Priestess

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Jarrer’s jaw set defiantly when Bomin told him of Essenia’s prophecy. “I already broke my oath by training Ara. I will not break it further.” With that, he stormed past them.

Bomin watched Jarrer go. “So goes the asking,” he muttered.

“Can you have things ready by tomorrow?” Ara asked.

“If I start now.” Before he’d even passed through the doors, he was shouting orders.

Ara went in search of Lodan. Finding him in their shared room, she imparted all of Essenia’s prophecy. “Jarrer has refused to come. Essenia said I must make him see me as hope.”

Lodan lurched to his feet. “Well then, I suggest we start.”

Ara hesitated before following him. She found Jarrer in his library, nursing a bottle of liquor. She squared off in front of him. “You’re to come with us.”

Jarrer’s hard demeanor turned fierce. “Let me grieve in peace.”

Fists clenched at her sides, Ara’s glared at him. “You’ve been grieving for over two decades. Has it made your life any happier? If you wish to honor Tallin and find peace, defeat those that destroyed her!”

To her astonishment, his expression crumpled. “Don’t you see? It’s my fault. I went against the first prophecy.”

Ara stared dumbly at him. She had no idea what prophecy he was referring to, but she didn’t believe he could be at fault for the entire war. “But now there is a second prophesy. Make this one right, and you’ll find the peace you seek.” She didn’t know if it was true or not, but it was the most hopeful thing she could think of.

He threw back another mouthful of alcohol.

“Jarrer,” she said in a low rumble. “You are a hypocrite and a liar! When I first came here, you told me to accept my fate! And yet here you sit, refusing to accept yours!”

She tore the alcohol from his hands and hurled it into the floor. It burst, shards of glass scattering and alcohol splashing her shins. The vapor stung her eyes and nose.

Hardly believing what she had done, Ara turned on her heel and fled. Since Coen had brought her here, she’d had no contact with the outside world. No word of her home or the people that she loved. A deep restlessness stirred within her. Even deeper still, a warning sounded in her breast. Essenia was right. It was time to leave the Blood Mountains.

She slept little that night. Long before morning came, she had her bags packed and ready. She walked slowly through the cave, hoping to see Jarrer fitted for travel. There was no sign of him.

Her hand on the outer tracer door, she cast a final glance at the beautiful sculptures inside. Coen was right. Thinking of Bondell no longer set off a deep ache in her chest. Just a little sadness. Perhaps, someday, it wouldn’t hurt to remember leaving the Blood Mountains either. 

“Goodbye, Jarrer,” she whispered. “I don’t think I’ll miss you, but I do regret how it ended.” There was no answer. Taking a calming breath, she left the cave.

Already waiting outside, Bomin grinned mischievously at the sight of her.

She arched her eyebrows in question.

Bomin bounced on his heels and then brought his hands out from behind his back, revealing tooled leather boots.

They squeaked under her grip as she inhaled the new leather scent. She reached inside and sure enough, found they were steel toed. “But I lost,” she protested weakly.