The Tears of the Rose by Jeffe Kennedy Read Free Book Online

wasn’t me he’d wanted. The assistant priest lurked in the shadows, white robes an echo of the marble walls beyond the flickering candles, still wearing that deep cowl. I hadn’t heard him speak before and now I imagined his twisted whisper came from a reptilian face, scarred into a monster’s visage.
    Standing, I put a hand over my belly. “Yes. I prefer to be alone.”
    Instead of leaving, he sidled closer. “They did a good job of replacing the window. It’s even grander this time—a great tribute to the glory of our goddess.”
    â€œYes.” I held my ground, though he came nearer. My heart thumped, but I had no reason to be afraid. Or did I? That flash of utter hatred in his eyes had seemed so vivid in that moment. Surely those dark memories of the past, on top of the attack today, had made me jumpy. My personal guard was right outside. Besides, no harm could come to me here, under Glorianna’s gaze.
    â€œAll hail Glorianna.” He spoke to the rose window, and I started to echo the prayer, until I broke off, realizing he’d said it with irony, not reverence. He turned his head in an abrupt, liquid movement, and I startled, jumping back and losing my footing on the risers. His hand snaked out and seized my shoulder, steadying me. “Don’t fall, Princess. You wouldn’t want to risk the precious burden you carry.”
    â€œUnhand me.”
    He let me go and held up his hands, surprisingly brown and weathered for a priest. “No offense, Your Highness. I meant only to assist in your time of need.”
    â€œWith my balance or with prayer?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAre you playing games with me?”
    â€œWith the future Queen of Avonlidgh and she known throughout the land as Glorianna’s avatar? Why would I risk myself in such a way?”
    â€œMy sister does that—answers a question with a question.”
    â€œIndeed.”
    â€œSo which is it, balance or prayer?”
    â€œPrayer is a form of self-reflection that leads to balance, but you don’t need my help. Glorianna is within you. She hears you without assistance from such as me.”
    â€œThat’s close to blasphemous.”
    â€œAnd yet Glorianna does not strike me down for my words.”
    â€œWho are you?” I tried to demand in my usual way, but my words came out sounding frightened.
    â€œWhat more do you need to know, but that I am a priest of Glorianna and thus trustworthy?”
    â€œWho once again refuses to answer my question. I could have you punished for your impertinence.”
    His gaze flashed from the shadow of the cowl, like a cat’s eyes at night. “But you won’t do that, will you, Amelia?”
    â€œI won’t, if you leave me in peace.”
    â€œPeace is an expensive commodity—I highly doubt you can afford it.”
    â€œWhat in Glorianna’s name does that mean?”
    â€œOnly that peace—true inner peace—comes from seeing yourself clearly and accepting who you are.”
    I looked away, bothered that I couldn’t see his face. Bothered that there might be nothing in me to see. “You presume far too much for a lowly assistant priest. You understand nothing about me.”
    â€œLooking in a mirror to fix your pretty face isn’t the same as seeing yourself.”
    The impertinence—and the uncomfortable parallel to my own thoughts—made me gasp, and I swung on him, full of imperial rage.
    â€œYour Highness!” High Priest Kir called from the rear of the chapel. “Had I known you intended to come here, I would have been here sooner. I will assist with your prayers.”
    The assistant priest faded back, but a breath of a laugh made me think he mocked Kir and me both.
    â€œI shall retire, then, sir.” He’d folded those coarse, tanned hands into his loose sleeves and bowed his face.
    â€œYes, yes.” Kir waved him away, busying himself with