The Priestess and the Thief Kindred Tales 30 - Evangeline Anderson Page 0,20
and the Goddess sent me to you,” he answered, which made Elli stare at him even harder.
“How can I believe that?” she demanded. “After all the trouble you caused me! Do you know where I’m supposed to be right now? At the Priory of Extreme Atonement. The Ascending Priestess Superior wanted to send me there to be beaten for a solid hour every day and locked up in solitary confinement the rest of the time! And all because of you!”
He widened his eyes and she saw that they weren’t only dark—they were actually concentric rings of dark green and dark blue—like the forest meeting the ocean.
“Forgive me, little priestess,” he said, bowing to her. “You can chastise me all you want, but can we do it somewhere else instead of out here on the road?”
Looking around, Elli saw that he was right—they were still on the winding, cobblestone street in front of the stall selling bright red fruit. No one had bothered them while they dealt with the Tenebrian nobleman, but now that it was just her and the rather disreputable looking Kindred warrior—if he even was a Kindred—some of the shopkeepers and customers were beginning to shoot them dirty looks.
“Fine,” she said tightly. “Let me just get my case and we can talk somewhere else.”
But when she looked around, she saw that Tully and Looney and the cartful of thunder melons were all gone.
“Oh dear.” She frowned anxiously. “Where did they go?”
“Where did who go?” Roke asked.
“I was riding in a cart,” Elli explained. “And it had my case with my spare robe in it.”
She looked down at her once-white priestess garments, which were dirtier than ever after her encounter with the Duke and his zorel. Adding to the dust and thunder melon juice, Wind Chaser had drooled on her when she was hugging his huge head.
“I can’t possibly go to the palace like this!” she exclaimed.
“You won’t have to,” Roke told her. He started to take her by the shoulder but Elli shook him off.
“Don’t touch me!” she exclaimed, glaring up at him. “The last time you touched me you took advantage of me and made me shame myself! You ruined my life!”
“All right, all right…” The big warrior held up both hands in a gesture of truce. “I swear I won’t ever touch you again unless you ask me to, little priestess,” he rumbled. “But in the meantime, come with me and tell me why you want so badly to get into the Tenebrian palace.”
“Well…” Elli bit her lip uncertainly.
“You might as well tell me,” Roke said, frowning. “I’ll need to know since I’m coming in with you.”
“What I’d like to know is exactly why you invited yourself along on my quest,” Elli snapped at him.
He scowled.
“Because there’s no way in all the Seven Hells I’m letting you go into that place alone, little priestess. It’s not safe.”
Elli’s stomach squeezed into a nervous fist.
“Why? What do you know about it?” she demanded.
“Tell me why you want to go and I’ll tell you what I know,” he countered. “But first, come with me to the Garment District.” He beckoned for her but Elli held her ground.
“Why the Garment District?” she asked, frowning.
“So I can buy you a new dress, of course,” he said, sounding exasperated. “As you said, you can’t go to the Tenebrian palace looking like that.” And he pointed at her stained robes.
“All right.” Elli felt her cheeks getting hot. “I’ll go with you as long as you don’t touch me.”
“I already promised I wouldn’t, didn’t I?” he growled. “Look, I’m not here to molest you, Ellilah—I’m here to protect you.”
“Who said I needed protection?” she demanded.
“The Goddess, when she sent me,” Roke said shortly. “Now come on.”
He turned and headed up the street and—after a silent moment of internal struggle—Elli followed him.
Twelve
Don’t trust him—why are you even going with him? whispered a doubtful little voice in Elli’s head.
Elli didn’t know the answer to that herself. But somehow she felt like she had no choice, so she followed the big warrior as he walked up the cobblestone streets of Capital City.
They left the Greengrocer District behind and entered the Garment District, just as he had said. There were fancy clothes hanging out in front of some of the shops and working clothes hanging out in front of others. But just as Elli was eyeing a silvery-blue gown with tiny yellow flowers sewn all over it, they came to a stop in front of a small café