Then another woman spoke. Her voice rose with authority above the others. “On the day she arrived, I felt our young shepherd would bestow great blessings upon us. And over time my belief in her, and her destiny among us, has only strengthened.”

Anna could not believe her ears. She looked up to see who had spoken and found herself floating in Shereen’s gaze.

Ruth glanced over to see the exchange. Seeing the look that passed between them, she felt something fizz beneath her skin.

Was there not something that ran between the two women? A joining? A connection deeper than anyone realized?

At that moment, a bell rang in the next chamber, signaling that the baths were ready. The Sisters stood and shuffled into the next room, where they passed bowls of cool water.

Numb from all that had transpired, Anna followed Ruth toward a far wall.

“Hold still,” Ruth told her. She then began to scrub Anna’s limbs with oils and a rough stone. Soon the room filled with the sound of brushing as the Sisters proceeded to scour one another clean.

That night, unable to sleep, Anna restarted the fire in her chamber and sat on the ledge looking up at the stars. Down below, she heard her flock milling about, forming and re-forming groups as some sought warmth while others braved the chill to continue grazing.

But Anna’s thoughts were far from her sheep. Shereen’s words in the Cloud Bath had left her restless.

Did she really believe that Anna possessed a destiny among them?

The possibility made her heart sing. Then, just as she began to wonder what her particular destiny might be, she felt a pain stab her heart.

Wincing, she looked up into the stars and saw her mother’s face forming between the lights. Mari’s eyes shimmered between those Anna could remember and those of Shereen—the two gazes blending into one.

Anna’s eyes filled with tears and the vision began to swirl.

How she wished her mother could be there to see what she had become.

CHAPTER 19

The Village of Kerek—25 A.D.

Descending into the valley well before dawn, Solomon hoped his arrival would go unnoticed. As he made his way toward the village, he was shocked to discover its sky alight with fast-moving torches. Rushing into the streets, he found the villagers dashing from house to house and streaking along the perimeter. Behind them, an ungodly wailing rose into the sky.

Solomon grabbed hold of a young boy.

“What is it?” he asked. “What has happened?”

The boy pointed back toward one of the houses. “Someone has killed Jaruk and his son. The women woke to find them still on their sleeping mats. Drowned in their own blood!”

Aghast at the news, Solomon released his hold.

“Watch yourself!” the boy cried over his shoulder as he fled. “The murderers still wander free!”