Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

was only because he was no longer lying on the stone. Despite those assurances, Corin sat as still as he could until the feeling passed, slipping away as quickly as it came and leaving him feeling colder than ever.
    He really needed to start sleeping more, Corin decided, but he made no move to lie back down. Staring into the darkness, Corin debated breaking the rules and leaving. He wasn't sure he could make it to the door without tripping, though; the stones were uneven and hard to navigate in the daytime, let alone when he couldn't see a damn thing. There would be no leaving if he woke Alan or Mavir.
    Corin didn't really want to venture into the monastery in any case. It was a spooky place when he was allowed to walk about; he couldn't imagine it would be any better in the dark of night. He was better off staying there, pretending to sleep and thinking too much. He wanted to go home. He missed his family, everything from his mother's scolding when he did something she considered stupid to Elisa's fretting about what ribbon to put in her hair to attract the attention of the baker's boy.
    Shifting against the wall, Corin tried to distract himself. His thoughts immediately slipped to Rafferty. He didn't often see Rafferty since he was one of the priests who was sent out often on one errand or another. He saw him enough to know that the other priests didn't seem to like Rafferty much, though Corin hadn't figured out why. Rafferty did everything the rest of the priests did, didn't seem to slack in his duties.
    He was nicer to them and maybe that was why the other priests didn't care for him? He never seemed mean or to take joy in ordering Corin or the other servants to do some arduous task that didn't really need doing. Honestly, who needed to scrub all of the walls on a weekly basis? Stone walls, at that. Rafferty only ever asked them to do normal things, like scrubbing floors that were actually dirty.
    If Corin were being honest, it wasn't any of that which had changed his mind on Rafferty. It had been the day he'd been up on the roof. One of the other priests had ordered Corin to the roof to sweep away stray leaves and dirt for some sort of ceremony they were doing. Corin had had the roof half done, going nice and slow to enjoy the sunlight for the first time since he'd been dragged to the monastery when he'd seen Rafferty.
    Rafferty had been standing at the top of one of the towers, his priesthood cloak discarded. He was wearing a white shirt that billowed gently in the wind, and he'd been staring out across the kingdom, a melancholy look on his face. He'd looked so sad and lonely up there, all alone, and Corin had made the mistake of letting it get to him. Rafferty hadn't seen him, and Corin had hastily gotten back to work. When he'd finished, Rafferty was gone, but Corin hadn't been able to look at him the same way since.
    He should hate Rafferty, he really should, but Corin didn't. He looked as lonely and alone as Corin felt, trapped in the monastery with no way to leave. Corin would be arrested if he left before the year was up, and then he'd never see his family again. Rafferty … Corin didn't know much about the priesthood, but he expected it wasn't easy to walk away from. At least Corin would get to leave after a year; Rafferty would be stuck there forever.
    Yawning, Corin shifted, sliding down the wall without relinquishing his hold on the blanket. He let his head touch the pillow and then shut his eyes again, hoping to fall asleep before he worked his head into further circles.
    Eight months left. He could do this.
    ****
    Corin groaned but obediently pushed himself upright as light flooded through his tiny room. Alan was out the door before Corin could do more than blink and yawn, and Mavir followed slowly, not giving Corin a second glance. Corin ignored them in kind, dragging himself off the pallet and to his feet. It felt like he hadn't slept a wink, but Corin made himself move anyway. He'd feel more awake after breakfast. Hopefully.
    The dining hall was packed with servants. Breakfast was cold leftovers from the previous night since no one was allowed to be up before the sun. Thankfully, there was plenty of hot tea since that didn't take much to make. It was cheap tea, weak and watery, but better than nothing. Corin helped himself to a cup of tea and a hunk of stale bread and then found himself a seat, waiting for the priest in charge of them to come with the day's assignments.
    Hopefully, it would be