Page 15 of Blood of the Stars

“Beginner’s luck, huh?” Her words came out strained.

“You don’t have to pretend to be new at this.” Cyrus’ brow lowered, his confusion giving way to disappointment. “I won’t hold it against you if you’re better than me.”

“I’m not pretending.” She bit her lip, wishing she could bite back her words. It would have been easier to let him believe the lie.

“Then how did you do that?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “There! See the squirrel in the tree?”

Aeliana followed his pointing finger, her heart sinking as the tiny creature settled on a branch just a few trees away from their original target.

“Let’s take that home for dinner.”

Aeliana’s stomach churned. “I can’t kill a squirrel.”

“The Stars gave us animals for food.” Cyrus gestured toward Aeliana’s bag, which held the food Della had packed. It contained salted meat and brown bread, a combination Aeliana had been eager to roast over a fire, but which now left her nauseous.

“But it’s wrong to kill.” She still argued, even though she was no longer sure if she should.

Cyrus crossed his arms over his chest. “If a man walks by, and I shoot him, yes, it would be wrong to kill him. If he runs at us with an axe, bloodlust in his eyes, killing him would be the exact right thing to do.”

Aeliana laughed. “I don’t think any squirrels are going to be galloping at us with weapons.”

“True.” Cyrus smiled, picking up his bow and arrow and anchoring his hand against his cheek. “I’m just saying right and wrong lies more in our intentions. There’s a difference between using a bow to hunt for sustenance and using a bow to kill without purpose. The bow itself is not evil. It can be used for good or evil by the person who wields it. It’s a choice.” He let the arrow fly, and it struck the squirrel through the eye, making Aeliana wince.

His words sank deep into her soul, digging at truths and lies she wasn’t ready to dissect, and the rest of their time, she was too distracted to hit a single tree. By the time they returned to the gate, it was almost the eleventh bell. They passed through the gardens, the flowers all in a state of hesitation, nearly ready to bloom.

She paused at the Stargazer’s threshold, scratching at the scars on her hands, never feeling worthy to enter the place of worship. Cyrus nudged her forward, forcing her in so he could follow. He scanned the other clergy, but his eyes lit up when they landed on Della, who stood precariously on a ladder where she replaced candles in windows in preparation for the nightly worshipers.

“We’re back, Gams.” He held up the strung meat as if offering his grandmother a bouquet instead of a squirrel’s carcass.

Della turned and smiled. “How were archery lessons?”

“She’s a natural when she’s focused.”

Aeliana started at the compliment.

Della climbed down the ladder, then brushed off her hands as she joined them in the middle of the room. The small dirt circle there was the center of a starburst of benches leading out to the edge of the room. Tonight, like every night, worshipers would gather and sit here, faces angled up to take in the Stars’ beauty.

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m sure you’ll sleep well for your rest time this afternoon.” She took the squirrel from Cyrus. “Oh! A new shipment came today. From Luhmen Mountain’s Stargazer.” Her face grew troubled even as Aeliana’s heart soared.

“Luhmen Mountain? I thought they would never close.” Cyrus elbowed Aeliana. “Celeste was just asking about the artifacts. She wants to see them.”

Aeliana grimaced, both at the false name and the direct request.

“The two of you can sort them tomorrow. I’ll have Bartholem help. He can show you some of the older ones we’re preparing to put on display. They’re in the storage room.” She gestured with the squirrel toward an oak door amidst the curved stone wall.

It was one of the two locked doors Aeliana hadn’t been able to get past during her searches. Now Della used her free hand to pull a key from her pocket, and Aeliana’s breath hitched.

“I hope to sleep late since I’m last to bed tonight. But the two of you can start early in the morning.” She held the key out toward Cyrus.

Aeliana clenched her hands together to keep from snatching it.

Cyrus held out his hands, smeared with squirrel blood. “I cleaned them after I strung it up, but I tripped and nearly dropped it halfway back. I’d better wash up first.”

Della gave a small snort and turned to Aeliana. “Celeste? Can you hold it for my uncoordinated grandson? He’s likely to lose it before the Sun’s morn, anyway.”

Aeliana licked her lips, glancing at the key, then back to Cyrus and Della’s faces. Was this a test? Or could it really be this easy? She slowly took the key, her fingers numb. “Of course.”

Deep gongs sounded from the bell tower just north of the Stargazer, drawing Aeliana’s attention to the emptiness of the room.

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