“So,” I gripped the edge of the bench and leaned forward. “You’re the Grand Cleric’s son?”
“Adopted son .” He corrected. “I was left at the temple steps.”
“Oh.” I breathed. The Guild always left noble bastards on temple doorsteps. Doctrine required them to take in the child and raise it as a nameless disciple.
“My sister was his blood daughter.” Eleos continued, closing his eyes as the breeze swept over us.
“You’re still hiding a lot from me,” I said.
“I know. There’s a lot in my past. I’ve never shared it with anyone before.” His eyes snapped open, and he quickly took my hand and released it. When he next spoke, it was within the safety of my thoughts. “I can find a chance to speak with the others tonight. But it might be my only chance.”
“You want to plan an escape?” I asked.
“I know my Father. He’s reeling.” Eleos thought back, pretending to be admiring the scenery. “None of them are prepared for the end. Nobody thinks it will happen in their lifetime. I suspect the Heireia will win out, and you will be driven into the Empty, to ‘prove’ yourself.”
“But I can survive-”
“You can,” He agreed. “But we have a mission, and we’re running out of time. We cannot be tied down here, and,” he glanced at me, “I doubt they’ll be so kind to the others when their identities are discovered.”
I rolled my tongue in my mouth, standing. “A daring escape it is, then.” Knitting my fingers behind my back, I strolled to the fountain and peered into the water. “My talents will be of little help. This might be something better suited for Percy and Seth.”
“You do me a disservice.” Eleos thought, humored. “I can hear all these guards’ thoughts.”
“. . .What are they thinking?”
“They’reterrified. They hope—and pray—you’re false.”
Raising my head, I stared at the shorter of the two guards, a young woman whose face I couldn’t see. She stared back. Even with her face concealed, I could read her distress: her hand danced on the hilt of her blade, she bounced nervously on her heels.
Was she wondering the same thing I was? Had the gods abandoned us?
Were we truly alone in this wretched world?
Turning away, I stared into the water. “Tell Seth not to hurt them.”
“I thought our vigilante didn’t hurt innocents?” Eleos rose and joined me by the pond, switching to speaking aloud. “My sister used to drag me from that very bench, close my books, and force me to train with her.”
“Really?” I asked, smiling.
“She wanted to be a temple knight, not a priestess.” He confirmed, smiling at her memory.
“And you’ve always been a bookworm?
“I prefer to call myself an academic.”
I chuckled, dropping my arms. Our hands brushed. He reached back, running a finger across the back of my hand before retracting his arm.
Nerves fluttered in my heart as I remembered Percy’s words: Eleos would want to be asked to court in a beloved spot. The setting sun dipped behind the trees, spilling evening light across the fountain, and dousing the garden in romantic light.
I’d miss my chance if I didn’t leap at it now, good timing be damned.
“Um,” My voice cracked, and I snapped my mouth closed.
Raising an eyebrow, Eleos turned to look at me. “Yes?”
Swallowing, I tried to summon my courage. What if he said no? What if everything I wanted to say came out all wrong? Lost in his soft green eyes, I rehearsed the words I wanted to say, but couldn’t voice them.
“Can’t you,” I croaked, “read my mind?”
