Faith and Moonlight Read Online Free

upon
him.

Kay
    Walking in Erik’s wake, Kay felt lightheaded. The
scope and scale of what she saw had shaken her. A relic of ancient legends that
shaped her imagination had been close enough to touch. The impossible greatness
of it made her seem small and insignificant.
    Roan moved up beside her and offered a smile, but his gaze
kept reverting to the grand building they left. Perhaps he felt as she did, but
Kay dismissed that thought. She knew Roan never felt small and insignificant.
Even when she first found him bloodied and starving outside the orphanage,
there had been a strength to him. An intensity he always carried.
    Erik led them to another building. “Preceptor Pamalia made
arrangements for your first class,” he said. “Eventually, you’ll be folded into
the regular curriculum, but for now, you have more individual lessons.”
    At his words, Kay’s nerves flared. “Lessons?” she said
hesitantly. “But we’ve barely arrived.”
    Erik gave her a half-shrug. “Well, it is a school,” he
offered. “And besides, this is what we all start out with. The first lesson is
always Preceptor Ksena’s Rose.”
    “Ho, Erik,” said a voice behind Kay, drawing her attention.
    Coming out the door was a pair of students, both wearing
the white mantle of Faith. The young man was tall and lanky and had light hair
that looked tossed and messy. The girl by his side had vibrant red hair and
light eyes. Both had their jackets unbuckled, and there was a relaxed and happy
air about them that made Kay smile. They returned the gesture.
    Erik put his arms around the two newcomers. “These two,” he
said with obvious pride, “are the best of Faith.” The two of them smiled even
more broadly. “Not necessarily with a blade, mind you—”
    Erik was cut off as the red-haired girl elbowed him in the
stomach, but he came up laughing. “But the best in every other way you could
imagine,” he said. “This is Sabine Collesse,” Erik said as Sabine gave a
confident nod and waved. Erik gestured to the other. “And this is Lillarn
Mattan.”
    The tall young man gave a deep bow—and then fell over.
    Kay gasped as he fell, but instead of hitting the ground,
the man tucked his chin and rolled to his feet to stand before them. The grand
gesture almost went wrong as he stumbled coming back up. Sabine smoothly
grabbed the man’s jacket, steadying him. She gave Kay a wink and then sighed.
    Lillarn gave Kay and Roan a sheepish smile, and then
delivered Erik a gentle push. “I have no idea what strings you pulled to get us
out of Vullohn’s class, but we’re definitely grateful.”
    “Preceptor Ksena knew I was coming with Roan and Kay,” Erik
said, “and she requested I bring you two to assist with the first lesson.”
    Lillarn blanched. “Ksena asked for me?” He shook his head.
“But she hates me.”
    “She doesn’t hate you,” Erik replied.
    “She kind of does,” Sabine corrected before turning to Roan
and Kay. “Welcome to Faith, you two. Best come inside the Rose. Preceptor Ksena
doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” Moving while speaking, she held open the
wooden doors.
    “She doesn’t like much of anything,” Lillarn muttered under
his breath.
    As Kay walked in, she asked Sabine, “Why do they call it
the Rose?” But as soon as she entered, Kay found her answer.
    The expanse of the room glowed. The entire floor was
covered with perfectly smooth, warm-toned wood. Darker pieces interspersed
amongst the predominately lighter boards, forming an immense, complicated rose
pattern. The whole space gleamed like golden honey under candlelight.
    “Oh,” was all Kay could manage.
    A small woman stood in the center of the rose pattern. She
leaned heavily on a polished black cane. Her auburn hair was pulled up into an
elaborate and old-fashioned style atop her head, and a dark mole on her chin
seemed to enhance her pale beauty. Her chin was held high as she watched the
group enter. There was a palpable intensity in her