BooksBarbecue
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

“I swear, in the name of Lore, they will remain unharmed. But how can we trust that you will change the alliance after we have left?”

Mairae’s mouth relaxed into a smile. “The gods do not allow us to break our promises.”

Bal grunted. “We must be satisfied with that. Return in an hour. We will give you our answer.”

As Mairae entered the Temple the villagers fell silent.

“A peaceful solution has been found,” she announced. “The Dunwayans have left. You may return to your homes.”

At once the Temple filled with cheers.

Auraya had followed Mairae, Avorim and Qurin into the room. “You little fool!” a familiar voice cried. Her mother rushed forward to embrace her tightly. “Why did you do that?”

“I’ll explain later.” Auraya looked for Leiard but he was nowhere in sight. As her mother released her she suddenly realized that Mairae was standing beside her.

“Auraya Dyer,” the White said. “That was bravely done.”

Auraya felt her face heat up. “Brave? I was scared the whole time.”

“Yet you didn’t let fear silence you.” The woman smiled. “You demonstrated a rare insight. Avorim tells me you are an intelligent and exceptionally Gifted student.”

Auraya glanced at the priest, surprised.

“He did?”

“Yes. Have you considered joining the priesthood? You are older than our usual initiate, but not too old.”

Auraya’s heart sank. “I would love to, but my mother…” She glanced at her parents. “She is ill. I look after her.”

Mairae looked at Auraya’s mother. “The healers in the Temple are the best in the land. If I send one here to tend you, would you allow Auraya to join us?”

Feeling light-headed, Auraya looked back at her parents, whose eyes were wide with astonishment.

“I would not like to cause so much trouble,” her mother began.

Mairae smiled. “Consider it an exchange: a new priestess for a fully trained one. Auraya has too much potential to be wasted. What do you think, Auraya?”

Auraya opened her mouth and let out an undignified squeal that she would recall with embarrassment for years to come. “That would be wonderful!”

PART ONE

1

Though Danjin Spear had entered Jarime’s Temple on several occasions before, today he felt as if he were arriving for the first time. In the past he had visited on behalf of others or in order to perform minor services as a translator. This time was different; this time he was here to begin what he hoped was the most prestigious job of his career.

No matter where this led him, even if he failed or his duties proved tedious or unpleasant, this day would be imprinted on his memory forever. He found himself taking more notice of his surroundings than he usually did—perhaps in order to memorize them for future reflection. Perhaps only because I’m so anxious, he thought, this journey feels as if it’s taking forever.