“This one can go.” Pavis waved at a sack. “Tarps and ropes. Take it to Elrian.”
“Got it.” I grabbed the bag and hefted it on my shoulder.
“Can I go along?” Caleb asked.
“Uh.” I settled the sack more firmly on my shoulder. “All right.” I held out my free arm. “But you need to hold on tightly.”
“Sure.” Caleb wrapped his arms around me and clung.
Pavis smirked at me over his head.
I grimaced at him and said to Caleb, “Close your eyes. I'll let you know when we arrive.”
“All right.”
Then I closed my eyes and faded us to the church of Fress. Seconds later, we arrived, and I opened my eyes to see the broad stone foundation, outlined by a skeleton of haphazardly fallen blackened planks. Not much else was left. The Corrupter obviously wasn't afraid of the Goddess.
I let go of Caleb and said, “We're here.”
Caleb released me and stepped back with a grin. “I think I've finally gotten used to that.”
“Come on,” I said, smiling back. “We should probably keep the space clear.”
Caleb followed me out. Or rather, off the foundation. I glanced back. Something glinted in a pile of rubble at the far end of the stone floor.
“Hold on.” I set down the sack and went over to the rubble.
“What is it?” Caleb asked and followed me.
Crouching, I inspected the charred remains of an altar. Something gleamed amid the ashes. I pushed aside the debris and revealed a silver star. It had once stood upon a wooden stand, but that was gone now. All that was left was the star—one of the Goddess' symbols, made in the precious metal she preferred. It had probably been the most valuable thing in the church. Now it was the only thing of value.
“The star,” Caleb whispered as he knelt beside me. His hand reached out and brushed soot from the polished silver. “We should take this back to the citadel for safekeeping.”
“No.” I stood up, bringing the star with me. “This needs to stay here. It belongs here.”
“You don't think someone might steal it?”
“Who would steal from the Goddess?” I lifted a brow at him.
“Bad people.”
“Have some faith, Caleb.” I cleared a spot on the floor and set the star there.
“It should be on an altar.”
“The Goddess will understand.” I smacked his shoulder and headed back to the sack.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I stayed in Fress for a few hours. It felt good to use my muscles in a non-training way. And to see the immediate fruits of my labor. Caleb stayed as well and worked just as hard as I did. When I took him back to the citadel, we were both exhausted. And we still had to climb six flights of stairs. I didn't know where my men were so I couldn't risk fading.
“I wish the citadel had a lift,” I muttered as we trudged up the steps together.
“What's a lift?” Caleb asked.
“It's a box in a shaft, moved with cables. It goes up and down, carrying people to the floors of a building.”
“That's ingenious!”
