The Lost Prayers

By Marissa Priest

While traveling between cities, Nisa and Cayden stumble upon an ancient temple to even older gods. Their discovery places the rogues in danger, and only Cayden can find a way to save them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329570139

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The Lost Prayers

The Lost Prayers

By Marissa Priest

The Lost Prayers

Copyright © 2015 by Marissa Priest

First Printing: 2015

ISBN #: 978-1-329-57013-9

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a review.

Names, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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***

I swear by all the spirits, I will hit you if you do not stop that humming, a drenched and angered man snapped at the woman skipping next to him. His ears rang with a mixture of thunder and her brisk melody. Mud thickened under trudging feet, which added to his complaints regarding the inclement weather.

Tsk, tsk Cayden. You cannot allow a few clouds to ruin the fine evening we just had, his companion remarked in a brisk tone that opposed his sore sentiments. Her one hand patted the plump coin purse hanging from a braided cord around her waist. The other rubbed her stomach.

It’s not the clouds, Nisa, Cayden informed her with a scowl. The constant barrage of water against his skin and clothing spurred waves of displeasure within his chest. He attempted to pull his head lower over his face for added protection. Water pooled down the dark fabric, splashing his sullen face. And I was just fine in Gath, he grumbled the additional comment.

Yes, but now you’re a miserable wretch, she chuckled, nudging his arm with her elbow. He gestured at the dark sky with a single finger, and Nisa laughed at him. In her boisterous mirth, she threw her head back. Unlike Cayden, she bore no protection against the squall; Nisa preferred fully exposing herself to the elements. Her thin blue dress clung to her body after it absorbed as much rain water as the soft fabric could hold. The freshly fallen droplets rolled down her dark tan skin in a stream as endless as the storm.

I wouldn’t be a miserable wretch if we took that offer to ride out of here with the caravan headed towards Meijra, Cayden grunted as one foot slipped through a deep patch of mud. His entire body wobbled, which caused him to spit out a curse. Rolling her eyes, Nisa grabbed onto his arm and pulled until he stood straight.

You could have gone with them. Yet as I seem to recall, you were more eager to stay in Gath. I believe you mentioned something about swindling unsuspecting fat merchants, she answered him with a smirk.

Fine then. I would not be such a miserable wretch if we were not lost in the woods during a storm, Cayden corrected himself. A burst of wind rushed through the trees, and blew the hood off his head. He lifted his eyes before cursing at the sky. Watching him with her hands on her hips, Nisa laughed.

We are not lost. We are exploring, she commented with a playful shake of her head. Soaked black hair wound around her neck as she twisted her head back and forth. Her tongue ran over her grinning lips, drinking in the chilled rain water. Exploring, Nisa repeated the word and bobbed her head up and down.

No. The word you are looking for is lost. We are lost, Cayden grunted as he reached for her arm. He grabbed hold of her arm seconds after she resumed walking. A swarm of frustration filled him with the hope of bringing her to a fumbling halt. Despite his speed and force, his motion brought a brief pause to her stroll. Nisa’s feet swiftly regained their balance, and her swayed from the miniscule effort required to continue down the rough path. Cayden noted how she exaggerated the movements of her hips and legs to flaunt her natural grace. She proceeded to laugh at him, planting her hands on her waist. Do you have any idea where we are? Or even where we are headed? Cayden muttered as he stepped forward. She glanced up at the trees and shrugged her shoulders.

Stop fussing all the time. I can’t remember a time where you weren’t grumbling over every little detail, she told him, swatting at his arm. Her antagonisation added further bursts of tension to the knot in his chest. Cayden retailed by pushing her away with both hands. His second attempt at displacing her resulted in Nisa lurching backwards. Unlike moments before, she failed to stop herself from teetering over the uneven surface. Cayden watched with wide eyes as she tumbled into the brush and then vanished. His heart thumped against his chest to count the lengthy seconds after her fall.

Nisa! That’s not funny. Not in the slightest, he shouted, cupping his hand around his mouth. Instead of the expected jest, he heard a distant grunt. One foot shuffled forward until he heard her groan again. Clenching his hands into fists, Cayden darted in the direction of the guttural sounds. His feet skidded over slick leaves, yet stopped at the edge of a sharp drop in the ground. Wet clumps of dirt rolled into the chasm as he forced his body to a halt. After catching his breath, Cayden leaned forward in order to gaze into the dark and rocky alcove. "What in all