to see that he was a conqueror. It reminded Galia of her own people, lost to raiders years ago. Even after all this time, she prickled.
There were only a frightened pair of palace acolytes cringing in the shadows. Galia realized grimly that, as the only priestess here, it was her duty to step forward.
She gathered up her skirts and strode across the courtyard towards the masked man. Whether by accident or design, the other riders and animals shied away from her. She kept her eyes fastened on him as she approached. She could tell when he saw her. He and his mount went still. Somehow, she had no doubt that he was waiting for her.
“Greetings, soldier,” she called. “What brings you and yours to the palace of Tenebris?” She waited expectantly, but there was no response from him. Had he not heard her? “What business have you, soldier?”
One of the many massive dogs that danced around the horses legs snarled and snapped. The leader’s wolf mask turned that way briefly. He was not deaf.
“I ask you again, what is your business?” she demanded. “You will tell me, or you will be sent from here and your mission lost.”
Still he said nothing, and Galia could feel her temper rising. People usually didn’t cross her. Her visions could bring life or death, prosperity or ruin. This man sat like a king of the world. But in this palace in the city of Tenebris, he was nothing of the sort.
“If you will not speak, then stay silent and leave this place,” Galia said.
She looked around for the captain of the guard. But at just that moment, a fight broke out among the dogs. A horse near them took fright. The soldier astride it tried to rein it in, but only succeeded in wheeling it about––straight at her. The horse stumbled, trying to regain its balance, hooves lashing out, but Galia could see it was too late. She was too close. Rhea screamed.
But suddenly the masked man dove off his horse and snatched her up. He hooked an enormous arm around her waist, dragging her out of harm’s way as effortlessly as if she were a kitten.
The soldier who had almost ridden her down got his horse under control and gaped down in dismay.
“My apologies, Lord,” he said, his face white. “I did not see her, I swear!”
For the first time, the masked man spoke.
“Short rations for two days. On the night between, you will stand vigil before the Goddess, asking for more perceptive eyes.”
Instead of looking irritated or enraged, the man seemed extremely grateful. He saluted fervently before losing himself in the crowd again.
Galia squirmed around to look at the man. She had heard his voice, and yet somehow didn’t feel surprise. Instead what she felt was a low thrum in her belly. The fate of the world was turning, looking for a place to stop. Without asking for permission, she simply reached for the leather thongs that secured the mask. She was gentle and unhurried. When she pulled the wolf face away, she let out a sigh that she hadn’t been aware she was holding.
“I know you,” she whispered.
“We shall see,” Strayke said, letting her go and stepping back. “Summon the Oracle. Tell her that the Wolf Battalion has returned.”
Chapter 9
I n her chamber that night , Galia sat staring at the flames of her hearth. She felt as empty as a dry seashell, as hollow as a ruin.
He’s back, her heart said, beating fast whenever she thought of it. After all these years, after all of the pain, and the fear and the tears, he’s back.
She remembered the look in his eyes. There had been no joy in it. There had been no love or laughter. If she thought too long about it, she would have said that there was something dead. Her heart ached for Strayke, but there was also fear. She had all but condemned him to the life that he led now. If the armor was anything to judge by, it was hardly an easy life. Did he hate her? Did he want her dead?
Galia got up to pace, but there was a small knock at her window. With a small cry of relief,
There were only a frightened pair of palace acolytes cringing in the shadows. Galia realized grimly that, as the only priestess here, it was her duty to step forward.
She gathered up her skirts and strode across the courtyard towards the masked man. Whether by accident or design, the other riders and animals shied away from her. She kept her eyes fastened on him as she approached. She could tell when he saw her. He and his mount went still. Somehow, she had no doubt that he was waiting for her.
“Greetings, soldier,” she called. “What brings you and yours to the palace of Tenebris?” She waited expectantly, but there was no response from him. Had he not heard her? “What business have you, soldier?”
One of the many massive dogs that danced around the horses legs snarled and snapped. The leader’s wolf mask turned that way briefly. He was not deaf.
“I ask you again, what is your business?” she demanded. “You will tell me, or you will be sent from here and your mission lost.”
Still he said nothing, and Galia could feel her temper rising. People usually didn’t cross her. Her visions could bring life or death, prosperity or ruin. This man sat like a king of the world. But in this palace in the city of Tenebris, he was nothing of the sort.
“If you will not speak, then stay silent and leave this place,” Galia said.
She looked around for the captain of the guard. But at just that moment, a fight broke out among the dogs. A horse near them took fright. The soldier astride it tried to rein it in, but only succeeded in wheeling it about––straight at her. The horse stumbled, trying to regain its balance, hooves lashing out, but Galia could see it was too late. She was too close. Rhea screamed.
But suddenly the masked man dove off his horse and snatched her up. He hooked an enormous arm around her waist, dragging her out of harm’s way as effortlessly as if she were a kitten.
The soldier who had almost ridden her down got his horse under control and gaped down in dismay.
“My apologies, Lord,” he said, his face white. “I did not see her, I swear!”
For the first time, the masked man spoke.
“Short rations for two days. On the night between, you will stand vigil before the Goddess, asking for more perceptive eyes.”
Instead of looking irritated or enraged, the man seemed extremely grateful. He saluted fervently before losing himself in the crowd again.
Galia squirmed around to look at the man. She had heard his voice, and yet somehow didn’t feel surprise. Instead what she felt was a low thrum in her belly. The fate of the world was turning, looking for a place to stop. Without asking for permission, she simply reached for the leather thongs that secured the mask. She was gentle and unhurried. When she pulled the wolf face away, she let out a sigh that she hadn’t been aware she was holding.
“I know you,” she whispered.
“We shall see,” Strayke said, letting her go and stepping back. “Summon the Oracle. Tell her that the Wolf Battalion has returned.”
Chapter 9
I n her chamber that night , Galia sat staring at the flames of her hearth. She felt as empty as a dry seashell, as hollow as a ruin.
He’s back, her heart said, beating fast whenever she thought of it. After all these years, after all of the pain, and the fear and the tears, he’s back.
She remembered the look in his eyes. There had been no joy in it. There had been no love or laughter. If she thought too long about it, she would have said that there was something dead. Her heart ached for Strayke, but there was also fear. She had all but condemned him to the life that he led now. If the armor was anything to judge by, it was hardly an easy life. Did he hate her? Did he want her dead?
Galia got up to pace, but there was a small knock at her window. With a small cry of relief,
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