In Fledgling Whispers (Book 3 of The Transition of Pinn)

Rachel:

I rush back to my room in the back of the temple.

I can’t believe my seduction of the Master Priest worked. I should’ve been seducing priests all along- I didn’t realize it was so easy- who knows what comforts I would enjoy. I shiver in disgust at the idea of one of the other priests touching me. No, it one thing to allow the Master Priest to touch me, a man who is on our side and is fighting for us even if he was reluctant to help Ava, it’s another thing to allow those disgusting men who abuse us to touch me.

I slam open my door and then rush to shut and lock it. My room is small but comfortable. A small bedroom and a small sitting room, the benefits of being a priestess who obeys the rules. Everything in it is the standard white: white sheets, white couch, white chairs. I haven’t bothered to personalize it like most of the other priestess’s do. I just didn’t care. The only thing that makes it mine is the faint smell of roses from my favorite florist at the market.

In the corner of the small sitting room sits a small light wood desk and wooden chair. I don’t have reason to use it much, or at all really, so there are only the notes from the temple and a few books on it.

I look quickly over my desk- I don’t own any unused paper; I never needed it. But the temple is forever giving us orders via paper, which makes life difficult for some of the girls whose English is not the best. I grab a paper titled ‘Festival Instructions’ and flip it over to the black side.

And without thinking much about it, I begin to write whatever comforting words come to mind, hurrying so that the Master Priest can give it to her as soon as possible.

Ava,

Please hold on, we are going to get you out of there. The Master Priest is working on a way to get you free. He is on our side and is already in contact with important senators about the Redeemer and it won’t be long until the senate does something about him and the High Priest.

You will be back with your kids before you even know it.

Rachel

I read over my letter before I fold the paper in my hand. It’s- well, it’s not very comforting in the end. But she needs to know that we are fighting for her.

I don’t have an envelope, so I fold the paper over again. I should get this back to the Master Priest as quickly as possible before he changes his mind.

I hear a knock at the door and I shove the letter into a small pocket in my dress. It’s probably the Master Priest, but I’m not taking any chances. Nervous, I walk the few steps and throw open the door.

Instead of the black floating robes of a priest, I see the thin body-revealing robes blue robes of a priestess.

“Sarah” I greet, although my voice sounds more shocked than friendly.

“Can I come in?” Sarah’s eyes shift down the hall, making clear that she doesn’t want to be seen.

I nod and open the door wide to let her in.

Her eyes flutter over my sparse room, making note of the lack of decoration, but wisely she doesn’t say anything.

After a few moments of silence, I offer, “Would you like the sit?”

“No… no” Sarah shakes her head and then sighs, “I just… I‘ve been thinking about what you ask of me and… I’ll do it”

Shock is the first thing that hits me. I wasn’t expecting Sarah to be so open after our conversation; I thought it would take a lot longer to convince her, more clandestine meetings in dark rooms of the temple while watching for people walking by.

I take her in. Sarah is slightly taller than most girls and she stands proudly, stiffly. But it’s her hands that give away her worry- she is twisting her fingers together so tightly the tips have turned white and I almost reach over to take her hands and make it stop.

I huff, instead of worrying about Sarah’s state of mind; I need to be getting her out of here so I can get my letter to the Master Priest and make a plan to get Ava out.

“That’s great” I smile at her like she said she was ordering an extra-large happy meal rather than agreeing to risk her life “I’ll let the Master Priest know and then we can-“

“The Master Priest?” Her eyes narrow on me. I can tell her mind is racing- she is a fast thinker and I can’t help but wonder what she used to do on earth.

I freeze. Shit, maybe I shouldn’t have told her about the Master Priest without talking to him first. The moment the thought crosses my mind I relax, she is part of the conspiracy now and would’ve known about him soon anyways.

“Yeah” I reply lamely, “so, um, like I was saying, I will let him know and we can meet and go over your story and what you’ll need to do.” It’s awkward because we don’t really know each other that well.

“I know a few other girls who might be willing to testify,” her eyes flit again around the room before settling back on me “would that be useful?”

A smile breaks out on my face and I can’t help myself but give her a big hug, “thank you so much! I think that will make a big difference in our mission!” and I mean it. Finally, I can see it slowly coming together.

*****

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Heather