As she did so, Aramus slid them fully into their bed, pulling the bedclothes over them and rolling her to her back, with him atop her, making the decision on his earlier conundrum, when her soft body was under his, thus taking the kiss deeper.

His queen pressed closer.

When he broke the kiss to slide his lips down her neck, she said in his ear, “You are right, my king. This is happiness.”

He knew he was right.

He still took her mouth yet again to show his gratitude that she agreed.

113

The Connection

Tedrey

Journey to the Ancient Ritual Ground

WODELL

They rode under the cover of night.

They slept in hiding during the day.

They gave him food and water, and fortunately were so determined to get where they were going, they paid him little mind except to secure him when the time had come to rest.

However, Tedrey had a feeling things were going to change when, before the fall of twilight, he heard the hoot of a bird which caused a milling within the cave where they had holed up for the day.

At the sound, one of Fenn’s brethren, wearing the clothing of a Dellish, not the robes of a Go’Doan priest, went to the cave’s mouth.

There was then a muted commotion and torches were lit as several men who had not been traveling with them moved into the cave.

Fenn walked directly to the man at the front.

Fenn studied that man closely.

He was much older, but he still had soft, golden hair and a good deal of it that grew all the way down to brush the shoulders of his fine coat.

He also had an air of authority, and it was clear all those with him, and the others in the cave, regarded him deferentially.

“Thom,” Fenn greeted, bowing his head respectfully as he made it to the man.

Thom?

G’Thom?

Golden Thomas?

Tedrey, his wrists bound to his feet, focused closer on the new arrivals.

“We were to meet you, not the other way around,” Fenn continued.

“It is no longer safe for us in the Dome City,” Thom replied.

It was no longer safe—for priests—in the Dome City?

Fenn looked as shocked as Tedrey felt.

“How could that be?” Fenn asked.

“They located our funds before we could discover where Carrington had them hidden. And Carrington proved himself more of a buffoon than his detection and capture showed him to be. He kept the records with the funds, rather than elsewhere.”

“They have our records?” Fenn asked in disbelief.

“They have everything,” Thom confirmed. “However, in my case, that mattered not. Some of Carrington’s communications were uncovered. He referred to me within them.”

Thom lifted a hand and rested it on Fenn’s shoulder before he shared further.

“There is great dissension in our home, my brother. A door was opened, and a tidal wave poured through it. Priests turning against priests. The more reprisals against our own in Wodell and Firenze, and now even Airen, the expulsion of our priests from Firenze, the more anger our brotherhood is treated to by those who refused to follow our ways. Anger will obviate fear, and now we no longer hold the upper hand with those who knew of us but knew not to speak of us. Thus, when the Go’En called for me to attend them with urgency, I had to escape my sacred city in the strictest of secret. I could not even give word to our brothers that they needed to take measures to protect themselves.”