Page 85 of Traitor Witch

“You’re growing attached,”my familiar scoffs.“You don’t want them to make you leave.”

“Stop reading me!” I growl, tugging the Solar away fromthe last of the crowds.

When we’re finally alone, I stop and turn to face the other witch. “Which way to your temple?”

I’ll make sure she gets home safe, then try to find a way to explain everything.

She just stares at me, blankly.

“You’re Nilsa.”

She didn’t phrase it as a question, so I don’t bother confirming it.

“Why are you here? Why are you wearing those robes? Why would you waste time saving me if you’re a witch-killer?”

I winced at the last one. “Find your own way home then.”

I turn to leave, but she grabs at my sleeve, keeping me there.

“My mistake, Shadow. Forgive me." She glances up, hazel eyes bright with curiosity and adrenaline. "I owe you my life.”

I bite my lip, nod once and keep walking, my sleeve falling from her hand as I do so.

But this Solar isn’t so easily deterred. “Please, come back to the Sun Temple. Mother Solar will want to thank you.”

I raise a brow, “That seems unlikely. I’ll walk you back, to ensure your safety, that's all.”

She just smiles. It's that same, calm Solar smile Felicity had. The kind of smile which hides so many undertones a Lunar can never hope to understand them all.

The memory of Felicity, more than anything else, is what makes me fall into step beside her.

“My name’s Elsie,” she says, “it was kind of you and your harem to come to my rescue like that.”

“They’re not my harem,” I object, “I’m travelling with them. That’s all.”

“Oh.”

I settle for the silence, but Elsie is a chatterbox. “So, whyareyou wearing Solar robes?”

I roll my eyes. “In most places, being a Solar grants you a little more public benevolence than being a Lunar. Or, at least, that was the case in Coveton.”

"You'll find little public benevolence in Ilyani. At best, most people think we’re outdated and useless. At worst, we’re dangerous zealots standing in the way of mage progress. Only the old or the incurable even give us a chance.”

Silence reigns again for just a heartbeat before she blurts, “Did you really kill High Priestess Felicity and High Priestess Glenna?”

I scowl at her. “You talk too much.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“You’re awfully bold for someone who called me ‘witch killer’ not five minutes ago,” I pause. I assumed she was young, but talking to her makes me wonder just how young. “How old are you?”

“Sixteen.”

Sweet Lady Moonlight, she isn’t even an adult by human standards. What’s she doing outside of her temple?

The question dies on my lips as a familiar figure jogs up behind us.

“Nilsa! Thank Goddess!”