“M’lady, he will pay for his transgressions. Never trust a Tilak. They are not allowed on Sabaak, after theincident,”he says solemnly.
“Inci—”
“I humbly apologize for not being there when you needed me,” I cut in with. That’s enough of that. I’ll agree to this preposterous plan—for the sole purpose of stopping this conversation.
Bri mouths the words “What incident?” and I pretend to not notice. She looks me over. Her eyes linger on the bite from the sand hunter.
“You’re hurt!” she says.
“I’m fine. I just need to clean up.”
“It looks pretty bad.”
“I said, I’m fine,” I grit out between my teeth
“Tai, tell me right now. Did they do this to you?” she asks, tilting her head toward the brethren.
“It was a sand hunter, and I’m fine.”
She lets it go, thankfully. Arguing with Bri in front of the brethren is not my idea of a good time.
“Alright then—it’s your funeral. Brethren, please take my servant,” she says—choking back laughter at the word servant— “to get a bath and food before he begins his duties.”
They direct me to a side room with a dripping faucet and a clean rag. I peel off my shirt, careful to avoid the wound. The blood has crusted over, and it feels warm and swollen. I dab the wet rag against it, sucking air between my teeth.
“Hurry up,” one of the Oo’rahim barks at me. “Do not keep the Goddess of Sunlight waiting.”
Here I was, worried she was being mistreated, and they made her a goddess. I grudgingly put on the robe they shove towards me. The Oo’rahim motions for me to hand over my pants, but I hold them in my clenched fist. I surmise Bri left her dirty clothes somewhere and they disappeared, leaving her with the current clothing option, which I’m not going to complain about.
My former jailor hands me a string belt with a bell hanging down. “Put this on.”
“What’s this for?” The robe is itchy and tight around my neck. I pull the collar back with a finger and try to make some space, but the thick, rough fabric is unforgiving.
“It’s so when you get lost in the desert, we can find you before the sand hunters do.”
Too late for that.
“We are watching you, Tilak. Get out of line, and we will return you to the gods.”
“Got it.” I don’t plan on giving them an opportunity to follow through on the threat.
Back in the dining room, I grab a few flatbreads and a cup of water while I make my way toward Bri.
“Today we honor the Sublime Goddess of the Holy Water,” the Oo’rahim with the long beard who I met in the dungeon says with his booming voice.
Behind her hand, Bri whispers, “That one I call Boss. They pretend they’re equal, but he calls the shots around here.”
Another Oo’rahim steps up to the slightly elevated platform Bri is on in the front of the room. “Brethren, please accept my rectification—she is the Divine Radiant Golden One, not the Sublime Goddess of the Holy Water.”
“Our prophecy clearly states the arrival of the goddess will herald the rains that will wash away our indiscretions and begin the cycle of prosperity anew. There is only one goddess,” the one Bri calls Boss says impatiently.
Oh, this is getting good. Nothing compares to a little disagreement between cult members to keep me entertained.
I lean back on my elbows, settling in for the show. She tenses next to me and shifts uncomfortably on the pillows. I can’t tell if it’s my proximity or the arguing brethren that has her agitated. Part of me hopes it’s the brethren and not me. Our history is complicated, but attraction has never been a problem.
“Our prophecy speaks of two distinct goddesses,” the other brethren argues.
“That one is Hot-Breath. Don’t get too close. His breath is vile,” Bri whispers into my ear again. Goddammit—I wish she would stop leaning in, pushing her tits against my shoulder. I look down to avoid her chest and see the slit on her skirt has opened slightly, giving me a view all the way up to her hip.
