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Back The Alcazar Save as PDF
Chapters (51)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Map
  4. Part One
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. Part Two
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. Part Three
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. Part Four
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. Part Five
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. Part Six
  41. 32
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. Acknowledgments
  48. About the Author
  49. Books by Amy Ewing
  50. Back Ad
  51. About the Publisher

The day passed slowly. Novices brought meals for her, but Leela had no appetite and only picked at the food. A few times she would press her ear against the door, to see if there really was a novice keeping watch over her at all times. And she always heard the shuffling sound of feet or a soft hum or a whispered recitation of prayer.

The light coming in through the window grew dimmer as night fell. There were no candles or lanterns in the chamber of penitence and Leela let the darkness surround her. She would alternately pace the room or throw herself on the bed, unable to stay still for long, but with no place to truly go. It must have been past the hour of the owl but not yet the hour of the dark when there came a gentle knock on the door.

Leela was lying on her back, staring up at the window, and she sat up so quickly her head spun. No one should be visiting her and it was far past the time for any more meals. She was beginning to wonder if she had imagined it when the knock came again.

“Leela?” a quavering voice whispered.

Leela gasped and rushed to fling open the door. Standing in the hall, with a look of sheepish pride on her face, was Elorin.

9

“ELORIN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” LEELA ASKED, pulling her inside and closing the door.

Elorin was a young novice, one of Leela’s circle of friends who had found her calling in a life of devotion to Mother Sun. Leela had never been very close to the girl until after Sera fell, when she began to spend more time at the temple in hopes of learning about the High Priestess’s treachery. Elorin had been an unexpected comfort, a friend when Leela wondered if she would ever be able to trust anyone again. It was Elorin who had told Leela about the secret place the High Priestess would retreat to when she wished to refresh her mind and recommit to her faith. But Leela knew the truth now. She had seen the secret place with her own eyes.

“I wanted to see you,” Elorin said. “So I asked Novice Cresha if I could watch over you tonight instead of her. Oh, Leela, is it true what they’re saying? Did you really breach the sacred circle of the birthing houses?”

“It’s true,” Leela said, and Elorin gave a tiny cry.

“But why? I hope you do not mind my saying so but . . . that sounds more like something Sera would have done.”

Leela let out a breathy laugh. “Yes,” she agreed. “It does.”