A Touch of Light: The Ashes of Avarin: Book One by Abdalla Thiago

Author:Abdalla, Thiago
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781957237008
Publisher: The Alterian Press
Published: 2022-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

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The sky was the color of a bloodless corpse, cold and covered in clouds that hid the sun, but the dull light was still enough to make the men avert their dark-acquainted eyes as they stepped into the square before the palace. They walked with manacles clinking and scraping on the rough stone, under the watchful eye of the monuments of the Seraph and the old kings of Khet. Adrian looked up, eyes slowly adjusting. The mark of the Seraph still shone bright through the gray pall hanging over them, but movement in the palace caught his eye.

Addo stood on the balcony overlooking the palace square. His thin lips were spread into a smirk, but even from here Adrian knew it was cowardice that held him up there. He’d always stayed away from the people, afraid they’d pick his pockets or mob him, and he showed little more spine before his enemies. Even with them in chains.

Adrian blew out an angry breath and looked back down. The people around them were silent, hundreds standing to watch Raklin usher in a new order, yet none dared speak louder than a whisper. No cheering, no roaring crowd. It was either fear or faith in Raklin, and neither helped untie the knot in Adrian’s gut.

The men were put into a line in the center of the square and pushed onto their knees, with Adrian at the very end. Raklin wanted him to see every member of his Legion mad with rage, then still with death.

“Faithful!” Raklin’s voice echoed around the square. “The Seraph sends us a message this day. She sends us a show of Her strength. She sends us men who have stumbled in darkness and have finally found Her light: men who are willing to be judged, to be cleansed for the future of Her Domain!”

The crowd muttered, with somber nods and heads bowed in reverence.

“Who among you would join them? Who among you would match the faith of these brave men? Who among you will be the first to be proven in Her new light?”

Adrian gritted his teeth. Portraying it as an act of faith was bad enough. Convincing people to do it willingly was infuriating. He wriggled against his chains, but a heavy hand fell on his shoulder. It was the same guard who had held him in the throne room. He towered over Adrian, silent, not looking down, but his firm grip spoke loudly enough.

Slowly, people trickled from the crowd. They joined the line behind Adrian, heads still bowed, some even smiling.

Adrian’s rage festered in his stomach. Raklin was leading people to their deaths so he could strengthen the belief of those who remained. He was laying the foundation for his own faith by preaching life—but using the lives of trusting people as sacrifice. Adrian had never been a religious man, but he didn’t need religion to hate what he saw.

The first soldier was unshackled and led solemnly to the priest. He stared death in the eyes, trying to keep his courage.

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