Gloria sat on the temple steps playing with a curl in her hair. I hope everything’s going okay. She watched Seth pace back and forth in front of the temple. He paused and looked over her head at the door behind her. He grimaced, then impatiently kicked a pebble and watched it skitter down the street.

  Gloria sighed and tucked some hair behind her ear. Calm down, Gloria, she told herself. It hasn’t been that long. These conversations take time. Her gaze drifted to the dark wooden doors behind her. Still…

  “Do you think things are going well?”

  Gloria looked back to see Seth shove his hands in his pockets and kick at the ground.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know… I hope so.”

  Seth’s shoulders sagged. “I hoped that once Father Verdas saw that spring came back, he’d assume we defeated The Lady and we’d be allowed back inside.” He pursed his lips. “I was being foolish—Father Verdas seems like a petty man.” He kicked another pebble and narrowed his eyes after it.

  Gloria sighed. “Well…as long as Elias is able to go home, right?”

  Seth hung his head and nodded. “Yeah…yeah you’re right. That’s the important thing.”

  The bustling crowd filled the quiet between them. Gloria picked at her skirt while Seth returned to pacing, both occasionally casting anxious glances at the door.

  Sadness washed over Gloria and she swallowed back a tear or two. Things will be different without him… Elias’s cheerful smile flashed into her mind. I’m…I’m going to miss him.

  She glanced up at the blue sky and watched a few seagulls fly by as her conversation with Elias a few nights before simmered in her mind.

  “You think I should go back to him?” His tear-stung eyes vividly reflected the firelight. “To a life where he controls everything? All that’s waiting for me is an old man that could find fault in Crim himself!”

  Gloria sighed and rubbed her temples. She wasn’t trying to pick sides, but Seth did have a point. Yes, Elias was almost a young man, but he was still young and until just a few weeks ago, he’d spent his entire life here in the monastery.

  She gripped her arms and stared at the stone steps by her feet. How much innocence did The Lady strip away from him? How much more if he came with them?

  But which is better? She glanced over her shoulder at the dark doors again. To live a controlled, stifled life in safety? Or one where innocence is chipped away piece by piece until there is nothing left?

  She bit her lip until she tasted blood. Which is right? She rested her head on her knees, sagging on the steps. Is either one wrong?

  Seth stopped his pacing and shuddered. The sound broke Gloria from her thoughts. She frowned and looked up at him.

  “Something wrong?”

  Seth’s face was tight, and he cautiously glanced around them. “Something feels off…” he murmured, inching closer to her, his eyes still sweeping their surroundings. “I feel like—"

  The temple doors swung open, cutting him off. Gloria and Seth spun back to see a red-faced Elias stumble out of the temple in his undershirt, tears streaming down his face.

  “Good Crim!” Gloria cried, rising to her feet. “What happened?”

  Elias met their faces, eyes wide and words jumbled. “Gloria— Master— I—” He broke off sobbing and tripped down the steps before collapsing into Gloria’s arms, burying his face in her shoulders.

  Gloria stumbled back a step, but Seth caught her, steadying as she pulled Elias close and rocked him back and forth. “Hey… hey… Elias. What’s the matter? What’s wrong?”

  But Elias just shook his head, his sobs wracking his entire body. She looked up at Seth, shrugged slightly, his eyes wide with worry. She stroked Elias’s head and held him tight. “It’s okay… It’s all okay.”

  Elias took a shuddering breath and shook his head. “No… no it’s not. It’s not okay. He kicked me out! I got expelled!”

  Gloria’s mouth dropped open in shock. “What…?”

  Behind her, Seth tensed. “The bastard…” he breathed.

  Elias raised his tear-stained face and raised his bandaged arm. “I’m unclean…marked…” He swallowed. “He said I couldn’t be here with…” He shook his arm. “This!”

  Gloria pushed back her growing anger and brushed hair from his eyes. “Elias.” He tried to jerk his face away, but Gloria cupped his cheeks, holding him still. “Elias!” He stopped and Gloria stared deep into his shaking eyes. Her voice wavered. “Is it still spreading?”

  Elias shook his head. “No…” His voice cracked. “He stopped that… but it was too late for…” His breathing hitched.

  Seth quietly spoke up behind her. “Where’s your habit?”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Elias averted his eyes and blinked, trying to hold back a new wave of tears.

  Gloria stroked his face with her thumbs. “Elias?”

  He swallowed and whispered, “He took it.”

  The sun disappeared behind a cloud and Gloria’s stomach dropped.

  Elias covered his face and wept. “It’s my fault. It’s all my fault! I shouldn’t have—"

  She pulled him back into a tight embrace and murmured in his ear. “No. It’s not your fault. Don’t say that.” Elias dropped his head on her shoulder again and his shoulders heaved against her.

  Anger burned in Gloria’s chest—something had to be done. We can’t leave him. Not now. Not when everything has been stripped from him. She looked up to speak to Seth, but he was already marching up the steps, his fists clenched tight, and body vibrating with hot rage.

  “Seth? What are you doing?”

