Page 20 of The Warrior Priest (After the Rift #1)

Rhys grasped my shoulders and dipped his head to peer at me. “Get your things now, Jac, and come with me.”

“No. Not there.”

“Why not?”

“Mistress Blundle and the other neighbors have seen my face, and it’s connected to you and the order. I won’t endanger you, too, Rhys.”

“I can look after myself.”

I handed back the flyer, well aware that my hand shook. I turned to go inside.

“There’s another option,” Rhys said, following me in.

I got down on my knees beside the bed and pulled out an old bag from under it. All I needed to take was some clothes. Everything else could be left behind. I stood and found myself toe-to-toe with a seething Rhys.

He grabbed the bag’s handle. “Give up the pendant. He wants it, not you.”

I wrenched the bag free. “It’s the only thing I have of my mother’s.”

“When your uncle passes away, you can make a claim for it. There must be an inheritance law that says you have a claim on sentimental items.”

I didn’t know if that were true, but I did know there was a good chance I’d never see it again if I gave it up. I didn’t want to give it up, and certainly not to Uncle Roderic. My mother had pressed upon me the need to keep it safe and with me at all times. I wouldn’t fail her.

“You believe in the legend, don’t you?” Rhys asked, incredulous. “Is that it?”

Perhaps I did believe it. Or perhaps I simply wanted it to be true, so that I could wield the power myself, and defeat my uncle once and for all.

I hated being weak and reliant on men, including the fierce tower of muscle before me.

While it was reassuring to know he would protect me, what would happen if he was no longer around?

Besides, I meant what I said. I wouldn’t endanger him if I could help it. Which I could.

I opened my trunk and removed two folded shirts and shoved them into the bag.

“For Merdu’s sake, Jac! It’s not real. It’s just a story.” When I didn’t respond, he snatched the bag away. “I won’t let you risk your life for an object that can be replaced.”

I removed more clothing from the trunk and rounded on him.

Fury darkened his face and turned his features stony.

I knew his anger wasn’t directed at me, that he was worried, but I couldn’t help thinking that part of his anger was because I didn’t believe as strongly as him in the religion.

I was open to other possibilities, including the existence of the sorcerer and their power locked within a pendant.

Rhys’s faith wouldn’t let him consider an alternative to Merdu, Hailia, and the minor gods and goddesses.

Our differing beliefs had always been lurking between us, threatening to cause a rift.

It was a rift that could either be bridged or it would push us further apart. The outcome was up to us, and I’d hoped to tackle the subject at a later time that felt right. It was another thing my uncle’s actions had forced upon me before I was ready.

“Are you threatening to take the pendant off me?” I opened my arms wide. “Go ahead, Rhys. You’re stronger than me. I can’t stop you.”

“Don’t, Jac,” he growled. “Don’t do this.”

“Afraid of touching me, Rhys? Is that what’s holding you back?”

His gaze shuttered, his ferocity not quite extinguished, merely smoldering. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Tell me where you’re going. I’ll come tonight and we can talk about this like reasonable people.”

“I am being reasonable, Rhys. It’s you who isn’t reasonable. It’s one thing to have faith in something you can’t see or touch?—”

“Says the woman who believes a pendant holds power!”

“—but it’s another altogether to base your entire life around that faith, especially when you don’t even agree with all its rules!

You eat tasteless food because you’re told to eat it.

You can’t keep nice things because you’re not allowed .

You won’t even satisfy your most basic need because at some point long ago, a sexless person decided everyone should be like him and forbade his followers from experiencing the pleasures of the flesh because he believed it would help them serve the god and goddess better.

” I slammed the trunk lid down and rounded on him again.

“Oh, no, wait. You do satisfy your urges, just not with me .” I grabbed the bag and shoved the rest of my clothes inside. “Point taken, Rhys.”

I’d never seen him look so stunned. He stared at me, unblinking, his lips parted.

He scanned my face, as if searching for the woman he used to know, the one who may not have been meek, but was certainly mild-mannered.

