found this place disconcerting, feeling as if the tender ones were lonely
even though they were in the Fade and should have been happy and at peace.
Now the temple was a horror.
The sound she'd heard came again, and she jumped back, ready to run from the woeful spirits
who dwelled herein.
Except, no, that wasn't the spectral young. It was a catching of breath. Not at all ghostly, but very
real.
She went around the corner silently.
Layla was sitting on the grass with her knees to her chest and her arms around herself. Her head
was tucked in, her shoulders shaking, her robe and hair wet.
«My sister?» Cormia whispered. «How fare thee?»
Layla's head shot upright, and she quickly scrubbed her cheeks until they were free of tears.
«Leave. Please.»
Cormia went over and knelt down. «Tell me. What has happened?»
«Nothing of which you need be-«
«Layla, speak unto me.» She wanted to reach out but you were not permitted to do so and she did
not want to add to the upset. Instead of touch, she used gentle words and tone. «My sister, I
would ease you. Please talk to me. Please.»
The Chosen's blond head went back and forth, her ruined chignon falling further apart. «I failed.»
«How?»
«I… failed. This night I failed to please. I was turned away.»
«From what?»
«The male whose transition I saw through. He was ready to mate, and I touched him and he lost
his impulse.» Layla's breath went in on a sob. «And I… I shall have to report unto the king what
transpired, as is tradition. I should have done so before I left, but I was so horrified. How will I
tell His Majesty? And the Directrix?» Her head dropped down again, as if she hadn't the will to
hold it up, «I was trained by the great ones to please. And I failed us all.»
Cormia took a chance and laid her hand on Layla's shoulder, thinking it was always thus. The
burden of the whole Chosen fell upon each sole female when she acted in an official capacity.
There was, therefore, no private and personal disgrace, only the great weight of monumental
failure.
«My sister-«
«I shall go into reflection after I speak to the king and the Directrix.»
Oh, no… Reflection was seven cycles of no food, no light, no contact with others, meant for
atonement of infractions of the highest order. The worst of it, or so Cormia had heard, was the
lack of illumination, as Chosen craved light.
«Sister, are you sure he did not desire you?»
«Males' bodies lie not in that regard. Merciful Virgin… perhaps it is for the best. I may well have
not pleased him.» Pale green eyes shifted over. «It is well and good I was not your instructor. I
am trained in theory, not practice, so I could have imparted no visceral knowledge unto you.»
«I would rather have had you.»
«Then you are unwise.» The Chosen's face abruptly grew old. Ancient. «And I have learned my
lesson. I shall take myself out of the pool of ehros, as I am clearly incapable of upholding their
sensual tradition.»
Cormia didn't like the dead shadows in Layla's eyes. «Perhaps it was he who was at fault?»
«There is no issue of fault on his side. He was not pleased by me. My burden, not his.» She
wiped a tear away. «I shall say unto you, there is no failure such as the sexual one. Nothing cuts
so deep as the denial of your nakedness and your instinct for communion by one you would wish
to mate… To be shunned in your skin is the worst sort of refusal. So I should leave the ehros, not
just for their fine tradition, but for me. I would not go through this again. Ever. Now please go,
and say nothing. I must collect myself.»
Cormia wanted to stay, but arguing didn't seem right. She stood and removed her outer robe,
draping it around her sister.
Layla looked up in surprise. «Verily, I am not cold.»
This was said as she drew the cloth tight to her neck.
«Fare thee well, my sister.» Cormia turned and walked up past the reflecting pool.
As she looked up at the milky blue sky she wanted to scream.
Vishous rolled off Jane's body and positioned her so she was tucked into his chest. He liked her
up close on his left side, with his fighting hand free to kill for her. Lying here now, he'd never
felt more focused, never had his life's purpose so clear: His one and only priority was keeping
her alive and healthy and safe, and the strength with which he held that directive made him feel
whole.
He was who he was because of her.
In the short