Shiloh Rising by Fiona Tarr

Author:Fiona Tarr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: magical priestess, historical fantasy, quick read fantasy, time travel fantasy, young adult fantasy
Publisher: Fiona Tarr
Published: 2020-10-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Culaan waited impatiently. The dark blue door at the end of the alleyway stood closed. There were stone stairs leading up either side of the alley to more doors, but no one was about, not even a stray cat or dog.

Genevieve and Culaan jumped at the sound, but neither could make out where it was coming from. A chuckle made Genevieve look up to find Matias scampering along the roof line with an agility that belied his build. When he reached the stairway on the left of the alley, he vaulted to the landing with little effort.

‘You are full of surprises little man.’ Culaan grinned as the stall holder jumped the railing and landed in the alley before them.

‘That’s nothing. Wait until you see what comes next.’ Matias returned the grin with the mischief of a youth.

Culaan expected him to knock on the big blue door, but instead, he went around the back of the stairs he had vaulted over and waved them to follow. When they were all out of sight, he tapped the wall, which disappeared.

Genevieve sucked in a quick breath ‘Magic.’

Matias chuckled. ‘Something I think you two are very familiar with.’ He ducked through the doorway and the warriors followed. The light of day disappeared as soon as they passed the threshold, but all along the wall stood balls of light, not unlike the ones Ariela could manifest.

‘Follow me.’ Matias started moving down the long stone corridor. The ground was sloping down, Culaan was sure of it. The descent was gradual and the temperature dropped slowly, but they were at least a full building height below ground when the corridor opened into a large cavern.

‘Welcome to Shiloh.’ Matias grinned.

‘Shiloh?’ Culaan cocked his head as two women, around Ariela’s age moved forward offering them a drink of water. They both wore short tunics under long woollen, hooded cloaks.

‘Yes. You have heard of it?’ Matias was seeking the extent of their knowledge. Culaan hesitated for only a second. If the stall holder hadn’t given them up the moment he realised they were familiar with magic, then he wasn’t about to hand them over to the King or the Senator now.

‘Yes. We have.’ Ariela had told them both about where she had come from and the Order her mother had created.

‘Our friend is from your Order.’ Culaan offered, unsure if he should divulge too much.

Matias grinned. ‘I had hoped as much. Her coming was foretold, but it seems the Senator has gotten to her first.’

‘Gotten to her. That doesn’t sound good.’

‘She is safe. They want her power. They want her to kill the King for them. They will not harm her, even if they could, and I don’t think they could. Her history to this point had been written in our scrolls and we will continue to write it for future generations.’

‘So you know who we are then.’ Genevieve focussed on Matias as Culaan took a sip from his cup of water.

‘Come, we will sit for a while. I’ll tell you what I know and you can share what you want if you choose to.

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