The Beginning of Everything by Kristen Ashley Page 0,115

wounds or illnesses affected them and how to identify ailments that struck those with causes unseen, using what he found in the bodies, matching them to symptoms reported before death.

He also had a pastime of concocting potions and elixirs from herbs and minerals and testing them on injuries, lesions and in treatments of diseases.

Further, like Jell, Liam spent most of his time worshiping Go’Vicee, the god of service. Not the gods of obedience and faithfulness, Go’Bedi and Go’Chas, as most other priests did.

However, Drey had heard that Liam had given a rousing lecture to the order of the high priests that had caused much discussion throughout Go’Doan about how Go’Chas was truly about chastity, and not faithfulness to the gods.

He argued that Go’Chas wished fidelity amongst mates and abstinence of those unmarried, and not stalwart faith in religion, as most felt was the case.

And thus (Drey had heard), Liam had asserted they must abandon their baser uses of the Go’Ella and only take wives or bind themselves to husbands.

By the by, although no one asked him, Drey thought he was wrong in that.

And he was not alone, for the furor his words caused had lasted some time.

Though, Drey had heard before he left the domed city, there was rising support for this theory.

Last, Drey knew Liam, nor Jell, were of The Rising.

They had not been to any of the meetings. And his lover never spoke of them.

Though Drey could not say he hadn’t been impressed with Liam after speaking with him.

It was Drey’s first day back after his time in the catacombs.

He had been fortunate (though he didn’t really think on it that way, but in the most base of purpose, it was true) that Seph had ordered spirits to cleanse his wounds (which did not feel nice, especially having them poured on when he was still strapped to that slab, his entire body feeling frozen in place, he’d been there so long).

G’Seph had also ordered salves to be applied. Salves Drey knew (because he felt it) took away some of the pain and hastened healing.

Seph had also given him a crock of this salve to administer to himself.

But he had taken away Drey’s acolytes and ordered that Drey go without them until he was healed.

They were not to see his injuries.

They would not know of The Rising and his punishment.

Now he faced a day back in his classroom, another command from Seph.

For others had been told Drey had caught a chill (how anyone could do that in this hot land, he could not fathom, but Seph was talented in donning his false face). This was why he had been abed and at rest.

But now he had to carry on so others would not ask to see to him or wonder about his state.

He had no idea how he was going to teach with the pain. The salve helped, but it helped better when he was abed and not standing. It would take at least a week before he was fully scabbed over and able to move around without great pain, even with the salve.

He could absolutely not sit.

Therefore, he’d have to stand.

All day.

In pain.

As he had to walk to his school.

In pain.

And thus his reprimand endured long after it had been dealt.

Since receiving his “punishment” he had thought much on his predicament.

In fact, that was all he’d thought on.

At first, he had considered sending bird or letter (the latter of which would take a long time, and he wished his vengeance to be much more swift) to Fenn, his lover, explaining what had befallen him.

His chosen one might be angry he had played with a Firenz warrior (or let that warrior play with him).

But he would be angrier that Drey had been abused.

G’Drey had also thought much on the severity of his punishment for a transgression he did not see as a transgression.

Go’Doan regularly took lovers. Most availed themselves of their acolytes. Others took lovers amongst their fellow priests. And others often and openly found their assignations amongst the lands where they were stationed.

Men.

Women.

Both.

He could not begin to imagine how allowing himself to be used by a warrior, his wife and their playmate could put the plot at risk.

And if it did, Seph could have simply asked him for an aside and told him.

Not delivered a head blow, whipped him bloody, humiliated him, and left him tied to a slab for hours.

He was a soldier of The Rising.

He was at one with the Go’Doan utilizing their carefully gathered recruits,