The first thing that Estelle noticed, before she even opened her eyes, was the stench of infection and death. She feigned sleep, keeping her breath even, and opened her eyes a sliver, eyeing the room she found herself in.

It was an infirmary of some kind, which Estelle knew that they could not afford. Looking to the side, she saw Daniel, asleep in a very uncomfortable-looking chair. With this information, she decided that she was likely safe, and opened her eyes fully.

“Daniel,” she said quietly.

He startled in his chair and uncurled, stretching out. “Estelle.”

“How long?”

“About ten hours. I found a few horses in a nearby clearing and managed to drag you onto the saddle. So if you’re bruised up, that’s why.”

“Thank you, Daniel,” Estelle said. She went to sit up, groaning as she moved. “How are we going to pay?” They had only enough for travel and maybe a vial of medication, not extensive treatment.

“This is a temple,” Daniel murmured. “They only ask for a donation and for us to...”

“Convert?” Estelle said dryly. “I will not trade one cult for another.”

“They don’t force you, but it is encouraged,” Daniel said. “You can just explain your circumstances. I’m certain they’ll understand.”

Estelle said nothing, instead stretching out and paying attention to the pain level. Not excruciating, but certainly unpleasant. “Why did I pass out?”

“They said that it was shock,” Daniel told her. “That can cause fainting I suppose.”

“But they fixed it?”

“They applied medication, and your wounds seem to be healing again.”

“Excellent. We should continue our travels then.” She made to stand, but Daniel was faster, standing in front of her to stop her.

“Maybe take a few minutes first,” he said mildly.

Estelle paused and considered him. Daniel did not waver, although his eyes remained kind. She felt very uncomfortable in places of worship and did not want to stay. But perhaps he had a point.

“Fine,” She said, dropping back onto the bed. She leaned back onto her elbows. “We could both use the rest.”

Daniel did not gloat, but he did chuckle at her show of stubbornness. He sat back down in the chair. The way he contorted himself was odd, but he did not seem bothered. Instead, he closed his eyes and fell asleep in mere minutes.

Constantly scanning the room, Estelle had a more difficult time falling asleep. Instead she rose, walking through the quiet hall. The priestess’ seemed to be asleep, and Estelle slipped quietly past them. Just outside the healing hall, she found a courtyard.

It was small but overflowed with greenery. There were flowers everywhere, even creeping up the walls surrounding the courtyard. There were a few that she knew, but many more were unfamiliar. A small pond with colorful fish that Estelle had never seen before was sat in the middle of the garden. Across the little pond, there was a stone bench with vines twisting up the legs.

And so she sat, and eventually, fell asleep in the courtyard of the temple.

“That can’t be comfortable,” someone said. The voice was low and had a distinct lisp.

“Oh, bugger off,” someone else said cheerfully. Daniel. It was just Daniel.

Estelle’s breathing remained steady and even, a skill that she had learned young. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and feigned waking up. Estelle was good at that, and it appeared that she had indeed fooled them both. There was a young priestess standing besides Daniel, staring down at her.  

She glanced upward, but the sky was dim still. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” Daniel said. “Except our new friend here wants to come with us.”

“To the Black Countryside?” Estelle raised an eyebrow at the girl. And really, she was just a girl, maybe seventeen, with wide anxious eyes. That was what cemented her unease.

“The high priestess wanted to call the guards when she heard about your injuries,” the girl told her, moving her hands as she spoke. “Some of the others convinced her not to, but…”

“We stole some medicine,” Daniel said, patting his satchel. “Grab your things. Converting may be more mandatory than the high priestess led me to believe.” His apology went unspoken, but she heard it, nonetheless. She nodded at Daniel.

Estelle glanced at the girl again. “Your name?”

“Tiel,” she said. She brushed her long blonde hair off her face and reached out a hand.

Estelle’s gaze did not waver as she accepted the hand. “I just have to get my weapons and satchel.” She glanced down at the dressing gown she was wearing. “And my skirts, though I’ll change once we’re far away.” She would not convert, even falsely, and she was willing to kill for that choice. Of course, she would prefer not to kill the priestesses.

She recovered her possessions with little issue after insisting that Daniel and Tiel stay outside and wait. When she came back outside, she found that the horses that Daniel had taken were still there, and he was saddling them back up.

She helped him finish, and told Tiel to ride with Daniel for now. Her back still hurt a great deal. Tiel mounted ungracefully, and grabbed tight to Daniel’s waist as he urged his horse forward, staying slow to remain as quiet as possible.

Only once they were a good ten minutes away did Estelle urge her horse to a trot. Daniel followed and they rode side by side.

“Estelle, correct?” Tiel asked, looking over. She did not use her hands, this time, choosing to hold tight to Daniel’s waist.

“Yes.” Estelle nodded. Tiel was clearly deaf or hard-of-hearing. She knew of deafness. Some of the elders in the Conmunis were hard of hearing. A language with the hands would have made their lives much easier.  

“Thank you for taking me with you,” Tiel said.

“I would be remiss if I did not help a fellow apostate,” Estelle said drily. “I presume the life did not sit well?”

“My father sent me,” Tiel said. “My family is very poor, and he had other children to feed. I understand, but I want a life outside the religion. I want to hold a job, fall in love, get married maybe. I want more than they could offer me.”

 Estelle smiled. “Well, I’m glad that you spoke with Daniel then. That, we can offer you.”