The Sapphire Altar by David Dalglish

Author:David Dalglish [DALGLISH, DAVID]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2023-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

The pair rode a carriage south out of Vallessau. Keles wore no bindings, a gesture of trust toward the woman Sinshei would make an ally. No conversation was held between them. It felt like they rode toward an execution, and in many ways, it was one. The sun had begun to set, painting red and yellow streaks across the sky. The island was beautiful, Sinshei had to admit. One could spend many happy years wandering the beaches, the tall mountains, and the rolling fields deeper within the heart of Thanet. She might have, if she had come not as an Anointed. For a time, the empire had sent missionaries to pave the way for the armies that would follow. God-Incarnate Lucavi had ended that practice within his first year. First conquest, then conversion. He was an impatient deity when it came to the ever-hungry borders of his empire.

The road roughened, and they descended from the higher rocky fields back toward the beach. Once they exited, Sinshei bade the driver to return to the city. There would be no witnesses for this ceremony except those Sinshei invited. One was Soma, who waited at the beach with an enormous chest at his feet. Within was the work she had requested of their smiths, performed admirably given the time constraints. Behind him, standing in a circle, were ten followers of Dagon.

Keles broke her silence at the sand’s edge. It seemed she was nervous to come closer to the smiling paragon.

“Why are we here?” she asked, and gestured to the waiting crowd. “Why are they here?”

“Among the paragons, there is a special designation,” Sinshei explained. “A paragon penitent. They are paragons who have gone astray in their faith but seek to return to the fold. I would have you become one such penitent, Keles, only the power will not come from any faith in the God-Incarnate in Eldrid. It will come from those who are loyal still to the god Dagon, and who recognize you as possessing his divine blessing.”

“What you’re offering is blasphemous to the Uplifted Church,” Keles said, and she was not wrong. “Why would you allow this?”

Sinshei turned to Soma, not yet ready to answer such a question.

“Go to them, and make sure their hearts are ready,” she ordered.

“As you wish,” Soma said, and he dipped his head low.

Sinshei pulled her braided hair over her right shoulder so it hung down to her knees. Silently, she debated as she watched him go. Keles shuffled beside her, nervous and agitated. They were alone on this beach, just the two of them. She was asking so much of young Keles. Something must be offered in return. A sliver of honesty. A secret pain Sinshei had never shared with others.

“My mother’s name was Valshei,” Sinshei said. “She was a concubine in service of the God-Incarnate, taken from Aethenwald upon its conquering as a momentary infatuation. I was born in Eldrid and heard only stories of Aethenwald. My mother, she would tell them as she

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