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"Ok," Maela said, looking over at Anver. "You're one I haven't met yet. I'm Maela Ranndor, Talin's sister-in-law."
"Lady Ranndor," Anver said. "Yes, ma'am. I'm aware. Priest Anver, a friend of Nari and Ela."
"And us," Talin added, meaning him and Wraythe. "But we're supposed to be shadows, right?"
"Which is how women are treated in the rest of the city," Maela pointed out. "So, I'm not a fan of the habit." Then she looked back to Anver. "It's nice to meet you. Is one of these your desire?"
"Complicated," Ela mumbled, but Maela heard.
"Oh, this sounds like a story I'm dying to hear."
"It involves Zeal," I explained.
But Anver took over. "Nari is my desire. Eladehl's a close second - no offense, Ela."
"Promise there's none taken," he said.
"My ward, however, is different," Anver went on. "Priestess Tishlie and I barely matched. Since Choosing, which was a little over a year ago now, her attitude keeps making me think I should request a reimmersion. Our god keeps telling me to wait, so I'm waiting. She and I barely get along."
"So you talk to Zeal too?" she asked, nothing but honest curiosity on her face.
Anver nodded once. "I do. That symbol on Nari's chest? Five of us have it. Five heads on that snake. The snake is the symbol of Zeal's temple in the rest of the country, mostly for those who can't read."
I gestured to Anver. "He's Zeal's best friend, and I think the first one our god has ever had."
"Well, it's nice to meet another one of Nari's friends." Then she turned to me. "And I think I could really use some divine assistance," Maela said. "Nari, I've been trying all summer long to get pregnant, but it doesn't seem to be working. The Baron needs an heir and a spare, right?"
"Try the perfume," I suggested. "It's divinely inspired."
Her head twitched. "How so?"
"Zeal made it." I flashed her a smile. "I needed gifts to impress the Baron and his wife. The alcohol of the gods and a perfume to tempt your husband seemed like good ideas. Zeal was happy to help."
Ela leaned forward to see her. "I can offer you some great seduction techniques if you need."
Maela laughed. "For me to do, or to seduce me?"
"Both." He chuckled. "I mean, since Nari's the one everyone thinks is getting all the attention, I just figured I'd put myself out there."
"Well, I've actually been taking ideas from Nari," Maela said, taking Ela's flirtation in stride. "I have a few new dresses that should be shocking enough to have Tath throw me in bed."
"And the underthings," Amerlee added. "Those are what seal the deal."
"Garters with dark stockings," Shalsa suggested. "On your pale skin, it should drive him wild."
Around the table, everyone laughed and nodded in agreement. Maela was no better. From there, other ideas were called out, some of them rather crass. Maela loved all of it. Somewhere in all of that, the servers came to get our orders, but we barely stopped. No one seemed to mind. We didn't even have to worry about being overheard, since everyone else in the building was either from the temple or planning to head there, from the way they were dressed.
But eventually the conversation began to die down a little. I decided to take the chance to catch Faylie's attention. "Hey? How are you doing?"
"Healed completely after you prayed," she said. "I mean, Quin still hates Ela, but I think he's completely forgiven you."
"I don't hate Ela," Quin insisted.
"It's ok," Ela assured him. "I don't hold it against you."
"I don't hate you," Quin said again. "I just happen to like you a lot more now that she's not training you anymore."
Then the woman at the end spoke up. "Oh,you'rethe punisher?"
