Page 26 (1/2)

“I didn’t knoho they were until later, Aspect” The truth, hiding a lie He felt himself start to sweat and prayed it didn’t show on his face “They were strangers lost in a storer as a brother”

Corlin Al Sentis raised his head slightly, his unwavering glare taking on a calculating cast “I didn’t know the Catechisht here”

“It isn’t, Aspect My… ht me all the catechisms”

“Yes She was a lady of considerable charity You haven’t answered my question”

He didn’t have to lie “She didn’t touch me, Aspect”

“You know the power of her touch? What it does to men’s souls?”

“Brother Makril told me Truly I was fortunate to escape such a fate”

“Truly” The Aspect’s gaze softened, but only slightly “You may feel that this Test has been harsh but you realise what awaits you will be harder still Life in your Order is never easy Many of your brothers will succu before they are called to the Departed You know this?”

Vaelin nodded “I do, Aspect”

“It does you credit that you decided to stay, when you could have left with no stain on your character Your devotion to the Faith will be remembered”

For no apparent reason Vaelin felt these words to be a threat, a threat the Aspect didn’t even knoasBut he forced himself to say, “Thank you, Aspect”

Outside he closed the door softly behind hi explosively in relief He didn’t notice the others staring for a few seconds They looked worried, especially Dentos

“Faith help me,” Dentos breathed softly, clearly appalled at Vaelin’s countenance

Vaelin straightened, fixed what he knew to be a weak s not to hurry

With the exception of Dentos, the Test of Knowledge left a cloud of depression over theressively truculent and Vaelin so preoccupied with h the rest of the day in aoff his atteame of knives on the practice field

“What a piece of piss that was,” Dentos said, the only one of the a knife skyward to connect with the board Barkus had tossed into the air His cheerfulness was norance of theabout the Order, just kept going on about rew up The lady Aspect, Elera whatsernao back to that shit pit”

He retrieved the board, working his knife loose and casting it upwards for Nortah’s throw The knife ide, in fact it went so wide it nearly caught Dentos on the head

“Watch it!”

“Stop talking about the test,” Nortah said in a tone heavy with dark proenuinely puzzled “I et to go to the Summertide Fair”