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“You know nothing.” Turra didn’t even try to hide her scorn. “But you will learn as soon as your
Kit’tara
emerges. I only hope she will be more reasonable than you are. I feel sorrow for poor Daro—it is amazing to me that he was willing to take on a damaged
Khalla-to-be
but perhaps completing your
Tenrah
will change you. One can only pray to the Goddess it may be so.”

“That’s it—get out.” Emily’s eyes were burning again and she knew it was the
other
coming forward but for a moment she was so angry she hardly cared. She stood up and pointed at the door. “I mean it, I’ve had enough of your crap—
get out.”

“I am the
Khalla-to-be’s
personal attendant, appointed by Mother Chundra herself,” Turra said huffily. “You cannot simply dismiss me!”

“Oh yeah? Watch me.” Reaching up, she seized the taller girl by the back of the neck and started propelling her towards the graceful white door. Turra gasped and struggled but though she was taller by far, the
other
was lending Emily strength. She shoved the tall priestess out the door and glared at her. “And don’t come back.”

“You…you cannot do this!” Turra was rubbing the back of her neck and glaring at her. “I will speak to Mother Chundra of it at once.”

“You do that,” Emily snapped. “And when you do, tell her that she might be able to separate me from the man I love but I refuse to put up with a skinny bitch like you on top of it. I’ve had enough of your attitude—now go!”

“Why…you…I…” Turra gave her one more frightened, angry look and then turned and stalked away, her bare feet slapping against the marble floors of the Temple.

“Do you wish me to go as well, my
Khalla?”
Lit’aal was suddenly at her elbow, looking at her fearfully.

Emily sighed and her eyes stopped burning quite so much.

“No, Lit’aal—you’re actually a decent person. I don’t know what Turra’s problem is though. She’s on some kind of a power trip or something. I just couldn’t deal with her anymore.”

“She is a relation of Mother Chundra,” Lit’aal said in a low voice. “Rumor has it that she will take her place as Head Priestess when the time comes for Mother Chundra to retire.”

“Well, that explains it,” Emily muttered, glaring resentfully at the skinny priestess’s retreating back. “They certainly have the same attitude.”

“I know you are unhappy but will you not at least consider coming to walk in the gardens with Daro?” Lit’aal asked pleadingly. “He truly is the kindest and most handsome of warriors.”

Emily looked at her sharply. “It sounds to me like you have a crush on him yourself. Why don’t
you
date him or bond with him or whatever?”

“Oh, no! I could never do that—he was picked to be a chosen mate to a
Khalla.
I could never aspire to such greatness.”

Emily sighed. “I am
so
tired of hearing people say they aren’t worthy. Why shouldn’t you date him if you want to?
I
certainly don’t.”

“You might feel differently if only you knew him,” Lit’aal said earnestly. “He is so kind and good and his eyes are the most beautiful shade of gold. He…” She broke off blushing.

Emily raised an eyebrow.

“You sound like you know him pretty well.”

“We walk and talk sometimes in the gardens at night,” Lit’aal confessed. “I…I told him about you last night. How frightened you were—how all our ways were strange to you.”

“So
that’s
why he stepped up when everyone else backed down,” Emily mused. “Was it because he felt sorry for me? Or because bonding to me was the only way to be near you?”

Lit’aal’s lovely face went pale.

“Daro is an honorable male, my
Khalla!
He would never dream of dishonoring you with another. Still, we did think…”

“You thought what?” Emily demanded.

“We thought we might still see each other…still talk even if no other contact was permitted between us. You see, the chosen mate of a
Khalla
is not the same as a bonded mate of any other common female,” Lit’all explained carefully. “She does not truly love him, for one thing—he is only there as part of her retinue to provide support and encouragement and to fulfill her needs if she ever has them.”

“So he’s just another part of the entourage,” Emily said dully.

Lit’aal nodded. “Indeed—it is believed that if a
Khalla
truly loved her chosen mate, it would be a great detriment. You see, her focus must be ever outwards, touring the lands where she is needed, bringing health and hope and healing to the people.” She looked sad. “My good friend—the one I told you of who became a
Khalla—
was not allowed to bond with the male of her choosing either. It…broke her heart.”

“No wonder that old bitch doesn’t want Tragar and me together.” Emily crossed her arms over her chest. “Because we love each other! And that would get in the way of her plans.”

“You must not speak so of the High Priestess.” Lit’aal looked shocked.

“Why not? It’s true, isn’t it?” Emily demanded.

“Well…” Lit’all bit her lip. “Yes, in a way, I suppose. The
Khallas
are an extension of the Temple and the High Priestess’s power. They are beloved of the people and their support comes back to the Temple, making Mother Chundra one of the most powerful females on Rageron. I suppose that is why she keeps such tight control over the
Khallas
.”

