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Chapter 14

“The Allfather has blessedme beyond measure,” my brother said, the pride and satisfaction evident in the clearly joyous tone of his voice. “I have found my sister again. She was lost and now is found.”

The Prophet’s eyes flicked across me with a finely-threaded disgust.

“She was in the city? Place her in the house with the other whores.”

“Father, no,” Rhyder’s voice rung out. “She’ll stay with me.”

There was a beat of silence and my heart started pounding.

“Rhyder,” the Prophet said, “She has been living with the Unsaved for years. Her place is with the common women, to be used as any in the Congregation see fit, a body to purge our unholy lust on.”

Fear flickered through my body.

I had only known my brother to disobey a direct order from the Prophetonetime before.

And that had also had to do with me.

“Holy One,” Rhyder said earnestly, “It is unjust to visitmysins on her head. It was my failing. I was filled with pride in my own hunting ability, and I stayed out that day longer than I should have, because I was proud of my own hunting ability and wanted to display it.”

Not true, I thought.He stayed out because he was pissed I said I didn’t want to be his wife.

But I saw the Prophet stroke his chin, considering Rhyder.

Eli made as if to speak, but the Prophet held up his hand.

“You may keep Temperance for your own exclusive use, in your home,” he said, and Rhyder bowed his head.

“Praise be to the Allfather for your mercy,” he exulted.

As he bowed his head, I saw the Prophet shoot Eli a warning look.

He was warning Eli to be quiet, not protest.

It benefited the Congregation to keep their most powerful warrior happy, but they did not like it.

But why? Why did they care if Rhyder took an exclusive whore or not?

I felt unease flicker through my body.