Varian frowned as several gazes shifted to him. He straightened under their regard, but the man he focused on lay waiting on his bed for an answer. The Chosen couldn’t be serious in his offer, could he? And Yevni… Varian swallowed hard. After working with the instructor during training, he knew the warrior didn’t hand out praise very often, so his support shocked the breath right out of him.
“There is no one I trust more than Varian, Councilors.”
Varian froze with Kalan’s declaration. Questions and protests exploded from the Councilors. The human leader ignored them all, his gaze fixed on Varian. What was going on? The transition of living and training with the Light Blades was difficult enough, for both races. What was Kalan hoping to achieve by appointing him as his Second, someone who would outrank them all?
The man seated on the other side of Candra cleared his throat and scraped a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “You’re wanting our warriors to take orders from a Na’Chi?”
Varian sucked in a sharp breath, but before he could respond, Yevni snorted.
“They already do, Orphesius.” His tone held heavy censure. “If you’d come down to the training grounds this past week, you’d have seen Varian’s skill for yourself.”
“By overlooking them, you risk insulting every Light Blade warrior….” Outrage shook in Nyon’s voice.
“My choice isn’t intended as an insult, Councilor.” Kalan’s calm response settled the meeting. “Nor should Yevni’s recommendation be dismissed. He’s been the backbone of the Light Blade training program for nearly thirty years. And I’m surprised more of you can’t see why I’ve chosen Varian over any of the Light Blades.”
The silver-haired man seated next to Varian grunted. “You need someone you can depend upon.”
“What are you saying, Benth?” Nyon asked, the expression on his face incredulous. “There are any number of Light Blade warriors he could choose as Second. All reliable, all well skilled, with years of experience.”
“But he doesn’t know which ones support Davyn or the rebels.” With her mouth pressed flat, Candra waved a finger at all of the Councilors. “As unpalatable as that is, we must face that fact. Can you imagine the damage that could be done if Kalan appointed the wrong person?”
Councilor Elamm cleared her throat, her frown as deep as Nyon’s. “We’ve taken measures to ensure Davyn’s supporters think twice about—”
“The Na’Chi don’t want the alliance to fail; those among our own ranks do.” The Master Healer shook her head. “Internal strife will put everyone’s safety at risk. And as Varian and Annika have both pointed out in past meetings, Na’Rei Savyr will take advantage of that if he learns we’re divided.”
The human leader raised a hand. “Councilors, I informed you all as a matter of courtesy, not so you could debate my choice.” Kalan’s gaze returned to Varian. “Varian’s the only one with the right to dispute the appointment.”
Again all eyes focused on him. Varian shifted on his stool.
Jaw clenching, he suspected Kalan’s move to be deliberate. Why hadn’t the warrior asked him privately? He understood the logic of the arguments, yet not why he’d been chosen after the failure at Ostare. To decline the position now, in front of the Council, would weaken the human leader’s position, and as Candra pointed out, put everyone’s safety at risk.
Varian pushed back his anger at being manipulated. He met the Chosen’s gaze. One dark eyebrow lifted in silent challenge.
No, the warrior hadn’t manipulated him. That inferred some sort of deceitfulness. The only charge he could level at the human was that the man was determined to see their alliance succeed. The interests of both peoples drove him. Varian also couldn’t deny the fact that the Na’Chi needed this alliance as much as the humans.
Kalan Tayn was a formidable strategist.
“I’ll accept the position, Chosen.” Varian kept all conflicting emotions out of his voice.
Relief flickered across Kalan’s face. He blinked. The warrior hadn’t been as confident of receiving a positive answer as he’d portrayed?
“We’ll talk more later.” Satisfaction swirled in the emerald depths of Kalan’s gaze as he relaxed onto the pillows behind him. Candra leaned forward to check him. He gave her a reassuring smile. “For now, Yevni will continue to train the returning off-duty Light Blades. The potentials also need to learn the new patrol techniques. Varian, work with Yevni and decide which of the Light Blades you trained would make good instructors for this task. Once that’s done, Jole will brief you on all the patrols we have out at the moment, their locations, and what information they’ve sent back to us. They’re now yours to lead.”
