11

The thought of it taking a couple of weeks to get somewhere was completely alien to Lyra. At home, she could fly anywhere in the world in a handful of hours if she wanted to. A road trip might take a couple of days, maybe a week at most if she wanted to drive from coast to coast — not that she ever had.

But weeks? On foot? Or were there stagecoaches or something similar that she could ride in? The fact that she didn’t have any money meant even if there were alternative forms of travel, she would probably end up having to walk anyway.

Weeks. She was going to lose her job. She might be able to get back before her landlord started the eviction process, but that was assuming she found the help she needed right away when she got to the city, and by some miracle, she didn’t have to figure out a way to pay for it. Even then, she wouldn’t be able to speak her own language when she returned.

In other words, she was completely screwed.

She was still struggling to wrap her mind around the fact that it was going to take weeks to get any closer to answers at all when she realized that Cora had just volunteered her brother to go with her. She needed the help, but she was keenly aware that she couldn’t pay them back.

“No, that’s too much,” she said, hating herself for saying it. “I don’t have any money. I can’t him ask for his help. You said it would take weeks. That’s… a long time.”

“He wouldn’t ask for money, would you, Kel?”

“Not from you, priestess. If you wish me to escort you to Heliotheopoli, I will. I believe it is the best course of action if you wish to discover why you were brought here.”

“But—”

“It’s settled, then!” Cora said, clapping her hands cheerfully. “I’ll start preparing some supplies for you, Kel. Gidal, can you ask around town for offerings for the priestess? She will need proper traveling gear, and rations, of course. Nira, you’ve hardly touched your food.”

“Sorry, Mama. Can I get up?”

“You’ll go directly to Halod to apologize?” Nira nodded. Her mother sighed. “Fine, you’re dismissed. Set your food out for the cats if you’re not going to finish it, and don’t get into trouble again!”

Nira grabbed her plate and hurried out of the house while Gidal got up more slowly. “What all do you need for your journey, priestess?”

His words were directed at Lyra, but she had no idea. This was all moving very fast for her. Kel was the one who answered.

“A bag to carry her supplies in. A water flask, fire-starter, a decent knife. A hammock and a light blanket. Shoes that fit her. Lora’s shoes are too small for her. Check with Marid. Soap, and perhaps a comb. Whatever food people are willing to give up that won’t spoil before we reach Ersgath.”

“You’re not getting out of helping, Kel,” Cora said. “Go with him and help him convince everyone that she isn’t an evil cultist here to kill us all. Zarad has been spreading rumors since yesterday. People were terrified last night, and it wasn’t much better this morning.”

Kel got up reluctantly, and Cora practically shooed him out of the house after her husband before shutting the door behind them and turning to Lyra with a smile. “Well, that’s them out of our hair. Don’t worry about the dishes,” she added when Lyra rose and reached for her now empty plate uncertainly. “Nira obviously needs more chores to keep her from running around town and causing trouble.”

“I don’t understand why everyone is being so helpful,” Lyra admitted hesitantly.

The other woman examined her face, her expression thoughtful. “You really are from somewhere else, aren’t you? Everyone helps the clergy when they can, especially the wandering ones.” She nodded at Lyra’s green tunic. “I can tell you’re new to it, because most of your kind are well aware of their position and take full advantage.” She sighed. “That makes me sound bitter, doesn’t it? Don’t get me wrong, I'm grateful for all your kind does for us. And I’m glad you need Kel’s help. It will be good for him to get on the road again.”

“He said he’s a paladin, right? What exactly does that mean?”

“He’d be better at explaining it than I am, and his situation is… unusual.” Cora’s brows pulled together in a slight frown. “He was a sentinel before this. They escort priests and priestesses when they travel. It’s a sin to harm anyone who’s wearing a holy tunic, of course, but far away from the reach of a temple or a shrine… well, people forget that the Great God is always watching. The tunic is its own form of protection, but a swordsman with a sharp blade is a more reliable sort of protection when you’re in the wilderness. Kel always liked the idea of traveling, and he set off for the city to train and register as soon as he was of age. He enjoyed being a sentinel, I think. He’s always had a protective streak, always liked defending people.”

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“How’d he end up back here, if he liked his job so much?”

She gave Lyra a sad smile. “Our younger sister, Lora, was a priestess. She was content being a temple priestess for Towr for a while, but like Kel, she always wanted to travel. When she decided to become a wandering priestess, she wrote to him, asking if he would be her sentinel. Of course, he agreed. He came back to Kyokami to get her, and they set out together. That was, oh, four years ago now. Two years ago, she died and he came back to Kyokami once more, as a paladin. He blames himself. Gidal and I welcomed him into our home, of course, but between you and me, the man is driving me crazy. He jumps at every shadow, he shouts at Nira if she even goes near the temple, and he won’t so much as say Lora’s name. Today’s the first time I’ve heard him mention her since he came back.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry for your loss. I had no clue.”

