The Shrinemaiden (The Maidens) Read Online Free Page B

temple, more informative to Adelai than what she could even gather from just reading. Never a week passed without his visiting, and after his business with the high priestess was over he would always seek her out in the garden at what was growing to be her favorite spot by the tall oak tree, to resume the lessons.
    He praised her for her quick mind, which Adelai hoped was sincere enough without attempting to flatter, for he was the kind of man who did not give praise freely until it was deserved. Oftentimes she would challenge his authority on topics by drawing out her own meager knowledge, and many an hour would be spent arguing about dissertations and theories. She was surprised to find out that he was intelligent and capable in his own right, and wondered privately what made him take up the sword, when he could have been a sought after scholar. For all the faults she had thought him guilty of, he was an excellent teacher, and she learned many things from him she would never have had she relied solely on the temple’s library, vast as it was.
    She had been worried at first, fearful that the High Priestess would soon put an end to these afternoons, for she had long thought these encounters, innocent enough as they were, would be frowned upon. Most of Adelai’s sisters knew nothing about the captain, for they had mutually agreed to keep this secret, using the deepest part of the extensive gardens few people wandered through. Adelai had grown up wandering here, and knew which areas prevented eavesdroppers, where the sounds of people approaching would give them quick warning.
    The other novices wondered at her impatience for their classes to end so she could be out in the gardens where he was waiting. Strangely enough, the high priestess knew almost from the first day, but made no word of protest other than to call for the presence of a couple of matrons, who always sat some distance away to ensure respectability, and to ward off oblivious passers-by. The priestess herself would sometimes stop by and watch them from a distance, saying little. Terrified at first that she would be punish, the priestess’ silent approval made Adelai happy - and puzzled. She knew it should have worried her, or made her more suspicious than she was. But, selfishly, Adelai only felt grateful for everyday that the high priestess did not put a stop to these lessons.
    Perhaps the presence of the older women did make Adelai feel safer. Oftentimes the captain shot her slow, suggestive looks when he thought she didn’t see - looks (she was ashamed to admit) she wanted him to give her. As instructive as the captain was as a teacher, she was still very much aware of him as a man. There were lapses in the lessons where she would look up from the book she was poring through to find him studying her, with little expression on his face to convey what he was truly thinking - and yet there was a queer silent intensity in his gaze that always made her redden, hurriedly looking back down at her book though she knew her concentration for the rest of the day was broken.
    “You think fast on your feet.” They had had this particular arrangement for nearly four months, and Adelai was relaxed, happy, and almost used to his presence. She had brought a large bowl of fruit with her for the day’s lesson, in case either of them grew hungry. They had spent a pleasant afternoon talking about the philosopher Myronicus, and as always she glowed a little at the compliments he gave at her progress. The captain wore a small smile on his face, a rare enough feat. “For a shrinemaiden, that is.”
    “Thank you, Captain.” Adelai said, trying to hide her pleasure at his words, used to his teasing. Over the course of these months she had relaxed her guard more with him, and the witty banter they enjoyed with each other perhaps crossed the line between what should be proper. She had learned enough times in class that men prize wit just as much as beauty, and she had enough