“Perhaps if I come over to the Na’Chi apartments after the meeting, we could discuss our plans then?” Yevni asked. Varian nodded. The warrior rubbed his hands together. “Good. This evening we can inform the Commanders together.”
“That’s all I wanted to discuss for now, Councilors.” Kalan’s announcement drew a firm nod from Candra.
“Chosen, please, there’s one other issue I believe needs to be addressed.” Jho Elamm rose from her stool. “I’ll try not to be long, Master Healer. My apologies, Temple Elect, but this concerns what we discussed the other day.” The slender woman inclined her head in Kymora’s direction. “I’m afraid there’s been… further developments….”
Kymora straightened in her seat, and while her expression didn’t change, Varian sensed her trepidation. What issue was the smaller woman referring to? And what had Kymora so worried?
“Three of your senior tutors have approached me,” Elamm continued. While her tone seemed appropriately apologetic, an overly sweet odor coming from her indicated otherwise. “And as the problem seems to have spilled into our Temple, I felt the Council should be made aware of the situation.”
“What matter are you referring to, Councilor?” Kalan asked.
“Councilor Elamm approached me earlier this week, Chosen.” Kymora’s voice remained calm and low. “She informed me that there’s some concern circulating within the community that I was neglecting my duties as Temple Elect.”
Candra snorted. “That’s absurd!”
“Nevertheless, their dissatisfaction is there, Candra, and it’s growing,” Elamm retorted. “Just yesterday I spoke to each of the Servants myself to ascertain their concerns.”
The woman paused, wetting her lips, her gaze sweeping the group, as if gauging everyone’s reactions. Several Councilors were shaking their heads, expressions somber.
The sickly sweet odor increased as Elamm took a breath. “All three are considering leaving the Temple.”
Kymora’s face lost color and her hands tightened in her lap. “Why haven’t they discussed this with me?”
“Perhaps their confidence in you has been shaken.”
The sickly sweet scent altered, took on a sour odor. Varian’s gaze narrowed. Even being unfamiliar with the protocols involved with the Temple, a rift like this within the order couldn’t be good. Especially not now.
“Councilor, the Temple Elect will need the names of these Servants. She can’t be expected to address their issues by going through a third party such as yourself.” Kalan raised his hand as Elamm made to speak. “You’ve brought the matter to the Council’s attention, now leave her to resolve it.”
Varian cocked his head, satisfied with how swiftly he’d cut the woman off. The politics within the group came as no surprise. He’d seen it at work the first time he’d sat in on a meeting. Only then, Davyn had driven the machinations that had corrupted the integrity of the Council.
Candra rose from her seat. “Kalan needs to rest now. Thank you all for coming.”
Elamm glared at the Master Healer. She looked once around the circle for support, but everyone else had risen from their seats and were taking their leave. The ex-province leader’s mouth turned downward, but she made no attempt to challenge Candra, a wise move considering the implacable expression on the Master Healer’s face. After bi
dding Kalan a stilted good-bye, Elamm left with one of the other Councilors.
Varian pushed to his feet to watch her leave. Both Kalan and Candra had circumvented her before she’d been able to gain an audience. She’d proven to be no friend of Kymora’s, but what had she thought to achieve by raising the issue in Council?
“Varian, perhaps we could begin our discussion….” Yevni’s request drew him from his thoughts. “Let’s detour via the kitchens before we head to the apartments. I missed breakfast with the summons from Kalan, and I suspect we’ll still be making plans come the midday meal….”
After a glance toward Kymora and discovering her sitting on the edge of her brother’s bed, Varian accompanied the older warrior along the center walkway in the healers’ hall. Any speculation about Elamm’s motives would have to wait. There were more urgent issues to deal with.
Chapter 29
KYMORA slid the partitioning curtain across the prayer room archway, needing the privacy contained within the small room. Her hands shook as she threaded the securing tie over the hook set into the wall. No one would disturb her with the curtain shut. She pressed her forehead against the cool stone and concentrated on taking deep breaths.
