Eppie peered at her. “You can’t promise that, can you?”
The priestess shook her head. “Not quite, but on my honor as Lenasa, princess of Galamun and as a peresi, I swear that you will not be held here against your will.”
Eppie made no effort to disguise her doubt.
“I assure you, none of us are.”
“You can just leave?” Eppie asked.
“Most choose to stay. There are advantages to being here.” She eyed Eppie’s ragged clothes.
Eppie looked back at the rainy street outside, to the place where she’d waited for bread so many mornings. “I guess I’ll come, as long as you’re sure I can go again,” Eppie said. “I guess I don’t have much choice.”
Lenasa of Galamun nodded. “Come then.” She led the way into the inner parts of the temple, to places Eppie had never wanted to go. She did not want to go
