“In Temple Efysis, every Disciple has a responsibility to learn how the Farasee Order maintains the Creed—our political laws upheld with the approval of the Empràr—and the spiritual morality of the empire.”
I watched the Farasee turn as he spoke, making sure he faced every Order, until he came to a stop.
Facing Incense Order.
I immediately brought my eyes to my scrollpapers.
“Much of these principles are aligned with dealing out judgment in the form of punishment. Specifically, the physical kind.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Ellabeth whispered just so I could hear.
I tilted my head her way, a nod that I agreed with her.
Why were we, Temple Farasees and Disciples, punishing anyone? Especially physically? Had I missed a chapter when studying the Farasee Accords?
“It could be for small offenses,” Kaelthos continued, those fiery golden eyes still locked onto Incense Order. “Such as a stolen cinderwolf from a Cherubim farm. A pilfered piece of dragonfruit from a chariot-stand at the Feather Market.” He lifted a finger. “Then there are the greater offenses. An attempt on a Legionnaire’s life. Wanting to usurp the Empràr’s throne. Helping fallen angels and hèlborns breach the Seal Gate.”
Farasee Kaelthos floated into the air and hovered above the gilded dais. I twitched in my seat, observing him from behind low lashes. Something was odd about Sanctuary this dawn. There was a charge in the air. My ethèr stirred inside of me nervously.
I slipped low into my seat, lifting my wings a touch, rounding them out so they shielded my body. Quazar threw me a glance from the corner of his eyes, one of his eyebrows raised. I said nothing, keeping my eyes between my scrollpapers and the Farasee.
“What in the stars are you doing?”Quazar asked down our bond.
Since my trip to the biblarien a few dawns ago, I’d learned nothing new about Manmi’s death. But it was emphatically clear. Quazar, nor his angels, had anything to do with her unexpecteddeath. And since then, he and I had become… cordial? Friends? If this odd connection between us could ever be called friendship.
“Trying not to be noticed by the fire-breathing demon who’d toss me to the Scourgers for sport if he ever got the chance. Has it ever occurred to you that theonlyangel he hates more than me isyou?”
Quazar snorted.“Like I give a rot.”
“Yeah, well. You’re not a Disciple, almightyLegionnaire. I am. To a degree, I have to care, or he’ll find a way to make me forfeit Ascension.”
Quazar remained still in his seat, tracking Kaelthos’s every move. But down our bond, he chuckled until the sound reverberated into my chest and bounced around my mind.
“The Farasee Order consistently strives to be one of mercy. We create margins for error the angels may find themselves in.”
I scoffed under my breath.
An Order of mercy. Yeah, sure.
I kept my head down while I noted the bullrot coming out of Kaelthos’s mouth. The veil mentally separating Quazar and I warmed. I slipped into my mind, edging closer to the veil between us. Quazar was laughing…no. Positivelycacklingon the other side.
I shook my head. Stars. How I wish I could possess such levity. I sealed the veil shut and sank further in my seat. My recent actions surfaced all over again.
I’d blamed him for a death he did not cause. Loudly. I’d lost my temper, going off on him, causing nine angels to die. All over misplaced rage. Over truth that was a farce. I’d stewed for the last several dawns in guilt, in shame. The Fallenspawn…
They weren’t even Fallen. They were Hallowed, just like us. The only difference were their engraved, thorny marks on their left arms curling up to their necks.
“Sink any further and he’ll call you out for it. You’re dealing with enough. Don’t give Kaelthos a ramp with enough room to fly.”
Ellabeth had barely moved her lips, but I heard her loud and clear. She was right. Kaelthos would use any reason to call me out. I sat up, lifting my head.
“This dawn, take note of this principle.”
The fire in those golden eyes seemed to blaze afresh as they landed squarely on me. Quazar shifted in his seat. I blinked, perplexed. He…he just scootedcloserto me. Very close. And I liked it. I fought the twinge at the corners of my lips as I kept my eyes on Kaelthos.
“Sacrifice is better than obedience.”
Kaelthos Zamarien crossed his strong arms, as the fire in his eyes grew, turning gold to living, breathing flame.
