SoJourner by Voigt Janalyn;

Author:Voigt, Janalyn;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Fiction, inspirational fiction, Clean and Wholesome Novels, Religion and Spirituality
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2019-08-18T16:00:00+00:00

19

GUILT AND FORGIVENESS

Mara stared down at the trencher of elk stew with greenings before her, one of her favorite dishes. Its aroma had at first made her mouth water but now turned her stomach. Arillia sat at the table beside her, but with her shoulder turned. Her step-mother had begun to welcome her. Why had her affections changed?

After talking with her father in the presence chamber, Mara had made every effort to fit in at Torindan and with the Lof Raelein. Obviously, she had failed.

What was the use? No matter what she did it could never be enough. She was no lof raena, whatever the Kindren called her. How could she ever hope to become one? She’d been raised to serve, not lead. Her father would simply have to understand why she couldn’t accept the scepter of Faeraven.

She stopped pretending to eat altogether.

Arillia kept her father busy talking, but once or twice his glance paused on Mara. She knew enough about the soul touch by now to recognize her father’s gentle nudge. Kai, the only other Kindren who semed to really notice her, sat frowning. A pang of sympathy went through her. Whatever his troubles, she wished them more fleeting than her own.

During a lull in the music from the minstrel’s gallery, she murmured her excuses and started toward the dais steps.

“Syl Marinda!” her father called.

Having only just reached the end of the table, she could hardly pretend to be out of earshot. She turned around. “Yes?”

“Stay a little longer, my daughter, and I think you’ll be pleased.” His hand pressed her step-mother’s shoulder. “Wouldn’t you agree, Arillia?”

Her step-mother lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Stay…if you will.”

Trapped by the hope written on her father’s face, Mara set aside the urge to escape. She returned to her chair, resigned to endure a long evening.

Servants carried away the last remnants of the repast and removed the trestle tables below the dais. In the gallery, one of the minstrels stood forth to sing a lively ballad. Excitement pulsed in the very air, and the crowd lining the edges of the chamber watched the central archway with increasing interest.

Acrobats garbed in bright jerkins and tight leggings ran in on slippered feet. They performed one feat after another. Mara watched in bemusement, never having seen the like. The acrobats piled on top of one another to form a living tower. She held her breath lest any fall. The tower broke apart as they all went tumbling. She gasped with everyone else. The acrobats sprang to their feet and raised joined hands. Laughing, the crowd applauded and called for more. Mara felt her father’s gaze on her and returned his smile, grateful that he’d kept her from missing this performance.

Arillia continued to ignore her presence.

Anxious to retreat to her chambers, Mara went down the side steps leading from the dais and slipped into the crowd.

A group of traveling minstrels marched in to a brisk melody. These minstrels did not play as well as Torindan’s minstrels but dressed with more color and brought dancers with veils twirling.

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