First Forest - Viola Grace Page 0,4
leave the temple. “Freedom to walk the world and then come home.”
He walked with her to the steps. “You still consider the forest home?”
She paused and looked at his strangely gold eyes. She had always considered his gaze unnerving and far too intense. Now that she was an adult, the banked heat in his gaze was understandable and far more intense. She answered him honestly. “I always have and always will consider this place home, whether I am welcomed back or not.”
Priest Garo smiled slightly. “Good. You are always welcome here.”
She laughed, and it was a harsh laugh. “Let’s find out what the elders think. I am fairly sure that they disagree.”
He chuckled and walked with her. “Yes. Let’s.”
“You are coming along?”
“Oh, I have been waiting for this moment for quite some time.” He slipped his hands into his sleeves and folded his hands in front of him.
She was a little confused and looking around for Maku. She sighed and guessed that he must have been hunting rats or something.
She ignored Garo. He had always been rather peculiar when it came to her. He had never been inappropriate, not in her entire life, but he watched her as if she was something entertaining that had been set loose in the village.
The elders were at the teahouse, as they always were at this time of the morning.
She saw their expressions go from curious to astonished as she walked up.
She bowed and stated, “I am here to confirm permission for Jimon to wed my sister Ledana.”
Elder Hiysh looked at her. “Why should we hear you? You left us and are not a member of the village.”
“I am still my father’s daughter, my mother’s child, and Ledana’s sister.” She stepped forward. “I attended the temple when I arrived, and I have already received the blessing of the forest.”
That startled the elders. Elder Bial smiled. “I am sure you thought you did, but you were likely tired from the ride. What were the signs?”
“The water flowed in the temple, and the forest came into my dreams.” She smiled. “Oh, and there is this.”
She unsheathed her blade and kept it at her side. The dazzling golden glow coming off her family blade got the point across.
“So, there is that.” She sheathed the blade and bowed. “Now, I would like the confirmation.”
The elders bowed, and it was a very low bow.
Abiha felt a lot of energy behind her, the crackle of static, and a wave of heat. She had felt that once before, when she was very small. She looked at the elders and said, “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”
One of the elders looked up and then bowed again.
A low and slow voice washed over Abiha. “Your sister has my blessing to wed Jimon. Now, how will you repay me for my generosity?”
She took a few steps to the right and was just gearing up to run when a hand caught her around the waist, and she was lifted and tucked under his arm as he walked out of the center of the village with everyone bowing as they passed. She was gasping and kicking to get free, but he carried her like a sack of grain.
She could see his robes and his sandals as he took his slow and casual steps. Abiha saw them passing her home and spotted her mother and sister clinging to each other. She yelled, “Can you take the sword, please?”
Neither of them moved, but the forest creature took her sword from her, turned, and tossed it to her sister. “Better?”
She grinned. “Much.”
He kept walking, and when they were nearing the temple, she reached up and pulled on his fingers, thinking to sprint into the woods when he dropped her. In hindsight, it wasn’t a smart idea, but since his fingers were iron bands against her abdomen, she didn’t have a chance to make a run for it. She was well and truly caught. She just needed some explanation as to why.
Chapter Three
His feet carried her past the temple and into the woods.
“Um, where are we going?”
He chuckled. “Did you think I lived in the temple? I do not. The ceilings are too low.”
She glanced up as far as she could, but she couldn’t get up past his chest. “So, it is a head-clearance thing?”
He tucked her tighter against him and didn’t answer.
“So, where are we going?”
“We are going to a place where we can communicate more freely. Feel free to yell and scream. No one will hear you.” His