Beyond the curtain, voices began singing. Usually the sound of the acolytes practicing their devotional hymns brought a smile to her face but not this evening. Eyes closed, she listened to several verses and almost wished for the return of her days as a student. After spending the last several hours in meetings with her senior Servants, her time as an acolyte almost seemed more appealing.
With a sigh, she straightened and made her way to the small offertory set into the wall. A minute later, three Keri-blossom incense sticks burned, their sweet scent filling the room. Remaining on her knees near the shelf, Kymora reached for her amulet and bowed her head.
“Lady of Light, Mother of Mercy, I ask humbly that you hear your Servant.” Without warning, her throat closed tight and tears burned behind her eyes. She traced the lines etched into the amulet, trying to return to a meditative state, but the familiar action didn’t help. “I desperately need your guidance and wisdom.”
A soft breeze pushed against her robe, fluttering it against her legs, and a familiar energy pulsed against her mind. Kymora bit her lip to contain her cry of relief and tried to compose herself as the odor of incense was replaced with the lighter, refreshing scent of new-fallen rain.
“HANDMAIDEN, I HEAR YOUR PRAYER.”
“You bless me with your presence, Lady.” Her voice was thick with tears. “Thank you.”
“I FEEL YOUR PAIN. YOUR SOUL IS TROUBLED.”
“Forgive me, Lady, but I don’t know what to do.” Kymora tried to organize her thoughts, but they just kept chasing each other around in her head, tangling together and eluding any sort of order.
“PEACE, HANDMAIDEN.” The warmth of a hand pressed against her bowed head. “CALM YOURSELF. CLEAR YOUR MIND AND SPEAK WHAT’S IN YOUR HEART.”
Kymora blinked hard, her cheeks flushing with heat. Merciful Mother, she was behaving like a first-year acolyte. Tiredness wasn’t an excuse, nor was impatience. She inhaled a slow, deep breath, concentrating on letting the sweet, floral scent of the incense spread through her. Several breaths later, she felt calmer but nowhere near as composed as she should be. It would have to do.
“Lady, have I failed you?”
Kymora cringed at the way she blurted the question. Where was the control and maturity fitting of a practiced Servant? One worthy of being in Her presence?
“WHY WOULD YOU ASK THAT?”
She took an uneven breath, calling on her strength to speak in a more modulated tone. “I believe I’ve neglected my responsibilities as Your Temple Elect.”
The hand stroking her head stopped. “IN WHAT WAY?”
“Today I met with all my senior Servants. There were several who expressed concerns that my absence from the Temple has affected my service. That my priorities threaten our ministry.” Her chest and voice tightened. “The time I’ve spent and continue to spend with the Na’Chi troubles them greatly. There are some who wish to leave the Temple and be posted elsewhere because of this.”
To hear three of her most senior tutors accuse her of putting the Na’Chi above the needs of their own people still made her heart ache. Perhaps she shouldn’t have spent so much time away from Sacred Lake living with them.
Ever loyal, Sartor had argued on her behalf, claiming he’d handled the role in her absence, yet Kymora had sensed a general dissatisfaction with her actions from others in her order even though they hadn’t spoken up. If she’d returned once a month to spend a few days dealing with matters, perhaps this problem could have been averted.
“DON’T LET THEIR LACK OF FAITH SOW THE SEED OF DOUBT IN YOURS, HANDMAIDEN.” Reassurance brushed her mind. “YOU SERVE ME WELL.”
The relief lifted a load from her shoulders. Tears forced themselves from between her lashes. “Your words comfort me, Lady.”
And they did.
Nothing mattered to her more than fulfilling Her will. Yet no matter how much she’d reassured the tutors of her intentions, their requests to be stationed elsewhere remained adamant.
The Temple would feel the loss of three experienced Servants. None of the acolytes were ready to take on their full-time responsibilities, and those already serving in that position had discovered their workload doubled since the Na’Reish raids on the border. She couldn’t ask them to take on any more.
Nor could she recall any of the Travelers. They were still disseminating information to the Provinces for the Blade Council. But to deny the Servants their requests and keep them on until she could find replacements would only create tension, and at the moment the Temple needed to remain a source of strength and harmony.
