Chapter 23: Alliances

                                    

                                          
Ber, Day 16 of Melia, Winking Moons, Year 602
                          
"The Rolling Sea lies between West Urda, Eral, Ruradîn, and The Wastes, wrapping around to touch the East side of Urda. The island of Baitcha, just North of Eral, is entirely surrounded by the Rolling Sea." —Historical Trade Routes of Heladrith
                          
* * *
                          
Something about the cadence of his voice made Evin expect the man to be older, but the lad she faced when she turned around was nearer her own age. 
                          
He was tall and thin, with a shock of bright red hair atop his head that spiked and fell forward, almost into his eyes. The eyes were a warm hazel, and his face and neck were covered in freckles. She'd seen Urdans like this before, certainly, but such decided colouring was rare, and Evin tried not to be rude in her appraisal.
                          
"Are you going in?" he asked her.
                          
She opened her mouth to answer but nothing came to her. Instead, she peered back up into the doorway.
                          
"It's alright if you're not," he added. "Some people come merely to appreciate the architecture. I don't judge anyone either way."
                          
The carved stone bannister was warm under her fingertips. "The last time I went in," she muttered, not looking at the stranger, "something terrible happened."
                          
She felt rather than saw him shift and sit down on the thick stone steps. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said gently. "And I don't know anything about you, but I feel led to say this—you're not alone."
                          
Evin felt tears prick involuntarily at the corners of her eyes. She looked at the young man, who was gazing up at her frankly. He patted the step next to himself and she hesitated.
                          
"I'm Ger," he conceded, seeming to sense her uneasiness. "I'm a student at Craestor University."
                          
Something about the words invoked magic, though Evin knew it was probably foolish to be so moved at the mention of the school. He goes to Craestor, she thought, and then made the immediate, perhaps naive assumption; He is safe. Her defences ebbed away until only the hard little nub of pain that was her faith remained to stab her in the gut. She took a breath and then sat down next to him, pulling her knees up close to her chest.
                          
"Are you a worshipper of the Divine Pantheon?" he asked conversationally.
                          
"I used to be," Evin replied. "Though I can't say I've ever attended teachings faithfully. I've just paid random visits to the temple when I needed something or wanted to celebrate."
                          
Ger smiled. "The gods love attribution. They enjoy being thanked."
                          
"Then they're going about it the wrong way," she muttered ungraciously.
                          
He laughed. It was a pleasant sound.
                          
She sighed a little. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I'm angry, but I don't hate the gods. I'm just very... empty."
                          
The young man nodded.
                          
"I'm not from here," she added. "I come from Liminey. I actually just applied for acceptance at Craestor."
                          
He brightened. "But that's wonderful! When will you hear if you got in?"
                          
Evin shrugged. "Any time now," she replied. She paused for a moment and wet her lips nervously. "I want so badly to get in. The life I thought I would have is dead—I have no home, and nothing to return to." It sounded pathetic and melodramatic but it was the truth. She didn't even have distant family that she knew of who would care to claim her.
                          
"Really?"
                          
"Yes," she said softly. "My sister and her husband died in an explosion."
                          
There was a shocked silence before she went on flatly.