“Wise choice. These people need that right now. With things the way they are, the common man will need the wisdom a temple can offer. Where are you going to find priests though?” he replied, sounding serious.
She glanced back at him and raised an eyebrow. “Not the response I expected from you. I have managed to scrounge up a few priests. They are from my district as well. One is an alcoholic and the other two don’t look like they have had a decent meal in months. I’m not too sure how well they will do, but for now they will work,” she said with a faint smile.
Finn shrugged slightly and motioned with one hand toward the crowd of commons surrounding the building. “They aren’t Firym. We can’t expect them to hold strong without reassurance. They need to believe there is a higher power watching over them. If they were Firym they would simply know they are the higher power, and act accordingly. I’m sure even an alcoholic priest will help these people.”
Jala snorted in amusement and shook her head slowly as she turned back to the progress on the temple. “I’m not Firym,” she reminded him quietly.
“Ahh, but you were smart enough to marry one, so you will be fine,” he said, his voice once again holding a note of teasing.
She tilted her chin up to look at his face and returned his smile. Even on a dreary day such as this, Finn seemed to glow with a positive vibrancy no one else possessed. With his sun bronzed skin and shining green eyes, he was truly the most beautiful thing in the world to her. He returned her gaze, staring into her eyes and the teasing expression left his face.
“You are so beautiful,” he said quietly and brushed a hand across her wind-reddened cheek. “Your skin looks like cream kissed by roses after being in the cold.”
She smiled as he spoke, marveling at how close his words had been to her own thoughts.
“Just when I think it can’t get better …” He paused and traced her smile with a gentle finger. “You prove it can,” he added quietly and gave her a kiss.
“I love you,” she whispered as he drew back from the kiss.
“Love you too, Vezradesh,” he returned and seemed ready to say more when the hoof beats of a quickly approaching horse drew his attention.
His brow knit in concern as he watched Jail drop quickly down from his saddle and approach them. Jala felt herself tense as well. Jail was not the sort to over-react. If he was running a horse through the city streets, something was wrong, and by the sweat covering his roan gelding he had been running for a while. He was bundled heavily against the cold in a thick wool coat of dark purple. The white tunic he wore appeared to be heavy material as well, and she was relieved to see she wasn’t the only one the weather was affecting. He sketched a hasty bow to her as he approached and gave Finn a nod in greeting.
“Milady, we have a problem,” Jail began, sounding out of breath. His hair was pulled back neatly and held with a silver clasp. His clothing, too, was some of his finest quality she noticed, now that he was closer. The sigil of her house was worked in silver thread on the breast of his coat and the buttons were carved gems. Apparently Jail had been visiting another district today. The Mind mage was usually informal in his appearance and there was no place in her district that demanded such fashions.
“What kind of problem?” she asked and glanced toward the gates with concern. From the way Jail was acting she expected to see Justicars pouring through the streets.
“Lady Chastity has been arrested and is being taken to the Hall of Justice for judgment as we speak,” he began. “I was visiting my sister and checking on the inner city when I received the news. It hasn’t been long. I believe we still have time to act.”
“Valor’s sister?” she asked with shock and glanced to Finn. “Does Valor know yet?” she asked, turning back to Jail. It was no secret how protective Valor was of his family and news such as this would not set well with him.
He hesitated a moment and swallowed heavily. “That would be our problem, Milady. Valor is in their custody as well. I don’t have the full details, but from the street gossip it would seem he killed several Justicars.”
“Shit, they will execute him,” Finn said, his voice barely above a whisper. His arms tightened around her almost painfully and he quickly kissed her cheek. “I have to get him out of there,” he added in a louder voice and released her.
“Finn, wait,” she said, trying to grab hold of his arm before he could go. She knew him too well. His idea of getting Valor out of there would include a lot of bloodshed, and chances were good that he would end up in custody as well.
“There isn’t time, Jala,” he said, already striding toward the stable. “Jail, keep her safe until I can get back,” he called over his shoulder and Jala watched him go with a dry expression.
“I love how he listens,” Jala sighed. She glanced down at the Bendazzi beside her and motioned toward the stables. “Marrow, go delay Finn getting his horse saddled for a minute or two,” she said sweetly and watched him stalk off toward the stables. Most horses found the Bendazzi unsettling but this newest mount of Finn’s particularly hated the cat.
Turning back to Jail she sighed again and smiled faintly. “I have no intention of allowing this to happen, but I will not allow my husband to attempt a one-man rescue mission either. They will hold judgment today. How long until they punish the condemned?” she asked. While her companions were doing their best to continue her education after learning that they couldn’t return to the Academy because of the Blights, there were still some things she wasn’t clear on.