I’d never shown any anger toward him before, never told him what I thought of his life as a priest.

That was because I’d never really had a strong opinion on the matter.

It had simply been a fact about Rhys that I accepted.

Yet that acceptance had begun to wane over the last little while.

I wasn’t even sure when it began. It had crept up slowly, then accelerated after that kiss.

Meeting Giselle and hearing about Rhys’s other women certainly hadn’t helped.

Discovering that he’d been willing to break his vow of celibacy for others but not for me had been the final straw.

Years of pent-up frustration had spilled out of me under the pressure.

It was an enormous relief to release that frustration. As much as I hated being the cause of his hurt feelings, I knew deep down it would have come out sooner or later.

Rhys’s throat moved with his hard swallow.

“I can’t tell whether you’re saying that to push me away to protect me from your uncle, but if that is the case, it won’t work.

I won’t be pushed away when you need me the most. I will always protect you, Jac, even if it means jeopardizing my position in the order. ”

I put the bag down, took a step toward him, and shoved him in the chest with both hands. He hardly budged, but I felt a little better for it. “You’re not listening to me, Rhys!”

There was nothing more to say to him that wouldn’t be repeating myself, so I picked up the bag and marched outside.

Rhys’s horse was tethered in the courtyard.

Some of the younger children patted him while others kept a cautious distance.

The delicious smells from Mistress Lowey’s kitchen filled the small space, as it always did at this time of day. It was a familiar, comfortable scene.

Yet something was amiss. Mistress Milkwood hurried to her home, her head bowed and gaze averted. She slammed her door closed, just as I heard the sound of horses’ hooves approaching quickly.

“Someone’s coming,” I said.

Rhys took the bag from my grip and threw it back inside my room, then picked me up by the waist and lifted me high. “The roof. Go!”

I grabbed the edge of the tiles and with Rhys pushing on the soles of my boots, I managed to gain purchase and haul myself the rest of the way. I scrambled up the slope to the ridge and rolled over to the other side. Still gripping the ridge, I lay low and peered down to the courtyard.

Several constables streamed through the entrance on foot. Behind them, on horseback, came the sheriff, Uncle Roderic and four of his guards. Although the constables were the sheriff’s men, it was my uncle who gave them orders.

“Search every room! Don’t let anyone leave.”

My neighbors emerged from their homes and demanded to know what was happening.

“You’ve been harboring a fugitive,” Uncle Roderic announced. “She has been hiding under your noses as a boy.”

Their gazes turned in the direction of my room. Mistress Lowey gasped only to cover her mouth with her hand.

My uncle pointed. “Whose horse is this?”

“Mine,” Rhys said. I couldn’t see him from my position on the roof, but his voice was loud and clear. I felt sick. Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut and leave quietly?

Uncle Roderic moved his horse forward. “You look familiar.”

“I’m Brother Rhys from Merdu’s Guards. I’ve been looking for the fugitive, too. Information led me here. It seems she left in a hurry.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Rhys had lied to save himself. Thank the goddess his masculine pride hadn’t got in the way of common sense.

The sheriff gave one of the constables an order. Moments later, I saw the constable hand my bag to the sheriff.

“When did she leave?” the sheriff demanded of my neighbors.

Most shook their heads or shrugged, but Mistress Lowey stepped forward. “Some time ago. There was a disturbance and she panicked and ran off.”

Hailia bless you, Mistress Lowey.

Uncle Roderic ordered the constables to fan out and search the other residences, beginning with Mistress Lowey’s. She stepped aside, chin up and chest out, then followed the two constables who entered her home.

It was time for me to go. I would stay on the roofs until nightfall then drop down to the street and make my way to Minnow’s house. She would give me shelter until I could decide what to do next.

“You! Priest!”

My uncle’s bark halted me. Panic constricted my chest. Had he seen through Rhys’s lie?

But it was worse than that.

“I remember you now,” Uncle Roderic snarled.

“He’s Master Tomaj’s second,” the sheriff said.

