“There’s nothing innocent about you . . . sister.”
“All these years,” the nun said softly, shaking her head, “and you are still an annoying cow!”
Caid blinked in surprise at the way that sentence went from soft to yelling.
Keran pushed her way between the two and shoved them apart. “Cut it out.” Both women opened their mouths to argue, but Keran quickly added, “I’ll get fully naked right here! Tits and bush for the world to see!”
They closed their mouths, turned away from each other.
“Good,” Keran said. “Now I’m going to put on some clothes. You two play nice until I get back or I’ll start the punching. Understand?”
She wisely didn’t wait for an answer, but as soon as she had disappeared into her room, closing the door behind her, the nun said, “I can’t believe you still haven’t changed.”
“Why should I change? I didn’t desert my family. That would be you. And for what? To supplicate yourself before some god so you can take care of everyone but your kin?”
“It’s always so simple for you, isn’t it?”
“It is. Family is all. Something you still haven’t learned and don’t care about.”
Sisters. They were sisters. Caid knew that now. They didn’t look at all alike, but only siblings could bring out the worst in each other this way.
“Don’t tell me what I care about, Keeley,” the nun snarled.
“You have no idea what I care about! What matters to me!”
“I don’t care what matters to you! Get the fuck out of my shop!”
“I’ll leave when I’m damn well ready. I don’t answer to you! Not anymore!”
The back-room door opened and a now-dressed Keran stepped out. “How are we all doing?” she asked, grinning. “Everyone having fun?” When no one answered, she suggested, “Why don’t I get food for everyone. You lot look hungry. Fresh bread. Some cheese from Marcy’s pitch, eh? Doesn’t that sound lovely?”
“I have work to do,” Keeley barked before storming away.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Keran said, heading toward the front exit.
The nun, though, didn’t move. She was too busy watching her sister through narrowed eyes . . . until Samuel came through the door that led out to the back of the shop, freshly washed. At the sight of him, the nun’s entire body tensed and her eyes grew wide. But the boy completely panicked, spinning around and attempting to flee out the door he’d just come in. First, though, he ran into the doorframe, backed up, shook off his dizziness, and then ran out, slamming the door behind him.
The nun let out a deep, pained sigh, her eyes briefly closing before she returned to Keran’s room.
“Did you see that?” Laila asked him.
“How could I miss it?” Caid asked. “I was standing right here.”
“Think the nun fucked the boy?” she whispered, giggling.
“That boy,” Caid told her with great confidence, “has fucked no one. Except maybe himself.”
* * *
Keeley focused on working some iron pommels because she needed to hammer away and steel needed much more finesse. Thankfully all the mercenaries making their way into her shop these days needed swords for their battles. Keeley had been making a small fortune off the upcoming war between the royal brothers and, at times like this, work helped her deal with her rare bouts of rage. She lost herself in the smithing so that her mind could focus on something other than the fact that her younger sister, born only a few years after her, had the bloody nerve to stand before her in that ridiculous outfit and act all pious and gods-infused. Bitch was lucky Keeley didn’t punch her right in the nose! And the fact that she didn’t point out how chunky being a gods-damn nun had made her showed the strength of Keeley’s will. Because those white robes weren’t hiding anything! Except her feet. Why did she need to hide her bloody feet? She not only had to give up sex to be a nun but her feet as well?
What religion insisted on covering its worshippers to that extent? Why was that necessary?
Why had her sister given up everything to join those religious fanatics? That’s how Keeley thought of the sects found throughout the land. They ruled the lives of their members and Keeley did not like that at all. The gods she chose to worship didn’t make her dress in any specific way. They didn’t ask her to give up her life for them. A few nonlethal sacrifices for the start of the planting