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I sniffed and leaned back to see his face. "But I shouldn't be here."
He pressed his large hand over mine, proving he also had the black marks across his fingers. "Zeal doesn't agree."
"I'm not really ten!"
For a moment, everything paused. Jamik met Amerlee's gaze, and I knew they were doing the adult thing that I didn't understand. She shook her head, so he ducked to look into my face.
"How old are you, kiddo?"
"Nine. I'll be ten after the first snow."
"So almost," Amerlee said. "And Zeal chose you. He put his story on your hands, so I think that means he decided you're old enough." But she sighed. "We'll tell Saval tomorrow, but I don't think it's going to change anything."
"He must've been desperate," Jamik said softly.
"Yeah," Amerlee agreed. "And her feet are almost raw, which means she hasn't had shoes in a while."
"Just..." Jamik paused to lean his head against the top of mine. "Take care of her, darling. She's a tiny little bunny right now, and I don't want the wolves to eat her up later."
She let her fingers slide through the hair across my back. "She just has to learn that she's loved first. That it's ok to let herself feel all of this. Don't ask her to stop crying, just hold her while she does. That'll make her stronger than anything else, but I don't think your little bunny is fragile. I think she's young, scared, and so very brave."
"Is she pretty enough?" he asked, the words a whisper.
"Her hair should darken, her eyes are big, and she has an adorable little face. Then again, she could grow up to be a guardian."
"Or anything else," he agreed. "Zeal put her in our path for a reason, though. Yours, I mean."
"And where I go, you go," she said softly. "I'm claiming her as my acolyte, but I want you to spend time with her as well. Promise me that?"
"Anything your heart desires," he swore. "You are my reason for living, Amerlee."
"Then let's make sure she has one of her own. Carry her to bed for me? And tomorrow, we'll take breakfast in here."
I was asleep before the blankets were pulled over my body. Unfortunately, not even that could stop the tears from leaking out. The only thing I knew was that I wasn't wanted. I'd never been wanted, but at least this time I was going to be warm.
Chapter 4
Nariana
The next day, I started school. Well, sort of. Amerlee and I had breakfast in her room, her friend returned from wherever she'd been the night before, and then we left. With one hand holding Amerlee's, the other clutching the stuffed bunny that Jamik had given me, and dressed in a pretty new shirt and pants - both black - I followed her through the halls of the temple.
Our feet were loud on the hard stone, and the soles of my sandals made the sound sharp instead of slapping. When I started skipping to hear the click-clack, Amerlee didn't chide me. Instead, she smiled and joined in herself. Her skinny-heeled boots tapped like they were made of metal, and her laughter was beautiful. Before I knew it, I'd forgotten that I wasn't wanted.
Because Amerlee wanted me. She said she was going to become my mentor, and that Jamik was going to help. I didn't really understand what that meant, but I understood that for the first time in my life, someone had chosen me. She didn't make me feel like I was in the way. This woman seemed honestly happy to have me with her.
Eventually, we reached the student hall. A big sign was posted outside the main door, but I could barely read it. About the only thing that made sense was the number one that was so large. Amerlee said that it was welcoming the new class of first years, and that it meant me. Then she followed me inside, guiding me toward an older woman at the front.
"Saval," she greeted her.
"Priestess Amerlee," Saval replied, bowing her head in respect. "This is an unexpected honor."
Amerlee smiled down at me. "This is Nariana. Jamik should've talked to you?"
"He did, and he brought me her papers. I'm sorry you were put in the middle of that. I heard she made quite the fuss at the basin."
Amerlee smiled at me proudly. "That she did, but do you blame her? She's not even ten years old."
Saval sucked in a breath. "Are you sure?"