  He looked over his shoulder and shot a blazing glare at her. “What am I doing? I’m going to give that cad a piece of my mind! That’s what!” He marched up the remaining steps, muttering under his breath, “And maybe a fist while I’m at it.”

  Gloria’s heart stopped and she tried to clamber after him, but Elias clung to her. “Seth! Wait! Don’t—"

  The temple door opened, and Brother Stephen stepped out with a leather bag. He blinked, startled to see Seth right at the door. “Oh, pardon me. I’m looking for Elias.”

  “Where’s Father Verdas?” Seth growled.

  Gloria fearfully held Elias tight. Oh no…

  Brother Stephen flinched at Seth’s intensity, then his eyes narrowed, and he remained in the doorway. “Father Verdas is indisposed at the moment, but—”

  Seth tried to push past him. “I don’t give a damn if he’s indisposed! I’m going to see him!”

  Gloria watched, horrified, as Seth and Brother Stephen wrestled in the doorway. Seth had almost slipped past Brother Stephen, when the monk snatched his shirt and yanked him back before shoving him down the steps.

  Seth stumbled back then fell on his rear next to Gloria. He panted and looked up, grinding his teeth at Brother Stephen.

  Brother Stephen closed the door behind him and folded his arms, glaring down at the three of them. “You will restrain yourselves or I will call the guards.”

  “Restrain myself?” Seth roared and jabbed a finger at the temple. “That old man needs to answer for dumping a child onto the streets!”

  Behind them, Gloria heard murmuring. She peered over her shoulder—townsfolk were pausing and beginning to watch.

  Elias shivered against her and shook his head. “No…please don’t Master…”

  His plea broke Gloria’s patience. She turned blazing eyes on Brother Stephen as she rocked Elias in her arms. “Shame on all of you! You’re a man of Crim. You know as well as I that this isn’t how he treats people. Where’s your sense of compassion?”

  Brother Stephen shifted uncomfortably as more people stopped to stare.

  Good! Gloria thought spitefully. This whole monastery could use a little shame!

  But he cleared his throat and stood his ground. “Father Verdas has spoken. Elias is a young man—he’s old enough to choose his own path. Believe me, it grieves us that he’s chosen a life of impurity, but we—"

  Elias wailed louder and Gloria tried to calm him, but Seth scrambled to his feet, his face bright red.

  “Impurity, my asal!” He jabbed a finger at Brother Stephen. “Do you have any idea of what he went through to save your sorry hides? He saved your life! Everyone’s lives! You should be on your knees thanking him—”

  “The specifics for why Elias was expelled is not for me to know,” Brother Stephen raised his voice, cutting Seth off. “That is between him and Father Verdas.”

  The crowd’s murmuring grew louder as they tried to piece together the situation. Gloria peeked over her shoulder—it seemed as though the entire town had stopped to watch. Gloria gasped—this would be a gold mine for the next assassin looking for Seth.

  This needs to stop—now. She reached out to grab Seth, but Brother Stephen sighed and tossed the bag towards him.

  Seth caught the bag out of midair, then looked back at the monk. “What’s this?”

  Brother Stephen nodded towards the bag. “Open it.”

  As Seth opened the bag, Brother Stephen looked over at Gloria and Elias who raised his head with a sniffle. “Father Verdas asked me to give that to you. I, for one, pray that Crim blesses you wherever you go and that one day you will repent and come home to us.” He smiled sadly at Elias. “Don’t take too long.”

  Seth clenched the bag shut and shook it, seething. “That’s all you have for him? A few pitiful coins and weak platitudes? Thank Crim, he at least has a change of clothes.” He opened his mouth to continue his tirade when Gloria successfully gripped his wrist. His furious eyes snapped back to her.

  “Seth,” she muttered. “We need to stop. This isn’t helping Elias.”

  Seth’s eyes glittered darkly. “I don’t care, this—”

  “You should.” She tightened her grip, gravely meeting his eyes. Everyone will know you’re here.

  Seth’s face paled and he looked around the crowd behind them, before looking back at Gloria. He swallowed and bowed his head. “Alright,” he conceded. “You’re right.” He turned away from the temple and put a hand on her shoulder. “Come on, guys, let’s go.”

  Elias sniffled and turned red, puffy eyes up to him. “Me too, sir?”

  Gloria squeezed Elias. “Of course you too,” she said. “We’re not leaving you on your own.” Then, before she could control her tongue, she looked over her shoulder at Brother Stephen and spat. “Unlike some, we actually have a heart.”

  Brother Stephen’s composure fell, and he looked away, a hint of guilt in his eyes.

  Gloria bit her tongue and kicked herself for adding to the misery. “Come on,” she muttered, turning away. “We really should go.”

  The crowd quietly parted as they walked away from the temple, eyeing them curiously. Gloria tried not to make eye contact and held Elias close as they passed through the crowd.

  Seth put his arm around Gloria, his eyes darting around for any hint of danger. She shivered a little and tried not to shrug off the protective gesture.

  “We need somewhere to take a breather,” she murmured. “Somewhere where we can figure out our next steps.”

  “Got any ideas?” Seth asked, in a low tone.

  Gloria furrowed her brows thinking, then she nodded. “Yes, I know just the place—Lover’s Respite.”