“TAKE YOUR VOWS IF YOU wish to stay,” Sarkasi said.
Akshara stood in Sarkasi’s chambers with her head down, a position she’d grown used to in all her years at the temple under Sarkasi’s supervision.
“I wasn’t made to serve this goddess, priestess,” Akshara said softly.
“For what then, child? You’ve been directly serving the goddess herself every hour of every day for the last eight years.”
“That’s Fari, priestess. You may think she’s the goddess, but to me she’s Fari and I—”
Sarkasi tilted Akshara’s head up. Akshara closed her eyes rather than look at the priestess.
“I—lo—”
“You’ve always been a stuttering fool, girl. The only thing you’ve done well is look after Fari. And yes—she is the goddess reborn in our time! What do you think your friend Iva died for?”
“Iva died for outdated