“He is. But I also know him because I saw him the night I saw her.” He pointed at Rhys. “You were protecting her then, weren’t you? Just as you’re protecting her now.”

My heart surged into my throat. I couldn’t leave. I had to see what unfolded next, in case Rhys needed me.

I peered over the roof’s ridge and down into the courtyard. Rhys came into view, leading his horse. He stopped near my uncle. I closed my eyes, willing him to keep moving, but when I opened them, he was still there, standing alongside his horse.

“It’s true,” Rhys told him. “You stopped and asked me about a youth with short hair. Something like that. I don’t recall. But I wasn’t hiding anyone. Not then and not now.” He sounded calm. Too calm, given the circumstances. My uncle would know it was an act.

“What were you doing out that night?” Uncle Roderic demanded.

“That’s none of your business.” Rhys gathered up the reins and prepared to mount.

Uncle Roderic withdrew his sword and pointed it at Rhys. “I have a right to know everything that happens in my city.”

Rhys removed his foot from the stirrup and turned to face my uncle.

“This isn’t your city. It belongs to the people.

And my business is Merdu’s business. You dare to challenge Merdu’s warrior?

” At my uncle’s hesitation, Rhys put a hand to the sword blade and moved it aside.

“I don’t want to hurt you, or your men.”

Uncle’s Roderic’s face distorted with his sneer.

“Sir,” the sheriff said, his voice pitched high. “Sir, we cannot detain a warrior priest. Master Tomaj and the rest of the order will descend upon us.”

Uncle Roderic watched as Rhys mounted. He didn’t sheath his sword, but he didn’t stop Rhys either.

“You are a plague on your order, Brother. Liars and oath-breakers have no place in Merdu’s Guards.

I will be watching you and when you make a mistake, I will expose you for the unworthy scum you are.

Not even your fellow brothers will want to save you then. ”

Rhys rode out of the courtyard.

I sank down and lay on my back. My breaths came in rapid bursts and my pulse pounded loudly.

Tears slipped out of the corners of my eyes, down the sides of my face to dampen the tiles.

My argument with Rhys had been bruising, but I wanted nothing more than to throw my arms around him and thank him for protecting me.

But meeting him again would be dangerous.

My uncle had him in his sights now. I didn’t doubt that he’d follow through on his promise to expose Rhys’s broken oaths.

While he broke none by seeing me, I wouldn’t put it past Uncle Roderic to falsify evidence then present it to the high priest. While Master Tomaj and the other brothers would protect Rhys, the high priest wasn’t so sentimental or forgiving.

While I lay there with the sun drying my tears, I knew I had to leave Tilting. I had to leave Rhys. It was the only answer.

I would hide away for now and bide my time until I was ready, and I would avoid Rhys in the meantime. I wouldn’t go anywhere near the order’s temple or the secret room he kept.

Drawing in a deep breath to steady my frayed nerves, I set off across the roofs of Tilting, heading toward the slums. Minnow would take me in, just as she took in other young women in need of help.

I was determined not to go near Rhys, but I broke my vow a few months later.

Mysterious events in Mull affected the entire kingdom, including Tilting, and distracted my uncle from his task of finding me.

It gave me a reprieve. I could breathe again and I slept through the night for the first time since he’d come for me in my home.

I did not continue my work for Rhys, however. My uncle wouldn’t be distracted for long and I didn’t want to draw attention to Rhys’s connection with me. Despite the candle flame flickering in the secret room’s window, I stayed away.

Until tragedy struck Merdu’s Guards. Master Tomaj died, and I knew Rhys would be reeling from the loss.

Tomaj had been Rhys’s anchor when his world had collapsed upon his father’s death.

Rhys could have given up on himself and spiraled out of control, but Tomaj had guided him and loved him as any father should. Their bond had been special.

Although Rhys had his priest brothers for support, he would need all his friends to gather around him now. He had always been there for me when I needed him, now it was my turn to be there for him.

I climbed the vine to the secret room’s balcony and lit the candle in the window. Then I waited for him to come.