Arrows of Promise (Kingmakers Book 2) by Honor Raconteur Page B

hear
the story on this one.”
    Broden had to agree.
    They were not far from North Gate so it took them barely ten
minutes to get there. When they arrived, Marissa Allen was standing off to the
side speaking to a man in the pure grey-blue robes of the Goddess Regina,
mother of healing, crafting, and motherhood. Broden blew out a secret breath
upon seeing that color. If there was any god’s blessings that he felt Estole
needed most, it was Regina’s. Either that or Macha, the god of sovereignty and
war.
    Ashlynn slowed down to a more sedate walk, partially to
avoid looking like she had hurried over here. It gave Broden a few moments to
study the priest openly without being caught staring. Looks-wise, there was not
much to him. Hawkish nose, thinning hair, small frame, he looked more like a
money exchanger than a priest.
    Marissa spotted them and waved a hand before speaking to the
priest. Broden was just close enough to catch part of her words. “—Sheriff of
Estole and her partner, Broden Ravenscroft. We have to report to them when
anyone comes in, you see.”
    “In these troubled times, daughter, I quite understand.” The
priest turned and gave them a slight bow and genteel smile. “Greetings and
blessings upon you.”
    Ashlynn extended a hand, which he took in a gentle grip. “I
greet you. I’m Ashlynn Fallbright, Sheriff of Estole.”
    “My name is Anthony Graff, and I am a priest of Regina. May
harmony find you, Sheriff.”
     Broden also extended a hand, which the man reciprocated
with a firmer grip. “Broden Ravenscroft, yon lass’s partner.”
    Graff’s smile lifted the corners of his eyes into crinkles.
“A wizard-partner is a rare thing to have. You are blessed indeed, Sheriff.”
    “On days like today I especially am thankful,” she told him.
    Broden, knowing she was referring to that three-hour chase,
grinned at her. Of course Marissa and Graff had no idea what she meant so gave
her slightly confused smiles.
    “Well, Priest Graff, I am very surprised to see you here.”
Ashlynn offered him a chance to go into the guard house, which he took, and
followed her into seats next to a cold brazier. “We’ve been sending out letters
and requests for a priest for a month without any response whatsoever.”
    “Yes, such a letter went to my superior. He was disinclined
to accept any position here—more because of age than anything else—but
encouraged me to go.”
    As much as Broden hated to question a gift horse in the
mouth, they still had to do an entrance interview of some sort to make sure the
man wasn’t an Iyshian spy. “Why did ye come, if ye do no’ mind my asking.”
    “Even the Orders are ruled by the Bindings, my son.” Graff’s
lips twisted into a sardonic expression as he said this. “My ability to rise in
the ranks of my Order are limited because of my own birth and my lack of the
right connections. I could never be more than an assistant to someone else
throughout my life. The lack of a promotion grated on me some, but it was the
inability to make the changes I thought should be done that was the hardest to
bear.”
    That made perfect sense to Broden, who had once lived in a
situation that also prevented him from ever changing.
    Ashlynn picked up the thread smoothly, having done this more
than a few hundred times. “And so you leapt to the decision to come here? It must
have weighed on you heavily.”
    “It was not such a challenge, my child.” Graff lifted his
shoulders into a shrug. “I had little to lose or leave behind. Also, I was
touched by the letter that your king sent out. He was quite eloquent in his
plea for help. I felt that he was a good man and I wanted to try serving a king
that I actually liked for once.”
    That struck a chord within Ashlynn. She out and out grinned
at the man. “It’s a novel concept, isn’t it? So far I quite like it. When did
you get the letter?”
    “Almost precisely three weeks ago. I had several things to
attend to and finish before I