Free Once Was: Book One of the Asylum Trilogy by Miya Kressin Page B

provide gold. It’s gold our town sorely needs. I spend more than I should in the marketplace and give my excess foodstuffs to the poorhouse and orphanage.”
    Seeing the hard glimmer in his eyes as his pride give way to self-loathing, I climbed down off the tree trunk and took his hands in mine, being mindful of the shears. “Cade Alexis! You are a good man. You work at cost without receiving anything for your time and effort. I’d rather see you selling four out of five swords to Liand’s army if it means they let you keep your arm. I’ve seen apprentice and journeyman smiths having to take over a forge when the master found his arms useless after meeting with Liand’s guards for refusing to supply the army.”
    Thinking back to what I had seen in the forge, I continued on my lecture, my voice as soft as a mother soothing a colicky babe. “I also can tell from the blades on your wall that you are expecting a visit from Liand’s men soon. They are not of your usual caliber. Where are the good blades?” My husky whisper was meant for his ears alone; a priestess would be hard-pressed to hear me when I did not wish to be.
    Cade’s lips turned up at the edges, the barest hint of a smile, as his gaze crept over to the cold cellar and curing house. “I know not of which you speak, my Lady. Surely a good man who wishes to better the world would not hold back from the Army of Righteousness. Come: let’s eat before it burns on the cook-stove.” I let him take my arm and walk me across the yard, his eyes flitting once again on the curing house.
    Cade’s voice was a breath in my ear as he spoke again. “Beneath the pickling salt cask, there is a door. I have been careful. Should the city be surrounded and I am taken by the other side, you must see that Madani is protected. Within two dark tides, there will be a sword for every capable man and woman who still walks.”
    By next month’s dark moon, Madani would be at war. Not only did I have to answer my calling, I needed to support my people despite having been shunned. “If Liand attacks before then, there’s room enough for the two of us if we can hide in time.” The hand he rested upon my arm clenched until pain shot along my bones. “I will keep you safe, Roseen.”
    How could I tell him I did not want a man to keep me safe? I did not desire anyone to do that for me. I am a priestess and can protect them! Him, though, he would not take that answer if I voiced it. “Thank you, Cade, dinner would be lovely,” I responded in a loud voice. No other response could be given.
    Cade nodded and flashed me a rakish smile as I passed beneath his arm into the cottage. Roses — our roses — were on every possible surface despite their being no sign of them having been along the path in weeks, and a candle was lit upon the dining table. He had not given up on me at all.

 
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    I am but the first speaker of hopefully many. Welcome, children of Bas and Aya. May the paw shelter you and the hammer protect you in your journeys. The Oracle watches, and you do. It is your tasks that are the true service of our Lady. My prayers are with each of you who walk this world. May your feet never grow tired and the light of your heart never dim. In Her loving service, always.
    Letters to the Initiate, First Oracle of Bas
     
     
     
    T he clanging of the forge was the most unpleasant method of waking I could have imagined, considering the bottle of old mead Cade and I polished off following dinner. We had spoken of the war, of patients I’ve aided, of the artistry he’s taken his work to after building upon my father’s lessons. It was as if I was truly speaking to another priest — so comfortable were we together. Once I had walked into his home, my thoughts were not disturbed by the Gods, but I found myself constantly questioning my feelings of comfort with Cade. Falling in love with him would have been easy.
    Listening to the sounds of him at work, perhaps