I’ll be posting a chapter from my book series: Solen Masters. This is a Paid Exclusive for a month in certain places until it’s posted here, before I release it to a Selection of Fiction Sharing sites, such as Royal Road. Most Chapters for each book will at some point be mostly removed from almost all places.
If you spot a typo, please let me know, so I can correct it before the final release.
Bethusta’s Temple of the Four had several travellers praying before leaving for the City. For Sharise, this was her first stop back in the city, before returning home at the Palace. Kiiron’s Mother was Priestess in charge of the Temple. Sharise’s temporary Squire in training was to return to his old life.
Instead of seeing the Priestess, Sharise spotted a Vedran girl wearing Acolyte Robes, and a mask representing one of the figures in the book. She waved Sharise and Kiiron over, “Lady Aria is in the back. She’ll want to see Kiiron soon as possible, and also wants you, Sharise, to give a report on how he was last night.”
Sharise smiled, “Sure, the Priestess had insisted that I make sure Kiiron was returned in person. I’ve got a few things to have a word about when it’s a little less busy.”
The Acolyte waved her hand to indicate the group in the room, “Yeah, This group are planning to get on one of the ferries that leave this afternoon. At least, you don’t have to worry about the red head from House Eston.”
Sharise’s eyes spotted red haired girl performing the prayer rituals nearby. Red hair was uncommon for Vedrans, especially in women. The young woman in question was a second generational cross, in where she had clearly human and strong remnants of Verdan blood in her.
“Is she going with this group?” Sharise asked.
“Hopefully,” the acolyte sighed, “She’s been annoying some of the guard trainees for Lady Acacia’s unit. Poor Girls. Ayda came in here asking on how to deal with her, and you know that she doesn’t come here unless she has to. We don’t bar elves, but she devout worshiper of The Tree.”
Ayda was a tall elf girl, around the same height as Sharise. Keiya often joked that Sharise or Ayda size did more at Guarding than their training.
Sharise sighed, “If Ayda got annoyed, it sounds like she been a pain.”
The acolyte whispered, “There was a messenger with a letter for your mother. She was old for a messenger, but made the mistake of flirting with the red head when she was praying here. I heard that they spent a hour exploring the back streets, and the red head trying to get in the messenger’s pants. It was only then when Ayda found them, and took the red head to the Lower Ward baths. At least, it beats rolling around in the back alleys.”
“I still need to apologise for the screaming that you did last time I was in the baths,” Sharise said.
The Acolyte placed her hand on Sharise’s arm, “Don’t worry about it, you’re not in trouble. I was the one screaming.”
Sharise stammered, “But, but, I was drunk…”
“.. and I wanted you on top of me,” the Acolyte smiled, “You’d better get in the office now, The Priestess really wants to talk to you, including about that night at baths.”