“Watch your words,” Kitalia said sharply, “I will not continue to let you slander my kinsfolk no matter how ancient you might be.” As before, when he regarded Kitalia as actually being in the room, the smile vanished, to be replaced by a curling sneer.  “There’s that annoying pride,” he retorted, his tone almost mocking. ...Read More

Kitalia had already moved to the other side of the altar, her hands twitching slightly as if ready to start a fight.  “Is that the job then?  Find you a copy of the book so you can relive your past?” The former priest laughed, “Oh, hardly.  Those days are long gone, and my ability to...Read More

“Take a look,” he whispered, indicating a small black book that sat closed in the center of the altar.  “I’m guessing that’s what he wants us to see.” “You might as well open it,” she muttered.  “You were going to do it anyway, right?  Feel free to read aloud anything you see in there too...Read More

The man’s face twitched slightly as he spoke, leading Kitalia to believe that Bel was doing everything she could to break through to wherever the man had taken the two of them.  She also realized that she needed to guard her thoughts more effectively, as this creature seemed to be more than capable at drawing...Read More

“I was the priest here,” the man continued, emphasizing the word “was”, his eyes wistful and slightly out of focus as he recalled the past, or possibly he was speaking of his present.  It was difficult to tell really in this strange place. “I spent more time here than anywhere else in my life. Inside...Read More

“This is your house?” Kre asked, his voice calmer than he really expected it to be. The strange man turned a slow circle, taking in his surroundings with a look of contemplative contentment.  “I suppose you could say that it is.  I mean, as much mine as any of my people.” He tilted his head...Read More

At the same moment that Kitalia whispered, “Hush, pretend we are not here,” Kre had spoken aloud, “Come in!” It was a continual mystery to Kre how, in the absence of sight, that Kitalia’s hand was able to unerringly find the back of his head.  After the whap, she grabbed his ear and pulled it...Read More

Bel’s statement seemed to hit Kre like a punch to the gut and he staggered backwards a couple of steps, nearly finding himself involuntarily seated on an upturned pew. Kitalia seemed unfazed by the statement, almost as if it weren’t a surprise at all.  “What makes you believe such a thing?  Have you any proof?”...Read More

He raised a third finger on his “good news” hand and looked suggestively at Kitalia.  She had her eyes closed and lips pressed tightly together as she slowly shook her head side to side.  “I know,” he said slowly.  “I know that you don’t want to hear this.  I’ll be honest, I’m not thrilled with...Read More

“He had many questions that night,” Bel explained.  “As mentioned, we do not discuss details of each of our individual partnerships, so that is where the story shall end for now.  Additionally, it would be best if you asked your own questions about the partnership and heard your own answers.” “What do you mean?  What...Read More