Pleasure by Jacquelyn Frank Page B

older priest say.
    It made him turn to him. In that moment he realized he could see something in Magnus that had not been there before. The priest was relaxed, more down to earth, and seemed genuinely at peace. M’jan Magnus was notorious for the way he held himself above exception, pressuring himself to set the ultimate example, to the point where it was intimidating sometimes to even be near him. There was something infinitely more reachable about him now that had not been there before.
    Sagan realized with a jolt of shock that it was because Magnus had fallen in love with his handmaiden. He had seen how closely she was kept to his side, but it had not registered until then. Somehow Dae had penetrated the austere M’jan Magnus’s walls of strict expectation, and somehow Magnus had dodged all those dangerous, prickly spines to catch the new handmaiden close.
    But theirs was a blessed union and Magnus was free to feel as he did. K’yan Daenaira was a Shadowdweller and was immortal; she lived a life in the beauty of darkness that she thrived on. If she ever became pregnant, the child would be fully bred.
    â€œYou understand,” Sagan realized with a sigh of relief so profound it nearly hurt.
    â€œI do,” Magnus agreed. “I have learned recently that to feel love for another isn’t enough to make you worthy of the relationship. Dae showed me that. Then she showed me how to be what she needed me to be. Which, as it turned out, was actually what I needed to be for myself as well. So I do understand when you tell me why you returned here, even though I suspect you realized you would lose your place as priest with this unrepentant attitude. Sagan, to let go of all you have ever known is a very difficult thing. To stand up for this belief knowing what you will lose speaks deeply of yourfeelings. And to have left someone you feel this way for just on the hope she will be happier without you…well, I have to say it’s a little stupid.”
    Sagan raised a brow in surprise. “Excuse me?”
    â€œI am assuming she feels the same for you, else this wouldn’t be much in the way of a sacrifice. Am I right?”
    â€œYes…but…”
    â€œBut she’s human? An exceptional human from what you have told me. One that many Nightwalkers would want to study. Do you really think she can be left alone where she is when she is so important to the war we are fighting against the necromancers? Do you think I can tell others about this ‘good’ magic-user and have them believe me without showing proof of it? And do you think she will not want to do anything that will save these other—what did you call them? Natural born Witches? You believe she will sit in solitude when she can offer us knowledge? Offer us hope, for the first time, of repentance and reclamation of the necromancers’ stained souls? No, Sagan. No. And if she is like you say she is, she will not run away from the chance to help others like herself. She could become a great teacher. The possibilities for her in our world are endless.”
    Magnus stood up and looked hard into Sagan’s eyes.
    â€œYou are a man who thrives on doing good works and fighting for a just cause. But evolution is the way of life on this planet, Sagan, and it may just be that it is time you evolved away from this path among us and touched a wider world with your wisdom and your strength. I see a future for you that can give you both of the things you desire, and give satisfaction to your gods as well. Resign, Sagan. Pray for forgiveness for defying the rules you broke, and then return to her free of those rules. Bring her here. We will ready you both for a circuit through the Nightwalker courts. I must speak to the Chancellors about this. They must have a part in making this offer to the other Cultures. Do you have anyidea what a powerful gift this will be for your people? The other Nightwalkers still look on us as their