What a difference a day made.
I stalled, then took a sip of the coffee, enjoying the warm, delicious drink as it spread through me. I savored it for just one moment longer, relishing everything that was innocent and pure just one more time as I got ready to admit that my own innocence and purity were ending.
“None of that surprises me.”
Jallina’s head snapped up, then hung a moment later.
“So they did try to take you last night.”
This time, my head snapped up. “What do you mean? How do you—”
“Mil wasn’t quiet about his plans and where his ideals were aligning. And they weren’t with you and the temple, for sure.”
I was aghast. “You knew he was going to try to kidnap me?”
Was one of my oldest friends lying to me?
Was she baiting me?
Why had she not come and told me they were going to try that?
Disgusted, I stared at the coffee.
It lost its taste suddenly.
My taste for my company was also lost.
Jallina’s head shook in the negative. “Not him. The group he has been showing more than a passing interest in. He was…enthusiastic about the idea that they were going to take you from the temple and teach you how the temple is wrong.”
“Why would I ever be convinced the temple is wrong? I am…was an acolyte. I serve the Lost God. I have since we were children, and he’s known me since I was a child!”
Another pregnant pause filled the air. This one was not uncomfortable, merely long and laden with things Jallina wanted to say.
“Remember I said we were children and really didn’t have a clue? It all comes down to that. We don’t know this world as well as others do, and we certainly never knew about Antithesis.”
My hand flew up to a hold position.
“Who?”
“Antithesis. They are the ones who tried to take you last night. The one Milgran has joined.”
Working my jaw, I puzzled out the name as I stared into the coffee. Finally, I looked up. “That’s a stupid name.”
Jallina burst out laughing. “Right?!”
“They also missed.”
Still chuckling, she gestured to me sitting there. “Clearly. What did they do? How did you get away?”
From that question alone, I knew that she had not had enough prior knowledge of the attempt. My stomach settled quickly. “They danced me out the door.”
Her face froze in a blank expression for just a moment, and then her whole countenance exploded in laughter.
“They did what?”
“Danced me off the floor.” I smirked. “Honest. They cut in on Elex and me, and I was slowly danced over to the opposite doors and then dragged from the room.”
I relayed the night’s excitement to my friend, the new knowledge of who they were shedding new light on the whole incident.
One of my own friends associated with these people.
“Are you all right now, though?” Jallina asked.
“I am. I was fine just moments after Elex and Master Dorian had me away from the carriage. I wasn’t really frightened, just confused. I mean, one minute I’m dancing and the next…”
A sigh left her lips. “You and Elex?”
My cheeks flamed red when I realized how obvious I’d made it to her that Elex and I weren’t merely friends. “Me and Elex.”
“I’ve heard he’s an animal in bed.”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
She smiled. “I’m jealous, really. I’ve always had a soft spot for him… and I had hoped.”
I nodded. “I understand.”
She shook off her reverie. “So, let me continue. After Milgran lost his mind about you and joined up with Antithesis, Drez and I wanted to get away from him without actually losing contact in case he did have a big mouth. I do wish I had realized he was quite serious when he told us they were going to try to steal you.
“In any case, Drez and I found that, after some introspection, we preferred to trust that which we know well. The temple.
“Someone in the coffee shop we were just in overheard us and introduced us to this place and others like it around the city.”
“That’s why you wanted to get out of the shop.”
Jallina nodded. “Yes, because as he, Seforin, explained, both the Outlier Temples and Antithesis use the shop to recruit.”
“And if they knew I was there—”
“They might come after you. Here, they won’t. And if they do, there’s a door at the back where we can get you out.”
“This is too much intrigue for me.”
“And we are just at the tip of the iceberg. Infants.”
I inclined my head, realizing that the word was not so much an insult as a warning that we didn’t have enough experience to understand everything yet.
Her hand rested on mine a moment before she spoke again. “We trust the temple. Milgran has no idea that we’ve chosen a side different from his.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. “You want to be a spy?”
She tipped her hand. “Maybe a little. Maybe not go out on difficult missions, but I would not be opposed to slipping you and the temple a note to let you know we’ve heard something.”
“Having a note from my friend show up at the door wouldn’t be suspicious.”
A grin spread on Jallina’s face. “Exactly.”
I tapped a finger on the tabletop. “This could be dangerous.”
“Did you ever even suspect such an underground in S’Kir? It’s no more dangerous than the Breaker clearly aligning with the temple immediately, and seemingly, without thought.”
My lip twitched. “The Breaker?”
“The Breaker of the Spine.” Her eyebrow went up severely. “You teach the stories, Kimber. You must know about the Breaker of the Spine.”
I had never heard the phrase. I didn’t want to tell her that. It was a terrible omission in my education if I hadn’t, and it was this important. “Oh, yes. Of course. Sorry. I was focused on Antithesis.”
“So you won’t make it publicly known to Milgran that you’re aligned with the temple.”
“Not at all.”
Wrapping her hands around her mug of coffee once more, Jallina took a deep draught, and I could see the warmth comforted her.
I took on all the chill of the room at that moment.
A sigh escaped before I gave her my firm answer.
“Yes, then. Yes. Please send me information on them. And Milgran. But never at personal risk to you.”
“We must be seen together occasionally. Coffee, shopping, even visiting one another.”
My eyebrow went up this time. “You’ve thought about this.”
Trying not to smirk, she couldn’t quite school her expression. “S’Kir isn’t exactly the most exciting place. We’re happy, we’re content, but even a calm soul like mine needs an adventure once in a while.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “This is probably more adventure than you really want to experience, Jalli.”
She waved me off with a flick of her wrist. “Feh. I’ll grow old and stale like my books if I don’t do something to help you and the temple.”
I let the words hang there a moment. In the next, I gave her a warning. “Just remember, we don’t know the game, never mind all the players. This is for keeps now.”
I somehow pulled my gun out and attempted to bring it up to the head of the person dragging me away.