Sacrificed to Ecstasy by Shay Lacy Page B

organized attack.”
    “The gods must hate us to want us to suffer like this.”
    The priestess gave Rayan a sharp look. “The gods do not hate us and they are not making us suffer. That is man’s doing. The gods wait for a sign that we honor them.”
    Damn. Rayan was antagonizing a potential safe place to stay for the night. She would prefer to sleep indoors before she started her journey tomorrow. Although now that her betrothed was dead she didn’t know where she could go. Would his people take her in? As what? And what would she do there? She shook her head. She was too hungry and tired to ponder the future beyond a place to sleep for the night.
    “I’m sorry, priestess.” Rayan headed down the hill toward where she and her betrothed had been attacked.
    “Are you alone, child?” There was a note of censure in the priestess’ voice.
    “I was traveling with my betrothed.”
    The priestess caught up to Rayan and walked by her side. “My name is Elida. What are you called?”
    “Rayan.”
    “Meaning ‘dawn of the sun’. Where are you from, child?”
    “Elderhaven, near the plains. Raiders destroyed it six months ago. My family fled with the few other people who survived. We’ve traveled since then, trying to find a safe place to live.”
    “A too familiar tale, unfortunately. If only there was someone to fulfill the gods’ prophecy that could save us.”
    The brown lump in the distance distracted Rayan’s attention from asking about the prophecy. Her betrothed, Faram. She waited for a stab of grief, but felt only a faint sadness, mostly for the hopes that died with him, for a purpose to her life, for a home and a man who might love her someday. She’d run farther than she’d imagined. She hadn’t known she had such speed in her. It was amazing what a person could do when she had to.
    She’d been desperate to reach the mountain to save her, and in a way it had.
    When they reached Faram’s crumpled form she sank to her knees beside him. Death had twisted his facial features from plain to gruesome. Scarlet soaked the tunic on his chest around the ugly hole where he’d been stabbed. He’d tried to protect her, and to some extent had succeeded. At least she could say that about him.
    “I’m sorry, child. I know there is little to ease your sorrow over his loss. But you have good memories of him.”
    “I only met him three days ago, when he bought me from my family.” Rayan looked up at Elida. She didn’t want the priestess to misunderstand. “I’m not a slave. My family was starving. We had no home, no work, no food. I’m of age to marry and Faram’s wife had died. He needed someone to keep his home while he traveled. I offered myself as his wife for food for my family. It was an honorable trade.”
    The priestess nodded. “Many such beginnings become strong marriages. It is a pity, though, that you did not have time to create children together. Although that hope might yet be realized. You had three days, after all.”
    Rayan shook her head. “We were not yet married. Faram was taking me to his village temple to be married there. I asked him to wait until after the vows were spoken.”
    Elida’s sharpened gaze pierced Rayan. “You are a virgin?”
    “Of course.”
    Elida shook her head. “There is no ‘of course’ in these violent times. How did you escape unscathed from your village?”
    “My parents dressed my younger sister and me as boys. I begged Faram to allow me to continue the charade, but he said I was to be his wife and should dress like it.” She would not lay blame on his dead corpse.
    “A virgin.” The priestess spoke in an awed tone. “Do you know Vashon’s prophecy?”
    “No. We worshipped other gods. I need to gather our belongings.”
    “Yes. We should be gone from this place as quickly as possible,” the priestess agreed with startling alacrity. “We will take you with us.”
    Rayan took a deep breath and dove her hands into the folds of Faram’s clothes.