“YOUR THOUGHTS REMAIN TROUBLED.”
The soft-spoken words made her heart ache. “I don’t mean to insult the confidence you’ve shown in me, Lady….”
“DID I NOT SAY YOU WOULD BEGIN YOUR FOURTH JOURNEY?”
“Yes.” She squeezed the amulet in her hand. “The day Varian asked for sanctuary for his people from me. My journey has begun….”
“INDEED IT HAS. YOUR HEART, YOUR FAITH, YOUR DEDICATION HAS MADE YOUR LIFE-JOURNEY… UNIQUE.” Satisfaction reinforced Her words. “THE PATH IS CHALLENGING, YET YOUR EFFORTS WILL REAP REWARDS.”
And there lay her dilemma. “But how am I to fulfill Your mandate when I’m torn between serving our people and the needs of the Na’Chi?”
In the silence that followed, she could hear the thumping of her pulse in her ears. Her heart lurched as the scent of fresh-fallen rain faded and the warmth of the Lady’s touch disappeared. Had she been too bold in her questioning?
Kymora grimaced. Did the Lady intend that she figure this out on her own? Perhaps that was part of her Journey. Was there someone else She wanted her to go to for guidance? But who?
Kalan? He needed time to heal. Causing him to worry would delay that process.
Arek was gone. Her chin trembled.
Candra? Favoring one Councilor above another would likely be seen as a conflict of interest. More internal bickering would do more harm than good.
Varian? He had his hands full dealing with the promotion to the Chosen’s Second. She had barely seen him the last few days.
Shoulders sagging, she reached for her staff. Maybe sleeping on it would provide her with the answer she needed.
A breeze swirled around her; the scent of new-fallen rain once again teased her nostrils. Kymora’s heart lifted. “Forgive my audacity, Lady. I didn’t mean for my question to upset you—”
“BE AT EASE. YOUR QUESTION DID NOT OFFEND ME.”
She sensed an aura of deliberation. It reminded her of the time just before the Na’Chi had arrived in Sacred Lake, when She’d revealed information to her about her Fourth Journey.
Her aura bled compassion. “KYMORA, YOU SERVE ME WHETHER YOU WEAR THE TEMPLE ELECT ROBES OR NOT.”
Kymora froze and the brea
th rushed from her lungs as the meaning of Her words penetrated. Her head snapped up.
“Lady?” she whispered, her lips numb with shock. “You wish me to—to step down as the Temple Elect?”
No Temple Elect in the history of the order had ever resigned from the role. All had remained as head of the Temple until their deaths. Again Kymora sensed the Lady’s hesitation.
“THE ANSWER LIES IN YOUR HEART.”
Warmth flowed around her, heating her skin, then it sank deep inside her.
“YOUR COURAGE IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS.” Her scent began to fade. “FINISH YOUR FOURTH JOURNEY, HANDMAIDEN.”
Within one heartbeat and the next, She was gone. Kymora remained on her knees, her senses reeling. She replayed every word spoken, every nuance uttered, every sensation bestowed upon her by the Lady in her mind.
“… you serve me whether you wear the Temple Elect robes or not.”
Was She asking her to abandon the role of Temple Elect or give up the Temple entirely? If she were fulfilling her role, why leave? What would it achieve?
Stepping aside yet to remain as a Servant would mean following the directives of the new Temple Elect. She could be assigned to another Province. How could she serve the Na’Chi if that happened?
To follow Her will and continue helping the Na’Chi, the only other option available would be to relinquish her status as a Handmaiden. Kymora shook her head as an ache filled her chest. But serving in the Temple was her vocation; she’d spent years studying and training her skills and her Gift. She couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Without the robes of a priestess, how could she continue to serve Her, their people, or the Na’Chi? How could it benefit anyone?
“Finish your Fourth Journey.”
Her hands shook so much that it took four strikers to light another stick of incense. Would resigning be the end of her Fourth Journey? What would she do without a vocation? Who would she be?
Kymora shuddered. She couldn’t bring herself to leave the prayer room. Not yet.
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