had lived a violent life. This girl had done nothing. Nothing. Gods damn it all, how could he kill her while she was praying? Praying!
Her eyes had still not opened. He had a chance. He had a choice. Kayla’s words flashed through his head.
…you must keep Haern hidden and safe. Keep him alive. Can you do that for me?
If he killed the girl, he’d be killing the part of him that he called Haern. The part that could love Kayla. The part that wasn’t wholly enmeshed with his father.
Aaron sheathed the dagger and stepped back out of sight. He leaned against the wall on the opposite side of the refuse bin. A soft sigh escaped his lips, unheard through her sobs. His eyes lifted to the sky, and there he saw Kayla watching him from the rooftops.
His heart leapt in his chest. His legs turned to water. How long had she watched? Had she even known his task in the bloody affair?
As if in answer, she blew him a kiss and then leapt away.
“Please, Ashhur, please give him back,” he heard the girl beg. “Ashhur, please, I can’t, I can’t…”
He ran, unable to listen to any more.
12
V eliana wondered what James would think if he saw her like this. Her eyes were blindfolded by one of Eliora’s wraps. She detected the faintest hint of sweat on it. She kept her hands at her sides, thankfully they weren’t tied. Eliora didn’t seem worried that she’d run off, but she had insisted quite strongly that she not. She had sworn her life to the faceless. If she tried to leave, her life would be forfeit, for it was no longer hers. It was Karak’s.
It seemed appropriate enough, so she thanked Karak that the streets were so empty. At least, they sounded empty. Eliora rushed her along at dizzying speed. If the other faceless women were nearby, she wasn’t aware of them.
Veliana’s knowledge of the streets was superb. With every turn she tracked where they were. A few times she had to guess, and the speed in which they hurried was no help, but no matter the twists and loops they made, she was certain they had traveled into the northeastern district.
They stopped. A gate rattled. Eliora yanked the cloth from Veliana’s eyes to let her see. Before her towered the temple to Karak, impressive with its black-marble and rows of pillars. Through a trick of her eyes, she swore she saw the lion skull hanging above the door turn and rattle its teeth.
“Welcome to their home,” Eliora said.
The doors opened. They were ushered in by a young man with a pock-marked face. Once inside the main foyer, the priest left them in between the rows of pews arranged before the giant statue of Karak. Veliana looked around as subtly as she could, doing her best to look unimpressed. In truth, the praying men unnerved her, their ululations stretching too loud and too long. The very air seemed thick with energy. It felt like magic.
“Who have we come to speak with?” Veliana asked.
“For matters of such importance, we must speak with the high priest. His name is Pelarak, and the name he carries is a great honor, given by Karak himself when he ascended to his position.” Eliora gestured about the room. “Every man here would throw himself upon a sword to protect Pelarak’s life. Do not fight him, and do not argue, even if he kills me.”
“ Kills you?”
“Hush,” said Eliora. “He approaches.”
An elder man approach from the front of the temple, having just prayed with a young, overweight acolyte. He wiped away a few tears from his eyes and then smiled at Eliora. By the chains he wore, and the way every other priest turned their head and nodded in reverence as he passed, Veliana knew he could only be Pelarak.
“Welcome,” he said.
“Thank you for accepting us, my glorious high priest,” Eliora said, offering a quick bow.
“It is good to hear your voice, Eliora,” Pelarak said.
Veliana found the comment unintentionally biting.
“We must talk in private,” Eliora insisted. “Our time is short, and our matters urgent.”
“I can imagine,” Pelarak said, his kindness fading away as if it were a mirage. “Who have you brought here with you?”
“That is part of what I wish to discuss.”
Pelarak gave Veliana a look that froze her blood. He was dissecting her with his eyes.
“So be it. Follow me.”
He led them to his meager chambers, holding open the door for them like a gentlemen. Once they were inside he closed the door and crossed his arms.
“You have done much without my approval,” Pelarak said. “What madness has come over you?”
“Explain,” Eliora said. She ushered Veliana toward a seat, but no one sat.
“Attacking the Gemcroft home? What part of my orders to remain neutral and apart from the shadow war did you not understand?”
Eliora shrugged her shoulders.
“The Kulls offered land for a temple in Riverrun. They have no connection to either the guilds or the Trifect.”
“Do you think Maynard cares?” Pelarak shook his head. “Karak made it clear as night that we were to remain indifferent. You have put our entire temple in danger because of your recklessness.”
Veliana would have given anything to see behind the white cloth over Eliora’s face.
“What did you tell him,” Eliora asked.
“He threatened to send the starving masses after us. I offered to aid him, but only if we admitted his daughter as a priestess to ensure he made no such threats again.”
“Alyssa Gemcroft is under our protection,” Eliora said, her voice steel.
“You answer to me, faceless,” Pelarak said, his voice rising to match her intensity. “I don’t care what you’ve done with her. I don’t care who you’ve promised her to, and I don’t care what you have to do. Bring her here.”
“As you wish,” Eliora said. She seemed to be staring down the high priest, even though he couldn’t see her eyes.
Pelarak broke his gaze with her and finally moved behind his desk to sit. Veliana sat down opposite him and crossed her arms. She hoped that the conversation didn’t last much longer. The sooner she left the temple, the better. She felt oddly comfortable among Eliora and her faceless sisters. Inside the temple, however, she felt like an intruder waiting to be caught.
“I come to ask that Veliana may be admitted into our order,” Eliora said. Pelarak raised an eyebrow.
“Women are not ‘admitted’ to the faceless, Eliora. It is a punishment and a dishonor. What has this woman done to deserve such treatment?”
“She has sworn her life to me, and to Karak.”
“Then let her join the temple, if her vow is to Karak. You hold no position to accept a life into your hands.”
Eliora took a step forward.
“My priest, with her talents at dagger and magic, I feel her place would be best…”
“I will decide what is best,” Pelarak said, his voice nearly shaking with a cold intensity. “Your kind has functioned far too long without supervision. If you cross my orders again I will disband the faceless and send you into exile. Your place is one of penance, not command, Eliora. If you value your faith in Karak, you will learn this quickly.”
For a long while, Eliora remained silent. When she moved, it was sudden.
“Come,” she said, grabbing Veliana’s arm and yanking her to her feet.
“Where are we going?” asked Veliana.
“I said come.”
