell you that most priestesses are not nearly as chaste as they pretend to be.” Caol’nir raised an eyebrow, and she giggled. “Many here in Teg’urnan are certainly not virgi
ns, regardless of whether they have been honored by our god.”
“You mean to tell me that I, and my father and brothers, have dedicated our lives to keeping you women untouched, and we are failing miserably?”
Alluria nestled herself against his chest. “The incidents I know of have not happened here, under your watchful eye, but at the outlying temples. Why, Alyon has had many lovers.”
“And you, fair maiden?”
“No man but you has ever interested me.” She pulled the thick cable of hair over his shoulder and fingered the leather thong that bound it. “Do you not believe me?”
“I believe you,” he replied softly, cradling her against his chest, “I love you, and I cherish you.” Caol’nir kissed the top of her head and rubbed his cheek against her soft hair, drinking in her sweet, wildflower scent. Alluria’s fingers migrated to the neck of his jerkin and traced the edge of the thick leather.
“Are you…going to…?” Her voice trailed off, leaving the question unfinished but her meaning clear.
“I can sleep in my clothing,” he replied.
“Won’t you be uncomfortable?”
“I’ll be fine.” Alluria tugged at the laces of his jerkin, twining the cords around her fingers.
“I liked the feel of your skin against mine,” she said softly. Alluria turned her face up to his as he kissed her, and Caol’nir forgot that she was a priestess, only recognizing her as the woman he loved. He lay back on the furs as Alluria drew the cords free and parted the heavy leather.
“I wish…I wish I could share one night with you. Just one perfect night...” As Alluria’s voice trailed off she touched his chest, then let her fingers travel to the hard muscles of his abdomen. Caol’nir arched his neck as he moaned; she had no idea that her gentle touch was driving him mad.
“I wish for the same,” he said, his voice hoarse with wanting her. Emboldened by her words, Caol’nir ran his hands down her back, pausing to squeeze the swell of her hips. “You say Alyon has had many lovers?”
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