A Kingdom of Lies (Realm of Fey Book 2) by Ben Alderson

Author:Ben Alderson [Alderson, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-05-06T16:00:00+00:00

22

It was incredible how different my perspective of life was after my skin had been cleaned and my belly full of food. Abbot Nathanial had followed through on his vow and then some, returning when the sun was at its highest peak above Ayvbury with the beautiful promise of a bath, clean clothes and a good meal.

We had taken turns to wash, creeping through the empty church towards the abbot’s private rooms where the tub of lukewarm water waited.

Duncan had either pretended to be asleep when the abbot had returned for us, or truly was enthralled in his drunken haze because he did not stir. But by the time I had returned to the attic, the bed was empty, and the abbot was waiting beside it, sat upon the stool once again.

Hair still damp, my eyes flicked around the room as though the Hunter hid between towering stacks of books. “Where is he?”

The abbot looked up, eyes fogged with glistening sadness. “It would seem dear Duncan has been harbouring some negative emotions towards me.”

“Perhaps I should go and find him,” I said, paranoid that his dirt-covered uniform and blood-soaked hair would only draw unwanted attention to us. “I did try and warn him not to leave, not with…”

I silenced myself, swallowing my words thickly. Now was not the time to add the unnecessary concern of the Berserker who hunted us to the old man’s shoulders, for they were visibly weighed heavy by unseen worries.

“Duncan was never one to discuss the thoughts that clouded his mind,” the abbot said, shoulders hunching with one great exhale. “He never saw the benefit of having the Creator to discuss his mind’s demons with. Even as a young lad he believed prayer to be nothing more than wasted time. It is what surprised me most that he was drafted into the rabble of Faithful. What was so different from our God, to theirs, that made them so desirable?”

“You know of their God?” I asked, unsure how a man of the Creator’s faith knew of Duwar when it had never been mentioned during teachings.

The abbot’s expression changed as quick as a summer storm, downturned expression lifting into a furious snarl. “I do indeed. But the title of God has never been deserving of Duwar.”

“What of Altar?” I asked, watching the abbot’s expression soften once again.

“I gave my life to the Creator when I was young enough to stand unaided by my parents. I knew my life’s purpose as well as my own name, to spread the Creator’s teachings to those who listen, and encourage belief in those with space for it. Altar is no different, Father of the fey and recognised deity of your people. But Duwar, that creature has no standing to be titled as a God.”

A shadow passed over the old man, hardening his features as though Duwar’s name had the power to turn him to stone with hate.

I should have left to search for Duncan already, but the truth the abbot was revealing kept me rooted to the spot.

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