“Oh? What is it?”
“You’ll see. And I’m sure you’ll love it.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Draikis arrived early the next day, a slightly larger pack on his broad shoulders than he normally carried for their outings.
“We walking far today?”
“Why do you ask?”
She nodded to the backpack. “Looks like you brought more stuff.”
“Oh, just a few things. But to answer your question, yes, we are walking a bit farther. However, it is more a matter of proper preparation than one of requiring additional foodstuffs.”
“I don’t get it.”
“You will,” he said, taking her hand and leading her out into the hallway. “Come on.”
His touch was warm, and her heart rate quickened at the contact, but he released his grip as soon as they heard voices of other priests approaching. He looked at their intertwined fingers, and, while smooth about it, nevertheless seemed almost surprised at what he’d done.
He let go and casually interlaced his fingers in front of him just as a pair of middle-aged priests rounded the corner.
“Greetings, Brothers,” he said.
“Hello,” Ella added with a respectful little nod.
The men didn’t exactly scowl at her. At least, not openly as the younger priests did. But she got the impression plain and clear. They were not happy she was there. It seemed to be a common theme, she’d come to realize. One that would likely be addressed once she was fully healed. What would happen to her then was anyone’s guess, and she didn’t want to ask prematurely. Sometimes, silence was the best course of action.
They walked quietly for a few minutes, Ella doing her best to ignore the stares of the others they passed along the way until at long last they were outdoors.
“Hey, this is different,” she realized, taking in not the expansive grounds surrounding the compound, but rather properly wild nature. “We’re outside. I mean, outside proper. Away from your home.”
“Your attention to details never ceases to amaze me.”
“Oh, bite me. You never said we were actually goingoutout today.”
“But I didn’t say we weren’t,” he replied, an amused gleam in his silver eyes. “Come on. It’s a bit of a walk, and while you have regained an impressive amount of strength, it’s still a trek. We need to head out now if we wish to be back by dark.”
“Lead on, O Captain my Captain.”
“I am not a captain.”
“I know. It’s Whitman.”
“Whitman?”
“I’d read it to you, but, shocker, we don’t have any Earth books here. Kinda sucks for a bibliophile.”
“You enjoy reading?”
“Very much.”
“We have a most marvelous collection. I will see to it the elders provide you access.”
“Really? Thanks!”
“It is my pleasure. I too love a good book, though many of the younger members of our order seem to have grown away from the tradition of reading. What sort of tales do you enjoy?”
