Soulbonder

Chapter 10 - Forsaken

"Huh?" Alora's eyes snapped open. She bounded upward and searched around the room, wildly, before noticing Shale. "What are you doing? Is everything okay?"

"Yes. Please be quiet. Everything's fine."

"Is it still night?"

"Yes. It's still night. Listen to me. I have to leave, okay?"

"Leave?" All traces of sleep left her eyes as they became lucid. "What in the name of Bragan do you mean?"

"I can't stay in the monastery anymore. I have to leave tonight."

Alora's brow knit together as she puzzled the words out. "To go off with those people from the inn? Shale, you can't. There's something very strange about those folk."

"I know. I don't trust them either."

"Wait. I don't understand. Where are you going then?"

"Out east, to Blackfin."

"Blackfin? Eleven above!"

"Shh. Please, try to be quiet. Blackfin or anywhere really. Anywhere that I can have a fresh start."

"But-"

"It'll mean breaking my vows. It'll mean excommunication. I know. I'm fine with that."

"Eleven," Alora said softer this time. She ran her fingers through her hair. "Life isn't like a storybook, Shale. Folk can't just turn their back on security and shelter. You should hear some of the struggles of those outside of town, who come here to confess."

"I do hear them," Shale said seriously. "I know what I'm getting into and I'm willing to take my chances."

Alora frowned.

"Please, Alora. I don't belong here. You must see that. I'm not good at it the way you are. If I stay, I'll wither up. I need to leave, even if it's the more difficult path. I need you."

"I'm so sorry, Shale." Her expression slackened. "Truly, I am. But I just can't aid you in this. I'm going back to sleep."

"No, but-"

Alora turned away, leaving Shale on the edge of her bed, feeling sick. For one brief, beautiful moment, she'd been close to sampling the sweet milk of freedom, but it'd soured before it so much as touched her lips.

What could she do now except return to bed? She wanted to cry, wanted to scream, but just felt too weak and broken to make a fuss. Numbly, she stood and drifted back across the room.

"Yes," Alora said, "Into a deep sleep. So deep in fact that if someone were to go into the third drawer of my bedside cabinet and dig under the blankets to find my keys, why I don't think even the rattle should wake me."

In one glorious instant, the emptiness inside Shale was replaced by pure elation. She rushed to Alora, forgetting that she had to keep quiet, and threw her arms around the junior SanMother. "Thank you, oh thank you. Thank you so much."

Alora did not move. In response, she simply gave a loud, theatrical snore.

Upon retrieving the keys, Shale swiftly exited the dormitory and scampered through the corridor and down the stairway. She made her way into the prayer room.

As she walked down the aisle, she reflected that it was the first time she had ever been in this room in the dark of night. It was haunting, with all those murals and mosaics staring at her. She was particularly aware of the Eleven alabaster Gods at the opposite end of the room, watching her as she approached the large double doors. They would disapprove of what she was going to do next.