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"And then?" Talin asked.
I licked at my lip, reaching for the book at the top of the stack. "And then maybe I'll have more than one friend."
"Or four," he said, reaching for the second book. "Want to know what will help more than anything?"
"What's that?" I asked.
He lifted those blue eyes, looking up so that his lashes framed them perfectly. "Nari and I are going to spend the holidays with the Baron. While we're gone, look out for Ela and Wraythe. Tell her that you'll make sure they aren't on their own. Just that. Nothing more. Because the truth is that she hates the idea of leaving them alone to deal with her mess for a week. She's nervous that splitting us up is the first step to destroying us."
I nodded slowly, knowing she had a point. "I won't tell her, but I'll do it. I'm not looking for glory, Talin. I'm just trying to be the guy she honestly deserves."
"Yeah," he said softly, "I'm kinda getting that impression. And so you know, I don't need her permission to make my own friends. Zeal doesn't have to be the only one you have."
"Just know that I'm a shit friend," I reminded him.
He chuckled. "Just know that I don't have a problem with calling you on your bullshit like she does."
Chapter 37
Nariana
Iwas in my bedroom, carefully packing my new clothes for this vacation with Talin's family. I wouldn't wear any of this between now and then, so it made the most sense to put it where it couldn't be destroyed. In the temple, women wore what they wanted. Outside of here, my sex was considered the fairer one, which was what these clothes were for.
Bustled dresses, layers of clothing, heavy fabrics, and cinched corsets were what normal people expected to see on women. The clothes I usually wore were scandalous. Temptations, one might even say. Priestesses in my temple liked dresses that were sheaths for their body, pants that were skin-tight, and shirts cut short enough to show off our lace-marked skin.
My new clothes were nothing like that. Oh, they were beautiful, but also bulky. Still, I liked the way I looked in full skirts and such elegant attire. It was a nice change. Unfortunately, my new things looked like a lot more when it was stored inside luggage than it did in my closet. Never mind that I had an entire bag of just shoes!
But this was necessary for spending time with the most elite in town. Lounging around in whatever was comfortable might be acceptable for a group of priests, but not a "proper lady." I wasn't a proper lady, though, and never would be. I was still expected to present myself as such. After all, the temple had spent ten years training me how to fake it so well it should feel natural.
I was making a list of the other things I'd need, like cosmetics and toiletries, when someone knocked at the door. I glanced back in confusion - because it was standing open - and saw Jamik smiling at me from the other side. The moment I looked at him, he walked in, closing the door behind him.
"Your gifts are ready," he said, reaching into his pocket to pull out a wrapped package. "This one needs to be packed to go with you."
"Talin's?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. I have the other two in my room." And he pulled a second box from his other pocket. "I gave Anver's to Amerlee like you asked, and then there's this." It was a long, narrow box covered in black paper. Clearly, that was Saval's pen.
I reached out for it. "So, should I save this for our family ordeal? Is that still happening?"
"It is," Jamik assured me, "but don't save it. Gifts on the Darkest Night remind people that they're loved. Everyone deserves that."
"Then I'll make sure this gets to Saval before we leave," I promised.
Jamik passed me the box, which I laid on my dresser. "Where's Talin?"
"Studying with Anver, actually," I said. "Seems they both have a weakness where the other has a strength. Talin's been trained on everything involved with high society, and Anver focused on the more common weapons and fighting styles. It sounds like they're filling in the gaps."
"Well, that ruins my plans," Jamik said. "Shalsa and I were thinking about taking Eladehl and Wraythe to see Nalph. Wraythe's shirts are starting to strain a bit, and Eladehl needs a wardrobe more suited to his future duties."
"Then take them," I said. "I need to study for my Service of Others course anyway."
"Don't want to leave you alone," he admitted. "Amerlee and Irila are out, so I can't even lock you away with them."
I grinned. "Hey, Zeal? Want to play guardian for a bit?"
"Sure." The answer came from the doorway, situated so that Jamik's body had blocked his appearance. "I believe I'm qualified for the Path of Protection. After all, I designed it."
Jamik didn't turn around, but he did grin at me. "I think that leaving you with a god is even better than a guardian. Pretty sure he can help you with the Service of Others, too."
