Blood Heresy

Isranon thought about the rose garden, which was thick with fresh spring growth, delighted at having the sheltering green at last. It had been difficult to find any privacy during the height of winter. Nevin and Olin always found him when he took refuge beneath a pine or other evergreens. Now the tanglewoods that were Anksha's haunts would become a veiling sanctuary. He had always had time to himself growing up, the entire valley of the Claw's people had been his to roam with no one at his back or shoulder. The constant supervision had been driving him crazy.

He dreamed of laying on his back alone in the grass, watching the languid clouds drifting by with no one to interrupt his thought, no constant checking on him, or asking if he was all right. To achieve that he would have to outwit and out run his mentor. Nevin would be on his trail the minute he vanished. It would be fun to try outwitting Nevin. He had never managed to do that as a boy. To steal a few hours alone would be a treat.

Nevin had gone down to see about some lunch and would be returning soon. He would, doubtless, be using the kitchen stairs that most of the servants used. Therefore Isranon ran down to the main stairs through the great hall and slowed only slightly as he crossed, so as not to draw people's attention. He reached the gardens and sauntered into the rose gardens. He found a bower that was not in use and climbed through it.

Once on the other side, Isranon darted into Anksha's thickets. He moved at a walk to deal with the dense vegetation in various places, the tangles of trees and vines that Anksha loved to slither through. Looking it over, it was no wonder she always had leaves and twigs in her hair.

The soft padding of feet alerted Isranon that he was close to being found, so he dashed through a thicket to the fountain, slipped into the fountain and waded across it with such finesse that he made no noise: Nevin had trained him well. Then he ran into a dense cluster of trees.

He found a tree that had fallen in the winter and rolled underneath it, where he remained for several minutes. Nevin's legs stalked past him and disappeared. Isranon stifled a sound of triumph.

If Nevin could not find him, then no one could.

The air blew chill across the latest mark Anksha had left upon his neck and teased along his slave collar chilling it against his skin. Isranon shivered and considered going back after a cloak. He doubted he would elude the lycans twice in the same day, so he relaxed in his hiding place. When he was certain that they had gone somewhere else to look for him, Isranon rolled from beneath the tree and stole through the thickets to his favorite spot: a boulder by Anksha's Gate. It was the only unguarded gate on the estate and that was because only Anksha could open it.

He ran his hands over the gate's wrought iron lions as he always did, feeling the wildness of her spirit in them, the cleanness of a predator that killed from instinct, rather than for pleasure. Stretching out on the ground, Isranon began to cloud watch and tell stories in his mind to match the images he saw there. Perhaps he would write a song for Anksha. Something new that the clouds inspired.

He spent the day enjoying the aloneness and returned in the evening, grinning.

"So where have you been?" Nevin demanded as he trotted back into the rear gardens behind the manor house.

Isranon decided to make a game of it. "It's for me to know and you to find out."

GODWAR CENTRAL

Blood Heresy