“Why does
she
get to run this whole place and say who the
Khallas
get to bond with?” Emily demanded. “She’s not even a
Khalla
herself, is she?”

“No.” Lit’aal shook her head. “But she has been in charge here for a very long time. It is said that things were different before she took control but that was so long ago people can scarcely remember it.”

“So she gets to tell everybody what to do, even if it makes them miserable.” Emily frowned. “What about the candidates? Do they come here of their own choosing?”

“Some do,” Emily said carefully. “But some are handpicked by Mother Chundra. She goes all over Rageron looking for the best and brightest males. They are made to come here to the Temple where they must stay until they become the chosen mate to a
Khalla.”

“But I thought that
Khallas
are really rare,” Emily protested. “What if they don’t get one?”

Lit’all shrugged sadly. “After a time they will be sent from the Temple but they must remain celibate all of their lives, as a sacrifice to the Goddess. It is…not a happy life.”

“For the candidates or for the
Khallas
either, apparently,” Emily muttered. “Why don’t people just rebel? Run away? Leave her boney ass here and go do their own thing?”

“Oh, we cannot do that!” Lit’all looked shocked. “The High Priestess is the Mouthpiece of the Goddess and the head of the Holy Council. She
must
be obeyed.”

“Even if it means getting married, uh, bonded to someone you don’t love and spending your whole life on an endless publicity tour?” Emily demanded. “No, I don’t accept that!”

“There is nothing you can do about it, my
Khalla,”
Lit’all said sadly. “My friend protested too loudly and Mother Chundra made sure she was bonded to the male least suitable for her.” She sighed. “At least you will be getting Daro. He will be kind and supportive of you, my
Khalla.
And I hope…” She bit her lip. “I hope you do not mind if we speak to each other from time to time. Not extensively, though.” She sighed. “Though I will miss our walks in the garden at night.”

The garden…
For some reason, the idea of a garden…of plants and growing things seemed to resonate in Emily’s head. Suddenly she heard a voice whispering,
“Milk…you must drink the Black Milk. Tis the sap of the Bitter Sorrow flower—it grows only on Rageron in the Holy Mountains.”

“The garden?” she asked, clearing her throat. “Is it filled with all kinds of flowers or what?”

“The Temple has extensive flower and herb gardens,” Lit’aal said eagerly. “There you will find every kind of plant that is native to the Holy Mountains.”

“That actually sounds pretty interesting,” Emily said. “You know, I think I
will
take that walk with, uh, Daro. But only if you come with us,” she added quickly.

“Oh, I couldn’t!” Lit’aal protested. “You need time alone with your chosen mate to get to know him,
Khalla.”

“No, I need the only friendly person I’ve met since I came to this awful place to stick with me,” Emily said firmly. She hooked her arm through Lit’all’s. “Come on—show me the gardens.”

Lit’aal looked suddenly uncertain. “I don’t know, my
Khalla.
I believe I am supposed to call a retinue of guards to accompany us if we go out of the Temple at all.”

“Why bother?” Emily asked, trying to sound like it was no big deal. “Daro is going to be with us, isn’t he? And we’re not going anywhere dangerous—just out in the gardens. That’s not a big deal, right?”

“Well…” The other girl seemed to be wavering. “I
suppose
not.”

“All right then—let’s go!” Emily started pulling her down the long marble hallway. “Tell me more about Daro. How long have you guys been talking?”

Lit’aal’s indigo eyes lit up and she began to tell all about the man Emily was certain she loved. She pretended to listen but inside, she kept hearing the voice in her head urging,
“The Black Milk, child—drink the Black Milk and you’ll never be unhappy any more. You’ll never feel
anything
ever again.”

* * * * *

Tragar frowned as he flipped off the viewscreen. That had certainly been a strange call he had received. Apparently the contract on Emily’s life had been cancelled—just like that. In all his years working as an agent of the
Verrak
such a thing had never happened.

It must be true though—the male who had called, identifying himself as an agent of the Dark Kindred, Two, had known all the correct information. He had even possessed the secret pass code that only the one who placed the contract would have. It was the only way other than death to end a contract but this was the first time anyone had called Tragar back and used it. Usually when someone wanted another person dead badly enough to bring in the
Verrak,
they didn’t change their mind.

He lowered the energy dagger he’d been handling before the call came through. Since Emily was settled with another chosen mate he had felt there was no choice but to go through with his earlier promise and sacrifice himself to fulfill the contract.

But what now? If the contract is void and Emily is safe?

Yes, what
could
he do now? He doubted Tier Shan would welcome him back with open arms. He had showed too much reluctance to follow orders lately. He thought of calling his superior just to inform him of the cancelled contract but there seemed to be no point. The emissary of Two had assured him he had already placed a call to his
Verrak
superior so there was nothing to say.