Read Online The Obsidian Temple by Kelley Grant - Free Book Online

are prayers,” she wondered to herself, “if there’s no one there to listen?”
    â€œWHAT GOOD ARE prayers if there’s no one there to listen? You are wrong, my child; I am always listening,” Sanuri muttered, bent over some cloth she was knotting as Kadar stepped into the sitting room. It was restday, finally, and he was going to take midmeal to Farrah and enjoy the afternoon hours with his love.
    Kadar raised an eyebrow at Sanuri, and Dana widened her eyes comically, looking amused.
    â€œI’ll be back late,” Kadar told her, dropping a kiss on Datura’s head before hefting his basket and stepping out into the sunlight.
    Kadar had visited the southern outskirts of the city a few times before, but had never entered smaller roads that made up the district where the Forsaken lived. The more prosperous of the Forsaken—­those who’d found jobs with the upper castes or desert merchants—­were in sturdy houses closer to the city streets. The most poverty-­stricken lived in the shanties at the very edge of the city, in tents and ramshackle lean-­tos.
    The tiny home Farrah’s family dwelled in was close to the city streets, and was almost luxurious compared to some of the run-­down houses. It was set slightly back from the road, with a yard of packed dirt. Kadar stepped into the vented front work area of the house, where a cauldron simmered over a smoky fire for washing soiled clothing. Farrah’s younger brothers were hard at work wringing out the wet laundry when Kadar entered. Their eyes went wide when they saw someone in their home, but they dropped their work and gathered around his basket when they realized who he was.
    As Kadar handed out meat pies, Farrah came through the doorway leading to the kitchen, frowning, her hair pulled back in a braid with damp tendrils escaping out the sides.
    â€œBriant, where . . .” She stopped when she saw Kadar, whose heart dropped at her frown. Then his heart lifted again as her face was wreathed in a smile, a smile meant just for him. “Kadar!”
    He left the basket to the boys and swept her up in a hug.
    She tilted her head up and passionately kissed him. When her brothers started making puking noises, she stepped back reluctantly, with a laugh.
    â€œWhat are you doing here? Is Datura ill?” she asked, her expression turning anxious.
    â€œIt’s restday,” Kadar said. “We planned time together, remember?”
    She sighed and looked at the piles of laundry. “I had forgotten. I remember when restday meant I could actually rest,” she said. “How is Datura?”
    â€œDatura is happy and healthy, growing every day,” Kadar said, kissing her on the forehead. He whisked a pastry away from the boys. “Our cook made your favorite, and I wanted you to have some.”
    Farrah glanced around at the undone laundry, and her brothers paused in their gluttony like they expected a scolding.
    â€œAh, well,” she said with a sigh. “We’re almost done. Thea is in the kitchen,” she told her brothers. “Make sure you take a pastry in to her before you eat everything in the basket. Keep your sister out of trouble until we get back.” As an aside, she told Kadar, “There wasn’t as much to be done today. The weather has been cooler, so the families aren’t sweating through as many tunics.”
    â€œDo you have enough to live on?” Kadar asked anxiously.
    Farrah nodded as they settled down onto the steps leading into the house and took a bite. She closed her eyes blissfully, enjoying the pastry, and her cares seemed to drop away. “I do love curry,” she said.
    â€œCome with me back to Shpeth, and you can have it all the time,” Kadar said, unable to help himself. “You’d be a desert queen.”
    Farrah paused chewing and looked at him seriously. Kadar let himself feel hope for a moment, then she shook her