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Yana knew how to hold onto power. She was a traditionalist, believing in the letter of the law more than the spirit. That made it even harder for me to figure out how she could stand by Kinen's side while the High Priest destroyed everything that had kept this temple running for centuries.
And of course, the pair were headed right for us. I reached up to wipe at my eyes, convinced that I had to look like a mess. Amerlee helped, using her thumb to remove dampness at the corner of my eye. The whole time, I watched Kinen make his way towards us, aware of how he held his chin a little higher.
"Priest Talin," he said when he was close enough, making it sound like a greeting.
"High Priest," I replied.
"The temple is sorry for your loss." But the man's lips were tensing higher, quivering in some parody of a struggle not to smile. "I'm surprised to see you here, after thetragedyin your house."
"Thank you for the condolences," I replied, knowing the steps to this social dance, yet not really feeling a part of it anymore.
Then Kinen's smile won. "I guess this means that Lady Ranndor is no longer the Primary Patron, hm?"
My ears began to feel muffled. A heartbeat later, and a dull ringing filled them. My body went still, and for just a moment, it was as if I was disconnected from everything. Maela was no longer the Primary Patron. She had been Zeal's best chance of reclaiming his temple.
Did that mean Zeal was truly gone? Had he spent too much of his divinity? Should I have been more worried about him instead of myself? What would this temple do if we truly lost our god? That would put Kinen in complete control, and then Nari would lose all of the protections her god had given us. She'd be cast out, ripped away from me. Ela, Wraythe, and Anver as well.
In the space of a heartbeat, I suddenly understood why Tath had done what he had. The idea of living in that world, unable to fight back, scared me to my core. A world without Nari? A life where everything we took for granted, all the things that made us happy, were just out of reach? That was not a life I wanted to live.
Thankfully, Amerlee had this under control. "We won't know that until the naming ceremony," she reminded Kinen. "Haryth, her son, is the rightful heir of the barony. He's also a child, which would make Maela the Primary Patron and regent until he comes of age for his legal maturity."
Kinen actually sneered at her. "And we all know that it's just as likely that another baron will be chosen. The gods rarely put toddlers in that position. Thiemo is the more likely candidate. Then again, with the disruptions the Ranndors have been making lately, it's just as likely that another family will inherit the title." He took another step closer, his gaze locked right on me. "Or maybe the tears aren't the only thing that's not working. Maybe no name will appear. In that case, we'll have to name our own choice as the Primary Patron of Temptation."
"That's not in the laws," I shot back.
Yana licked her lips. "Actually, in the event that the Book of Laws stays blank for more than a day, a majority of all the High Priests can elect the new baron."
And Kinen's lips split into a grin. "Such a shame. I should thank your brother, though. He's done me a favor."
I opened my mouth to scream at him for that, but Nari's hand caught mine, and she gripped just a little too hard. It made me look down, which gave the High Priest the chance to keep walking, yet I didn't miss his smug chuckle. I wanted to put my fist into that man's face. I thought about grabbing the dagger from my boot and throwing it. My body tensed as I debated going over the back of this pew and chasing him down.
But Jamik shifted, placing his body between me and the man I was trying to decide how I'd kill. His eyes were soft and filled with understanding, and he subtly shook his head. The air rushed from my lungs and the fight fled my body.
"Where is Zeal?" I whispered, the question for anyone and no one at the same time. "How could he let this happen?"
"I don't know," Nari admitted, "but it just means that it's up to us now."
"But we have no power here," I reminded her.
When I looked back to her, those golden eyes were waiting. Eyes that had been enhanced with Zeal's own divinity. Eyes that sparkled in the gas-lights, giving me some hint of hope to cling to.
"Then we'll make it," she swore. "Zeal didn't ask us to be his pawns, Talin. He made me his partner, and that means I have to step up, and I will. I'll do anything I have to..." She reached up to cup my face. "I'll do it for you too."
Chapter 73
Talin
Over the next two days, I returned home, but only for short visits. Nari and the guys vanished quickly, checking on the staff and helping however they could. But each time my mother realized they were in the residence, she flew into a fit of hysterics. When she threatened to throw herself down the stairs, I decided that I was causing more problems than we were solving, so I told Thiemo to keep me informed, and decided to spend the rest of my mourning period in the temple.
On the morning of the third day, Thiemo came to our suite. He was dressed in nothing but black, and yet the finest clothes I'd ever seen. Ela let him in, but when he stepped into the sitting room, my brother's eyes were on the ground. He sighed twice, all of us waiting for whatever news he'd brought.
"I'm supposed to take you to the funeral," Thiemo finally said. "Mother doesn't want Nari in attendance."
I turned back around in my chair and my eyes landed on the fire in the hearth. "Then she doesn't want me."
"Talin..." Thiemo tried.
But Nari moved to my side. "You need to go to this. I don't."
