The Follower of Flowers: A Flowers of Prophecy Novel by Natalia Hernandez

Author:Natalia Hernandez [Hernandez, Natalia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

By the time Jesa had made it back to the temple, it had been very apparent that she had not spent the night on Danrayen grounds. The priestesses wasted no time in handing out her punishment—mandatory cleaning duties, mucking out the stables, and assisting with every meal for the next two months.

And no trips outside of the temple during that time.

That night, Sofia and Jesa sat in the gardens, under the statue of Danray, and Jesa told her friend everything. She cried over a prophecy that had altered the course of her entire life, for her mother who had to abandon her to save her from it. She cried over the first life that she had taken, and cried harder when she realized that she couldn’t truly be sorry for it. And she cried that she left Jose to deal with the aftermath of her actions alone.

Sofia merely held her and rocked her as she cried. When all of the ugly business was finally spoken, Sofia pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her friend.

“Jose is right,” she assured Jesa. “His family is well-liked and well-respected in Pelgar. No one would believe anything other than Jose defending himself. He will be all right, you’ll see.”

“I just hate that I left him, I shouldn’t have done that,” Jesa replied nasally, then blew her nose.

“He was right to tell you to go,” Sofia said. “I like him all the better for protecting you. Besides”—she gave Jesa a sly smile—“you will have plenty of time to make it up to him later.”

Jesa sputtered, and then laughed. Sofia leaned in.

“So? How was it, before? At the forge?” she asked her, her face full of naked curiosity.

“It was wonderful,” Jesa admitted, sighing a little at the memory. “He is wonderful.”

Her face clouded with concern once more, which Sofia was quick to notice.

“I have some free time tomorrow,” Sofia told her. “I will go into Pelgar and make sure he is all right,” she promised.

Relieved, Jesa threw her arms around her friend.

“Gracias, hermana,” she said.

“It’s what best friends do,” Sofia replied.

***

The next day Jesa was a bundle of nervous energy. She woke up early and helped out with the morning meal as promised, then went about her training. She was distracted and ended up with several new bruises, but the pain helped keep her mind off of Jose.

She didn’t hear a word that her instructors said during the strategy and history classes, but let her mind wander. In the afternoon, when she should have been mucking out stalls, she sat on a bale of hay and penned Jose a letter instead.

She hoped it didn’t end up smelling like sweat and horse dung.

Just before heading to the kitchens to help with dinner, she found Sofia and slipped her the note, making her vow to return with news the moment she could. Her friend promised her, and set out for Pelgar.

A few hours later, Jesa was sweeping the front steps of the temple, keeping an eye out for Sofia’s return.

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