All Chapters of Cursed by the Gods: Cleopoda CBTG Book 1: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Even before she made it through the door with the tray of food that Birian had given to her Cleopoda could tell that there were people in the room. She dropped the tray carefully and listened from the door. Upon peeping through the opened door she saw Keiran standing with Federic, the senior priest, some other priests with cloaks covering their faces, and two men dressed in rich robes. Zenas stood before them the half-naked and rich men accessed him like they would a piece of fish that was being battered in the marketplace.  One of them who was tall and thin with a white cloth wrapped around his head walked around Zenas and ran his hand over the muscles of his back.  "He will do as long as he doesn't hurt my daughter. I'll pay heavily for him to teach my daughter ways she must please her husband." He turned to Keiran. "You're sure he can't follow me home? I'll pay you more." Keiran shook his head even though his eyes shone with greed. He looked at F

As soon as they got back to the temple Zenas wrapped up a few of Cleopoda's clothes and handed them over to Birian who led her away to the priests' quarters which was on the left-wing of the temple. They passed a narrow passage with cold stone walls, there were no windows in the hall overlooking the fields so the passage was dark but Birian led her through until they came to another passage. There were several identical doors along the length of the passage and Birian stopped at the 4th. He pushed it open and stepped inside. The room was cramped and small, there was a lone trunk by a small window overlooking a portion of the quadrangle where purifications took place, at one corner of the room was a table and a chair that was too small for Birian but there were several books spread out on the table many of them were in texts Cleopoda recognized from the many books she read in the palace. A small oil lamp with a little bit of oil was on the table. The room was neat and the air was cle

From her perch on the stack of hay arranged at one corner of the field, Cleopoda watched the sunset. The sinking sun cast red and gold light out to the field, it was beautiful and it made her miss home. Because father forbade her from going out of the palace she would sit by the window and look out to the village when the sunset. It always struck her as beautiful but now it was even more beautiful since she didn't have to listen for the sound of Garius' feet, besides she was happy now she had a friend to share the sunset with. Zenas was on his back sleeping lightly after having too much wine to drink. He was happier than she ever was because she trusted Zenas, he trusted her and she knew he would protect her. He already proved that protection when the Saade of Amire considered adding her to his harem. She shuddered to think of what her father would do if the Saade had made that offer to him, he probably would have given her off just to get rid of her. She sighed. If only she

To Cleopoda's surprise, Keiran was well pleased with Zenas treatment of the Saade's daughter that he gave him the rest of the week off. She was even more surprised that he turned down many offers from other customers most of whom were merchants, a few nobles Cleopoda recognized that she had to hide from, and even some wives of nobles and merchants and ordinary farmers. Her heart broke at how easily these people could have Zenas if they simply paid the right amount of money. More to her surprise what the fact that Keiran had given Zenas some allowance to spend as he wished and according to Zenas giving of allowance wasn't something Keiran did she made her wonder what glowing reports the Saade's daughter had given on behalf of Zenas and even worst, she wanted to know what had happened in the room between them. At this point she was no longer bashful about the things that happened between a man and a woman, she was curious now. In the late hours of the afternoon after a long da

Strukus' excitement and restlessness had made going back to work difficult since the hooded noble had come to the shop to present his news about Cleopoda. It was only with great effort that he was able to hide his excitement from Gustoff's prying eyes. The old man had been good to him since the six years when he was suddenly thrown by Garius into the armory. At first he Gustoff had not liked him and had called him 'one of the lads who was to become a burden for him but as time passed and Strukus became an ardent learner in the art of weaponry Gustoff's cynism towards him had slowly disappeared. In the first few years, he worked as an apprentice for the old man he had cried at the thought of not being able to see Cleopoda and his mother again but ten luck had shined on him when one day Gustoff gave him the assignment of delivering a new sword to Garius. The bastard had barely recognized him and that gave Strukus courage to reacquaint himself with the hidden passages of the palace esp