Read Online season avatars 03 - chaos season by sandra ulbrich almazan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: sandra ulbrich almazan
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flesh!”
“Easy, Ava. I do not threaten, but warn. Swear by your God that you’ll never tell anyone else who his real father is, and I will protect the both of you.” He sighed. “Does the Spring Avatar know?”
Jenna nodded. “She realized it after dancing with you.”
“Eagle’s Talons. That may affect the alliance War and your Four need.” He glared at Jenna. “Ava, you should not have borne this child. Frankly, I’m astonished your Gods haven’t punished you yet for your audacity.”
Jenna clutched her child to her chest. “First of all, Your Royal Avatarness, Gwen wouldn’t marry you even if all of the Four asked her to. She still remembers the Fip Annexation from a previous life, and it wasn’t as glorious as the ballads say.”
“Has your country been at war since?” he snapped.
“It might as well be, when you take our farmers and harvests from us!” she countered. “And second, what’s this about an alliance between our gods and yours? They haven’t told us anything about that.” If Spring wants to treat with War, why wouldn’t She marry Him Herself? Or is this why Gwen’s engagement is in trouble?
By All Four, would They expect Gwen to marry Lex? How could either of them stand that? How could Jenna stand by and watch two lovers, one from this life, the other from a previous one, make each other miserable?
I would pledge myself a Fallswoman if I thought Gwen would do the same for me, so we could be together in this life, just like all the others we’ve shared. But she’s determined to marry, even if she hasn’t decided who the lucky groom will be. I’m a better match for Lex than she is. All I have to do is make him realize that.
The crowd suddenly quieted. Jenna glanced up to the open space at the top of the Temple stairs. Gwen, Ysabel, Kron, and Kay crept down toward Jenna. Four low notes rang out from the bell tower. As the last one faded away, Sophia entered from the left, while her husband entered from the right.
Jenna grabbed Lex’s arm and whispered, “The soltrans is starting. We should clear the stairs.”
He nodded. “Are you going up to the boxes?” The building straight across from the Temple boasted large windows at the same level as the Temple stage. The Fip royals had a private room reserved for their use, and nobles squabbled for seats near the windows so they could watch the soltrans in comfort.
Jenna gestured toward a shaded section in front of the Temple marked off by green ribbons. Dorian already stood there, arms crossed as he scowled at Sophia.
“We prefer to stay outside,” Jenna told Lex. “We feel closer to the Four that way.”
“As you will, Ava.” He bowed, though not as deeply as her rank required. “You have given me much to think about. Enjoy the solstice.”
He could have at least wished me a happy birthday too. Even if he follows the Fip God of War, he should know all Avatars celebrate their birthdays on the first day of their seasons.
Sophia waited until Jenna’s quartet joined Dorian before beginning her praise chant to the Goddess of Spring:
Thank You, yellow-haired Mother of Us all,
Thank You for the blessings You have let fall;
We praise You for the sunshine and the warmth,
We thank You for the new life from the Earth….
“We should update the words so they rhyme again, the way they did a long time ago,” Ysabel whispered.
“We’d best establish ourselves as Season Avatars before we challenge tradition,” Gwen whispered back. “Our quartet already breaks several traditions as it is.”
Ysabel blushed. Half Selathen, with a twin brother born the day before the fall equinox, she was the last person anyone would think of as a Season Avatar. Gwen turned her head to study Jenna, who met Gwen’s gaze without flinching. Maybe as a widowed mother, she was unusual for an Avatar too. Gwen would probably be just as happy to see Jenna remarried to someone else. To Lex, or to anyone? Jenna hoped Gwen wouldn’t
“Easy, Ava. I do not threaten, but warn. Swear by your God that you’ll never tell anyone else who his real father is, and I will protect the both of you.” He sighed. “Does the Spring Avatar know?”
Jenna nodded. “She realized it after dancing with you.”
“Eagle’s Talons. That may affect the alliance War and your Four need.” He glared at Jenna. “Ava, you should not have borne this child. Frankly, I’m astonished your Gods haven’t punished you yet for your audacity.”
Jenna clutched her child to her chest. “First of all, Your Royal Avatarness, Gwen wouldn’t marry you even if all of the Four asked her to. She still remembers the Fip Annexation from a previous life, and it wasn’t as glorious as the ballads say.”
“Has your country been at war since?” he snapped.
“It might as well be, when you take our farmers and harvests from us!” she countered. “And second, what’s this about an alliance between our gods and yours? They haven’t told us anything about that.” If Spring wants to treat with War, why wouldn’t She marry Him Herself? Or is this why Gwen’s engagement is in trouble?
By All Four, would They expect Gwen to marry Lex? How could either of them stand that? How could Jenna stand by and watch two lovers, one from this life, the other from a previous one, make each other miserable?
I would pledge myself a Fallswoman if I thought Gwen would do the same for me, so we could be together in this life, just like all the others we’ve shared. But she’s determined to marry, even if she hasn’t decided who the lucky groom will be. I’m a better match for Lex than she is. All I have to do is make him realize that.
The crowd suddenly quieted. Jenna glanced up to the open space at the top of the Temple stairs. Gwen, Ysabel, Kron, and Kay crept down toward Jenna. Four low notes rang out from the bell tower. As the last one faded away, Sophia entered from the left, while her husband entered from the right.
Jenna grabbed Lex’s arm and whispered, “The soltrans is starting. We should clear the stairs.”
He nodded. “Are you going up to the boxes?” The building straight across from the Temple boasted large windows at the same level as the Temple stage. The Fip royals had a private room reserved for their use, and nobles squabbled for seats near the windows so they could watch the soltrans in comfort.
Jenna gestured toward a shaded section in front of the Temple marked off by green ribbons. Dorian already stood there, arms crossed as he scowled at Sophia.
“We prefer to stay outside,” Jenna told Lex. “We feel closer to the Four that way.”
“As you will, Ava.” He bowed, though not as deeply as her rank required. “You have given me much to think about. Enjoy the solstice.”
He could have at least wished me a happy birthday too. Even if he follows the Fip God of War, he should know all Avatars celebrate their birthdays on the first day of their seasons.
Sophia waited until Jenna’s quartet joined Dorian before beginning her praise chant to the Goddess of Spring:
Thank You, yellow-haired Mother of Us all,
Thank You for the blessings You have let fall;
We praise You for the sunshine and the warmth,
We thank You for the new life from the Earth….
“We should update the words so they rhyme again, the way they did a long time ago,” Ysabel whispered.
“We’d best establish ourselves as Season Avatars before we challenge tradition,” Gwen whispered back. “Our quartet already breaks several traditions as it is.”
Ysabel blushed. Half Selathen, with a twin brother born the day before the fall equinox, she was the last person anyone would think of as a Season Avatar. Gwen turned her head to study Jenna, who met Gwen’s gaze without flinching. Maybe as a widowed mother, she was unusual for an Avatar too. Gwen would probably be just as happy to see Jenna remarried to someone else. To Lex, or to anyone? Jenna hoped Gwen wouldn’t
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