Reluctantly, handed over the pouch that had now been offered to three different men. A faint pulse of magic emanated from his hand, and the product of my three days and nights of labor disintegrated into dust.
Fine, I thought. I’ll just make another one.
The senior knight was the third man to reject me.
The first had been the serene Hierophant from the neighboring Sanctum. I had walked the Path of Apathy for three hundred years, but the first sight of him shattered
my resolve. My only desire was to claim him. But he was just an oblivious holy man.
I tried to seduce him in the sacred springs, wearing nothing but a sheer, gossamer wranMINATO
he just squeezed his eyes shut, pressed his palms together, and chanted, “Lady Co
I could have sworn I saw a
blush creep up his bare, tonsured head. But
please conduct yourself with dignity.”
His piety only fanned the flames of my desire. I moved closer, a dance of advance and
“Why not just surrender to me? I whispered in his ear.
I could feel his breath quicken, his eyelashes flutter.
“The Light guide me,” he murmured, before practically fleeing the springs. His wet robes clung to his body, The image haunted me for days.
I told this story to the proprietress of the tavern at the foot of the mountain.
Vealing the faint outline of a perfectly sculpted torso.
She burst out laughing. “Little enchantress, with your inclinations, you should have joined my Crimson
bal.
I took a long swig of wine. “But I already have an Order.”
After being rejected by the knight, I found myself back at the tavern.
The proprietress greeted me at the door. “Rejected again, little one?”
My face fell as I nodded. She shooed away the other patrons and brought a flagon of wine to my table.
you were to join my Crimson Cabal,” she said, her long, slender fingers, tipped with red lacquer, tilting my chin up, “no man in this world could refuse you.”
I looked into her eyes, and my heart skipped a beat.
Oh no. I think I’m in love with the proprietress, too
A moment later, clarity returned.
You see,” she purred, “that is the power of our secret arts.”
Chapter 1
A moment later, clarity retumed.
“You see,” she purred, “that is the power of our secret arts.”
I was tempted. But I couldn’t betray my mentor, my Order. When I first joined, I was just a child. He had told me I would be his only apprentice.
I shook my head.
The proprietress seemed to see my hesitation. She smiled. “Little enchantress, you’ll be back.”
