k_a_webb | Thear: Bree: Meeting Quinn (part 3)

This entry is part 6 of 20 in the Thear collection

“She?” Bree studied Quinn, even though she couldn’t really see him, wondering if he could be telling the truth. “Isn’t it unusual for a female deity to chose a priest?”

“That’s what they want you to believe, Bree, but male deities chose priestesses and female deities call priests all the time. Unfortunately it’s only the people who truly listen to them that know this. Your priest has no connection to Herne, even though he likes to pretend he does.”

Bree bit her lip. “Who is your goddess?”

“Epona. She came to me in a dream when I was young, when I still believed the same things you do, but now I know better. I’m needed, because a time of change is coming, and I wanted you to know about it in advance, so you can prepare for what might happen in the future.” Quinn surprised Bree by taking hold of her hand. “This is probably something you’d rather not know, but Epona used to help me see you sometimes. I wanted to make sure you were okay and the only way I could do that then was from a distance. Some nights I’d watch you while you were working on your translations, with a smudge of ink somewhere on your face, and I always knew that I wanted to get to know you properly, so I could make certain myself that you were safe.” He squeezed the hand he was holding. “Your father…”

“I know.” Bree sighed. “Our father is not a nice person and he never has been. He thinks we’re blind to the choices that he’s made, but we aren’t. We’re just doing our best to keep going because we have no other option.”

“You will in the future.”

“Will we?”

“Remind your mother that North Square is always an option. She’ll know what I’m talking about.”

“Should I mention your name?”

“With her, and only her, it’s fine. She already knows about me, and Mum, and your father’s other mixed blood children who weren’t as lucky as I was, because she’s never been one to bury her head in the sand. Don’t be mad at her, though, for not telling you about me – she doesn’t know you as well as I do, Bree, even though she’s your parent.”

“That is something I do know.” Bree found herself smiling unexpectedly. “As much as I love Mum she doesn’t really know me, although she does know more about me than Father does. She accepts that I’m different – Father doesn’t. He doesn’t understand me, so he thinks it’s much better that he keeps his distance, and I know that he’s looking into Mum’s family tree, because he doesn’t think I can be pure Dorma.”

“You already know you aren’t.”

“I know it’s possible that I’m not. Mum won’t talk about her family and that makes me think that she is mixed blood, but right now he can’t find anything, so I’m safe.”

“When the time comes Trey will ask you to visit him at the Residence.”

Fortunately Bree knew the laugh was coming, so she could cover her mouth until her amusement faded. “Of course he will. He wants to protect me just as much as you do, but he’ll go about it the wrong way, because he always does.”

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.