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"Yes," Zeal said, "we do. That isexactlyhow we work."
I ignored him, but beside me, Talin smiled. The problem was that Kinen saw. "Do you think that is funny, guardian?"
"Ironic is a better word," Talin replied. "Since all of us are judged based on our marks with the impression that Zeal has chosen us or guided us by them. For you to say that Zeal's marks on Nariana's body do not fall under that category seems... ironic."
So Kinen leveled his eyes on Talin. "And when your ward is cast from the temple, you will do this process as well."
"I will have my marks removed, yes," Talin assured him.
"No, you will not," Zeal mumbled. "I will not take them."
Talin ignored him. "And once my skin is bare, I will follow my ward from the temple without any trappings of the priesthood or the Temple of Temptation. You see, High Priest, I believe my marks are correct. If they are, that means hers are as well. To me, any other outcome is a sign of corruption in the leadership, and I will not be a part of that."
"Your father surrendered you," Kinen reminded him. "Do you honestly think your family would have you back?"
Talin smiled cruelly. "Myfatheris dead, Priest Kinen. My brother is nothing like him."
"Is that a threat?" Kinen asked.
"Yes," Talin assured him. "Let's do away with the pretense. You do not want your place at the top threatened. Right now, you are a very desperate man. What you can't seem to wrap your mind around is the concept that we do not care. Nariana has never wanted to take your place. In fact, I've been told that all of this started because the idea of public speaking and management - which I believe is the vast majority of your duty - are horrifying to her. Her only goal has been to show others the bounties Zeal offers. To lead them to her god. To tempt them when it is necessary. To safeguard them when she cannot avert their problems. To make the entire process easy, and most of all, to serve the will of Zeal. She wants to become the priestess that lifts you up, not the one that pulls you down, but you are too afraid to let her."
"She is a child!" Kinen snapped.
Talin just crossed his arms over his chest. "She is the most beautiful woman in this entire temple, and you know it. She is an adult as seen by our god. Her only mistake was accepting everything she was taught and believing that our god is real and miraculous."
"Then let us prove it," Kinen said, gesturing to the door I'd just come in. "Please follow me, Initiates."
I turned to follow, only to find Zeal standing in my way. "I will not leave you. I will not lose you either, Nariana. I am a god, and I am not ready to let you go. You are and will always be my chosen. Have faith."
"I believe you have a reason for what you do, Zeal. I only wish it was easier."
Kinen paused, hearing my words, but Zeal leaned in to palm my cheek. "The things worth doing rarely come easily. If they did, they would feel shallow."
"Praying?" Kinen asked, having only heard my side of that.
"Yes, Priest Kinen," I said. "I thought it was appropriate." And then I moved to follow him.
When we left the room, Kinen was in the lead. Shoulder to shoulder, Talin and I followed. He angled to the door on the left, and the crowd parted to let him through. Voices murmured around us, eyes followed us, and every expression looked different. Some were angry about my marks. Others seemed afraid. A few, thankfully, looked excited.
And there, right beside the door, were Eladehl, Wraythe, Jamik, Amerlee, and Saval. I thought that was all until Eladehl tilted his head, saying something to the guy behind him, and I saw Anver. When my eyes landed on him, he nodded in encouragement.
Because he'd never really left me. He'd backed away, and I knew some of that was my fault, but he hadn't actuallyleft.I'd just been so sure that he would. For the last few years, Anver had continued to linger in our shadow. We'd lost what we'd once had, but there was still a thread binding us together. One thread, but it was enough to bring him here when I needed to see him most.
"I believe you," he mouthed before his eyes jumped to Talin, and then behind him to someone else.
Then we reached the door. Kinen pulled it open, the creak of tired hinges quieting the murmurs around us. He descended first. I followed, with Talin right behind me. We'd made it only a handful of paces when the creak sounded again, echoing down through the stone of the stairwell, and the door boomed closed behind us.
A gas lamp lit the top, but the deeper we spiraled down, the lights turned to candles housed in glass casings. The glow turned warmer, more golden, giving the path a divine feeling. Knowing there was a god walking behind Talin may have been why.
The descent was longer than I remembered for my Choosing, but that could've been my anxiety. Eventually, we reached the bottom, but there was no real hall. A vestibule described it well enough. This was the landing space between the stairs and the door before us. A thick, heavy plank door whose wood had aged to darkness. The handle on it was worn smooth from countless hands reaching for it, but there was no obvious latch.
"Priest Talin," Kinen said, "you may wait here."
"I go with her," Talin insisted.
"No. This is one of the few times the rules make it clear you cannot. In the seventh chapter, third paragraph, the word of our god claims that only the High Priest may observe an immersion, standing in as a witness for Zeal himself.Only, Talin. Youwillwait here, or risk her trial being marked a failure."
"It's ok," I told him, glancing back to Zeal. "My god will be with me."
