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Back Priestess of the White
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. TRUDI CANAVAN
  3. Dedication
  4. Map
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. PART ONE
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. PART TWO
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. PART THREE
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. 35
  44. 36
  45. 37
  46. 38
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 47
  56. 48
  57. EPILOGUE
  58. GLOSSARY
  59. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  60. About the Author
  61. Other Books by Trudi Canavan
  62. About the Publisher

The madam hesitated. “I suppose I can give you some food and a few coins. Enough to get you back to Porin. When I return we’ll talk about the rest. How does that sound?”

“Reasonable,” Emerahl lied.

“Good—but before you do, tell me why you feel you must abandon us. Was it today’s unpleasantness? It was a bit of bad luck, but surely travelling with us is safer than travelling by yourself. You’ve seen the lone workers, how ill and beaten they look.”

“I don’t intend to sell my body. I can get work as a healer.”

“You? Why would people pay you when they could get the services of a priest or Dreamweaver for free?”

“When people don’t have a choice they’ll take any help they can. There can’t be many priests or Dreamweavers left in the villages between here and Porin. They’ve all joined the army.”

“Of course there are. There are plenty of healers too old to travel who stayed behind.” The woman’s voice softened. “Are you sure about this, Jade? I would hate for anything bad to happen to you. You think a few Gifts make you safe, but there are men out there with cruel minds and stronger powers.”

Emerahl lowered her eyes.

“What are your chances of attracting unwanted attention alone, a girl of your looks? Here, with us, you are safer. As soon as we catch up with the army I will hire new guards. How does that sound?”

“Perhaps if…” Looking away, Emerahl chewed her lip.

Rozea leaned forward. “Yes? Tell me.”

“I want to be able to refuse a customer I don’t like the look of,” Emerahl said, raising her eyes to meet Rozea’s. “I want every third night off.”

“So long as you don’t refuse them all the time, I suppose that is reasonable for a favorite, but resting every third night is unreasonable. What about every sixth night?”

“Fourth.”

“Fifth, and I’ll raise your fee.”

“What point is there in that? You won’t pay me.”

“I will, when you need it—and I have enough to pay new guards.” The woman paused. “Very well,” she said slowly. “I will accept your limitations.” She leaned back in her seat and smiled. “So long as you give me your word you will stay with me for the next year.”

Emerahl opened her mouth to give her acceptance, then paused. She should not give in too easily.

“Six months.”

“Eight?”

Emerahl sighed and nodded. Leaning forward, Rozea patted her on the knee. “Wonderful. Now stay here while I see if the boys have managed to move that tree yet.”