A
asentia
Guest
Original poster
A guttural scream echoed through the halls of the amber quarter, followed by a clatter and hurried footsteps. It was the middle of dinner hour, so no one was nearby to witness a girl called Fran sprint down the corridor into another section of the temple. Blood rushed in her ears and her forearm burned where that son of a bitch had tried to brand her. As she neared another hallway, she slowed down and took a deep breath. After ensuring her sleeves covered any bruises, she waltzed into the cramped chambers that she shared with thirty other oracles.
The few people in the room were either coughing or sleeping. One girl near the door who couldn't have been older than twelve looked like she was choking. Elders flocked around her, eager to drain her blood while it was still warm. Fran kept her steps light to avoid the attention of the Elders and went to her cot in one of the far corners without a backward glance.
The red fever had left half of Fran's village dead. When city guards had rounded up all female survivors under suspicion of using blood magic, Fran had been too weak to resist. And so she ended up in the temple, destined to either die behind city walls or serve as an oracle for the holy kingdom if she recovered from the sickness. Fran wasn't sure what fate was worse.
As the room started to fill with oracles returning from dinner, Fran laid down under her threadbare blanket. Her breath slowed and she began to fall asleep, when an earth-shattering scream wrenched her from her slumber. Fran sighed and opened her eyes, expecting to see someone in shock at the sight of the dying girl near the door.
The few people in the room were either coughing or sleeping. One girl near the door who couldn't have been older than twelve looked like she was choking. Elders flocked around her, eager to drain her blood while it was still warm. Fran kept her steps light to avoid the attention of the Elders and went to her cot in one of the far corners without a backward glance.
The red fever had left half of Fran's village dead. When city guards had rounded up all female survivors under suspicion of using blood magic, Fran had been too weak to resist. And so she ended up in the temple, destined to either die behind city walls or serve as an oracle for the holy kingdom if she recovered from the sickness. Fran wasn't sure what fate was worse.
As the room started to fill with oracles returning from dinner, Fran laid down under her threadbare blanket. Her breath slowed and she began to fall asleep, when an earth-shattering scream wrenched her from her slumber. Fran sighed and opened her eyes, expecting to see someone in shock at the sight of the dying girl near the door.