Elven Legacy

Chapter 10

Kitera

It was around noon when she walked, with laden steps, across the castle grounds, one of her guards pointing Kitera toward the chapel at the end of the east wing.

She wasn't too surprised. It wasn't unusual for Jaden to attend the morning service these days. After High Priest Morgan Ellyus had passed away, Jaden had tasked Moira with finding a new priest for the castle's church.

The ones among Kitera's guards who were religious thought Lady Moira chose well.

Priest Velior was in his thirties, and he was also a scholar and a progressive. Which meant he didn't want to revert to the old ways – like, for instance, he was against the ritual sacrifice of animals and people. That was great, sure.

Kitera still avoided the church like the plague though – not her thing.

After the eastern stables, she passed a vibrant cluster of maple trees bearing yellow and red leaves, and found Jaden and Moira in fine, elegant clothing, talking with Priest Velior, Fredrick Nightvale – Jaden's uncle – and a few other nobles.

They stood on the outdoor steps, under a sloping stone-tiled roof. The door behind them was solid oak, with the seven-tipped star painted in blue and silver at the tips. Matching the small one on Kitera's uniform.

She caught the scent of rain on the wind, and now, mixed with that, wafted the burning incense from the church; sage, if she wasn't mistaken. It did nothing to alleviate the churning of her stomach. She felt as though she was going to be sick. She kept clenching and unclenching her fists as, finally, she paused at the foot of the stone steps. On either side sat mid-sized shrubs that had lost their summery blossoms a while back.

Kitera met Jaden's gaze, and he seemed to detect the urgency on her face. He excused himself to the others, and hurried down to join her.

Standing a few inches taller than Kitera, he looked formal with a slim black coat over his black-and-gold military uniform. His thick, light-blond hair was parted to the side and loose, wavy from the humidity, the longest strands reaching just past shoulder-length. Kitera didn't know if he simply had no facial hair, or if he was always very close-shaven, but she didn't think she'd ever seen him with a stubble. Keen gray eyes, appealing angles and a fine-boned nose caused his features to border on androgynous, though he'd proven, time and time again over the past year that he wasn't just a pretty face.

Kitera knew that most people – though some gingerly – agreed that Jaden was doing great work and had his heart in the right place. Younger generations, especially, were excited about his ideas.

And the religious ones had decided that the gods must be favoring Jaden, since the weather had been good this spring and summer.

Stupid. But hey, whatever works.

Worry dominated Jaden's expression as they walked together to the maple trees for some privacy. The fallen leaves made satisfying crunches under their boots, and a chickadee sang its peaceful little tune over their heads. Making the situation even more surreal for Kitera.

Because of the news she had to deliver, anxiety whipped at her, and her heart thundered with shame.

"Kitera?" he said softly when they stopped. "What's wrong?"

Why is he so freaking nice all the time, anyway? Makes everything worse, doesn't it?

She swallowed, uneasily. "Listen, um, something's happened at the market."

Fear flashed across his eyes, and he crossed his arms, like he was cold.

"What happened?" he asked, his tone grimmer now. "Where's Zemisha?"