all harmless. We would have shut it down differently if it wasn’t.” Nevyn sat down, stretching his legs. “Kian still slept right outside her tent, though, just in case. That besotted fool.” Nevyn rolled his eyes.
“Go see her,” Alchan said softly to his Consort. He would lose the afternoon with him, but he could tolerate it. He had to. At least he was going to Mave. She would keep him safe and free of the people who would try to manipulate him.
Rain kissed him once, then left, giving Varon and Nevyn a wave.
“Gah, I hate you two,” Nevyn said, crinkling his nose.
Varon reached out and hit him.
“Fine, I don’t hate them. They’re so fucking precious, and it’s gag-inducing.”
Varon leaned down and claimed Nevyn’s mouth, drawing a growl out of the general.
“You in a bad mood, my friend?” Alchan raised an eyebrow at Nevyn, who sighed as Varon pulled away, then sat down.
“Woke up hungover, so yeah, a little bit.” Nevyn side-eyed Alchan. “Rain said you needed some help.”
“Yup.” Alchan picked up the top letter from a priestess, looking to reopen a temple of Kristanya and held it out to Varon. He kept Nevyn from taking it.
Varon’s eyes moved quickly as he read the letter, then set it on the table, tilting his head to the side, deep in thought. Alchan and Nevyn remained respectfully silent while the priest considered the information. Varon looked up, his grass-green eyes narrowing.
“I have dozens more,” Alchan explained, lifting the entire stack. “They’re coming with Seanev.”
“These are the priests and priestesses he’s been hiding, aren’t they?” Varon’s hands moved fast, faster than normal. He slowed down for people who were just beginning to learn his way of communicating. “The ones who decided they would rather hide in the temples during the War rather than help the Andinna go to Olost. The ones who didn’t even bother to show themselves to us until this past winter.”
“Most of them, yes.” It had been a surprise when Alchan had gotten the first letter. They had kept a secret network all across Anden. When Seanev and Leria made themselves known, the priesthoods had decided to stay secret for another year, just to see what would happen. They didn’t know if they could trust the new rebellion and found protecting Andinna heritage almost more important than protecting the people.
“Leave them to me,” Varon signed. “I’ll deal with them. I trust you’ll respect my decisions on this.”
“I understand why you don’t like them, but treat them fairly.”
“I outrank all of them. Leave this to the priesthood, Alchan. They’ll accept what I decide,” Varon signed, then reached out and grabbed the entire stack.
“Let him go,” Nevyn said softly as Varon stomped out of the room.
Alchan looked at the newly empty spot on his table, somewhat confused by what had just happened.
“Why does Varon think he outranks them?” he asked, going to the most confusing part of the exchange. “He’s just a priest who left his temple because he fell in love. Common for the priests and priestesses of Amonora.”
“Don’t be daft. He was touched by a goddess in a tangible way. They’ll defer to him, his age, and his experience. They’ll defer to him because while they were here hiding, even from their King, he was serving. Not in making sacrifices to our gods, but in the way that matters. He was keeping faith. He and only a handful of others have that claim, and only he could lead you to prayer. He outranks them through honor and wisdom. They’ll listen to him.” Nevyn reached for the second stack. “Are these the nobles?”
“Yes.” Alchan groaned, pushing the letters closer to Nevyn. “I know what to do about them, I’ve just been putting it off.”
“Ah. I wanted to ask you about something since we’re back about this…sort of thing,” Nevyn said softly, reading the letter on top. “You needing Varon was a good way for me to get in the door.”
“Go ahead. You know my door is always open to you and everyone else in the Company.”
“You should give Mave nobility. The Lorren house was never truly noble. It was a house of warriors who steadily climbed the ranks over generations until no one could ignore them. The males joined with strong females in other households, but the females were always great.”
“But they were never noble. Why Mave? She doesn’t want more titles than she has.”
“The title of Champion doesn’t carry weight after the war,” Nevyn said softly. “And I think she’ll need