“I know you didn’t,” Cora said gently. “He doesn’t talk about it, not even to me. I still don’t know what happened. What I do know is it wasn’t his fault. He doesn’t agree. I think escorting you to the city will be good for him.”

Lyra wasn’t sure what to say to that. At least it explained some of Kel’s brusqueness.

“You said he started as a sentinel, but came back as a paladin. What exactly is the difference?”

Cora hesitated. “I’ll let him explain that to you. Unlike my siblings, I was always content with the simple life. I never paid much attention to the intricacies of worship or direct service to the gods. Now, what else do you need, Lyra? I doubt you and Kel will set out before tomorrow. Are you comfortable with sleeping in the temple again tonight? I don’t think anyone has cleaned the bedchamber out since Lora left. It must be dusty down there. Would you rather sleep here? I’m sure Nira wouldn’t mind giving up her room. She can sleep with Gidal and I tonight.”

“You’re already doing so much for me,” Lyra said. “I shouldn’t impose more.”

Cora must have seen the unhappy expression on Lyra’s face, because she frowned. “You’re not comfortable in the temple, are you? Did something happen?”

“I don’t—Towr’s—I’m scared of her,” she admitted. “She tricked me into giving up my language, and she locked me in when Kel tried to get in last night. What if she doesn’t let me out?”

“She won’t harm you. I know Kel doesn’t trust the gods, but Towr isn’t vengeful. Besides, they have their own taboos. It takes a lot for them to harm someone who has holy blood. The relationship between her and Kel is complicated, but she won’t punish you for whatever she thinks he did. And I know this probably doesn’t mean much, but for what it’s worth… I don’t think what happened with your language was malicious. If she taught you Moldaran in an instant, then that’s one of the strongest boons I’ve ever heard of her granting. I can’t imagine that she would have been able to do it for a lesser sacrifice.”

“She took it from me,” Lyra said. “She had to know that wasn’t what I wanted. I would never have consented to losing my own language if I had known.”

“They don’t think like that,” Cora said. “I’m not the best person to teach you about the gods, but I’ll tell you what I tell Nira. They aren’t human, and you can’t expect them to act like a human would, or care about the same things we care about. They don’t have the same understanding of right and wrong as we do. I truly believe you will be safe in that temple, Lyra, but if you’re still uncomfortable with the thought of sleeping there, you are welcome to sleep here instead.”

She was tempted, but in the end, she knew she needed to get her things from the temple anyway. If Towr was there, she would try talking to her. At least she knew she could come back here for the night if she had to, but she would rather not ask for even more from Kel’s family.

“Thank you, but I think I’ll return to the temple.”

Cora smiled at her. “Good, I think that’s a good choice. Before you go, let me find those things Kel said he put in the cupboard…” There were several cabinets against the far wall of the kitchen, and she opened a few of them before finally finding the orange and the carton of milk Lyra had lost yesterday. Lyra took the items gratefully, though she knew the milk would be bad by now.

“Thanks. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me so far. And thank you for the meal, too.”

“Of course. Go make your peace with Towr, but come back for dinner. I’ll send Nira to fetch you when it’s time to eat. You should explore the village in the meantime. Introduce yourself to people. You gave everyone quite the fright, and it will do them good to see you’re a normal girl, not some sort of monster.”

Lyra left Cora’s house feeling much better than she had when she entered it. Even though the knowledge of just how long it would take her to find the answers she needed was disheartening, it felt good to have a plan. She felt like she was back on solid ground for the first time since she arrived here. She had a destination, someone to guide her, and while she sorely regretted making that deal with Towr, at least she could speak the local language now.

With her carton of milk tucked under her arm — she wanted to throw it away, but she didn’t see any garbage bins — and her last orange in her hand, she walked back toward the temple. A few people waved at her as they went about their days, but they kept to the other side of the road. The tabby cat was still in front of the temple and approached Lyra to wind around her ankles as she neared the overhang.

Lyra paused to pet her, but only briefly. Her eyes were on the temple door, which was open its usual six inches to let the cat in and out. She took a deep breath. Now that she knew more about Towr, she felt a little more prepared to see her again — but only a little.

“I guess I’ve got you for backup if something goes wrong,” she muttered to the cat before walking the last few steps to the door and pulling it open.

The interior of the temple was dim as usual. A warm breeze at her back seemed to push her forward. With her eyes on the grey woman who was waiting for her in front of the basin of water, Lyra stepped across the threshold.