Change
Tucked in the back of the townhall a treasure awaited the inquisitive mind. Shelves lined the room brimming with books. Sure, half of them were town council meeting notes but the rest were blissful fiction. The single window in the room let the morning light in just long enough to warm the room to a comfortable level. A writing desk had been placed by the window. In the four corners of the room tall, plush chairs awaited readers.
Most people in town had forgotten about the peaceful room behind the meeting hall. It had been quiet refuge since A'trea had renounced her vow to the Sun. She flipped through the pages of a book about a knight. She had been a real life knight, trained by the Auguston Citadel. The citadel had turned on her, trading her life for influence. This town and its people saved her so she did not doubt her choice.
Across the room, Anise, fanned herself while she read. She endured a different betrayal by the citadel. The wizards of the academy used her as a test subject. She credits her escape to an orange cat. Both women found a new community here and meet once a week to read together, recognizing the past while building a new future.
A gentle knock at the door brought the sound of ice in glass to the foreground. Lavani, the mayor, brought iced tea in for the reading club.
"Oh, thank you! Just what I needed!" Anise commented.
"Thanks," A'trea added.
Anise dove back into her book and shifted in her seat. A'trea couldn't help but consider all that Lavani did on a daily basis. She encouraged growth in everyone around her and talked often of stewardship. Maybe A'trea hadn't renounced her vow so much as shifted her loyalty to a more worthy community.
She was thinking Anise probably felt the same way when Anise called out, "Oh, yeah!"
The two smiled at each other.
Anise pulled her book up to her face, to hide the redness in her cheeks. She hadn't meant to say that out loud. Five seconds and A'trea would look away. Anise peered over her book. Yep, she was back to her book.
It was safe to return to Clara's exploits. She was no damsel in distress she had the Duke exactly where she wanted him. He pined for her as they sat by the well. She had already undressed him in her mind but would her desire be sated?
"Delicious!" Anise called out. "The tea, the tea is delicious."
Hecking yes
Haha, Delicious!