AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I didn't ask you!" Roek snapped at her. "In case you didn't notice, I'm not your instructor. My responsibility this year is to the Priests of Protection. The guardians, Tishlie. I'm here to teach them that there are limits on what's expected of them, and that abuse is not to be tolerated. If he is unhappy with you, then he has the right to either step down to a lower Path or request to be reimmersed in the hopes of finding a better match."
"You can't..." Tishlie begged me.
I shook my head, ignoring her and watched my instructors instead. "I really can't. My hope is that Tishlie will learn to appreciate what I do for her, and eventually she will stop acting like a spoiled little bitch. However, if she hits me again, I will hit her back. I've tried taking it and talking to her. I've tried dodging it. Today, when I blocked it, she had this tantrum, so here we are."
"I give you permission to hit her as hard as you need," Roek told me. "After all, she is a Priestess of the Body, and battery will be a part of her duties."
"But - "
"No!" Roek said, cutting her off. "You cannot excuse this. You can't explain it away. There is nothing that can make up for what you've done, except proving that you've changed. Abuse is abuse. Never mind that the more you make your guardian hate you, the less safe you are in your Path."
"He is supposed to protect you because he loves you," Saval said. "Do you understand me, Tishlie? If you continue to assault him, I will have you demoted to Action. Your guardian is the one person you should treasure above all others, even your partner. Now get to class. I'll be in there shortly."
Tishlie made the most childish sound I'd heard yet, then turned and stormed out of the room. I sighed and intended to follow, but Saval caught my wrist. When I looked back, she was watching Tishlie, but the expression on her face made it clear she had more to say.
The moment Tishlie was through the door, Saval proved me right. "What is Zeal doing?"
"Uh..." I looked at Roek.
"I've spoken to him as well," he assured me.
Then the sound of a voice clearing in the seats beside us made all three of us turn. There, sitting in a chair like he'd been there the whole time was the god in question. I groaned, realizing that this had just been blown out of proportion.
"I'm proud of you for finally doing something," Zeal told me.
"Whatareyou doing with him?" Roek asked.
"I need him trained," Zeal said. "I need him trained to be a better swordsman than Talin, more deadly in close quarters than Jamik, and just as capable without a weapon as Wraythe. Different style, of course, but just as capable."
"Why?" Saval asked.
Zeal lifted a brow. "I have my reasons. Anver understands why I can't tell him yet."
"Because he needs me to grow on my own," I explained. "He doesn't want me to chase his goals, but rather to figure myself out so I can mature into what he sees I have the potential for."
"Exactly," Zeal praised, "and today is a sign that you're on the right track. I really am proud of you, Anver."
"Does spending all his free time with Nari help this?" Saval asked.
Zeal smiled. "Yes, it actually does. Now, I'm hoping that Tishlie can grow as well, and that the pair of you can shape her into something, but I'm willing to put her in Obligation if she doesn't impress me. Anver, however, needs to help my Chosen. I would like to have him in a session with her and Eladehl."
Saval's brow creased. "I'm already planning for that. One of their first requests is from another priest."
"Savi's favorite," Zeal said. "Yes, that would do nicely. Roek, can you make sure he has an official reason for it?"
"I can," Roek promised. "Not sure what it will be, but I'll come up with something."
"Talin's jealousy," I offered.
That made everyone look at me. "What jealousy?" Saval asked.
Crap. Had I just said something I shouldn't have? Hoping for a hint, I glanced at Zeal, but his bemused smirk gave me almost nothing. Clearly, this was another one of those times I had to figure it out on my own. The fact that Saval was Nari's mentor in three Paths made it easy.
"The priest's name is Peyron. Savi marked him for her temple. Ela and Nari have a crush on the guy, and it sounds like it's been going on for a while. Talin just met him last weekend, and he's jealous."
"But his ward is bound to him," Roek reminded me.
"Of Ela," I corrected. "He knows Nari loves him. He can feel that in his bond. His fear is that he's not tied to Ela as strongly, and he's never seen Ela want to talk to anyone before. He's more the kind of priest that uses his patrons and discards them, so Talin's jealous because Ela actually likes this guy."
