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"They're pretty traditional in the temple," Talin admitted. "Just..."
"We won't tell," Yamina assured him. "Talin, it's no one else's business, but thank you for trusting us, ok?"
He reached over to take her hand. "Our mother would never understand," he told her gently. "Tath would use it as a reason to make me an outcast from the family."
"But Thiemo," Yamina said.
Maela just rubbed the girl's shoulder. "And Tath is holding that over his head. If you love your brother, you will never breathe a word of this, ok?" She glanced at Talin. "I give you my word that I won't say anything. I know what it's like to feel as if you're no longer welcome."
"Home," Zeal said softly, clearly understanding what she was referring to. That was the power of a god, after all. "You asked your parents to let you go back?"
Maela's head snapped up. "What?"
But Zeal's eyes just narrowed. "But they wouldn't let you bring the baby because that's the Ranndor heir, right?"
"How did you know that?" she demanded.
"No!" Yamina said, spinning to clutch at Maela. "You can't leave us."
"But Tath," Maela reminded her. "He's tired of me."
"You are still his wife!" Yamina snapped. "You're the only person in that house that talks to me."
"And you're Lady Ranndor," I reminded her. "I know that's not what you want to hear, but what's the difference between claiming the title and making your own rules or moving back home? Even if Tath would allow your marriage to be annulled - which isn't likely - you'd never be eligible for another offer. You'd live on your family's charity. At least at Sandrest, you have your own power."
"She's right," Zeal said. "The laws of Temptation give you as much power as your husband. Most wives never use it, but it's there. I hope you stay with us, Maela. I think you're the perfect representation of Temptation."
"I follow Merci," she told him. "I always have."
"I promise you that one does not negate the other." Then he reached over, offering his hand palm up. Maela put hers in it, so Zeal went on. "Ideally, you should worship all of the gods equally. Each is a single aspect of humanity. But you? You are an intelligent woman with a quiet strength. You've simply never been allowed to use it before. I hope you do, though. I hope that you're willing to set an example so that one day Yamina will have choices that you were never given."
Maela nodded. "I can try, but I'm not some brave and imposing woman. I'm not even ready to lead the household at Sandrest. Pia would've been good at this. I'm not!"
"No," Zeal promised. "Pia's power comes from your fear, nothing more. She doesn't have the strength to hold up an entire barony on her shoulders."
"Would Zeal really replace us?" Maela asked. "Nari said that was a possibility, but has it ever happened before?"
"Many times," Zeal promised. "It's how the Ranndor family came to rule the province, actually. If the baron neglects his duties for long enough, the name in the book will change."
"No notice?" she asked.
He shook his head. "None. Leadership should not need to be coddled. Gods demand respect from those who are granted power."
"And how long does it take before they're, I dunno, negligent?" Maela sounded worried.
Zeal's eyes darted to me, then back to Maela. "Usually somewhere around two years."
I wanted to ask him what he was doing, but I couldn't. Not without giving away his ruse. Still, the concern on Maela's face said enough. Tath had been named the baron almost a year ago, which meant he only had about a year left before his god removed him, but I wasn't sure of the exact date of Tath's ascension to the position. Probably sometime in the spring, from what it sounded like. Talin would know, yet I didn't really want to ask him where the others would hear.
Instead, I decided to shift the subject just a bit, hoping my god could tell me just a little more. "Is the entire temple worried about this or something?"
"Mm," Zeal murmured. "Enough are. In truth, I think the High Priest is hoping, because a new family running the barony? That would give him even more power. Although the people also seem to like the Ranndors, which means they have public opinion on their side."
"So what do I do?" Maela asked.
"Bring your family back to the faith," Zeal told her. "Use your friendship with Nari as an excuse, then learn. I promise we will welcome you with open arms, but we need someone to welcome."
The serving boy returned at that moment with our drinks and a selection of pastries. Catching Zeal's eye, I excused myself from the table for a moment, needing a word with him. Thankfully, he understood. I stepped out front, moving just far enough aside to no longer be visible from the windows. A moment later, Zeal slipped through the door.
