It would be a dozen lashes for thieving. Twice as many for taking what she did. A False Bible from the forbidden section of the library. Not even Blackwood's favor would spare her the punishment. No answer she could give for why she did it would be good enough, but if she was asked for one she would say that she was keeping her enemies close.
The contents of the book were quite dull. No premarital sex, no drinking, no partying, no coveting. How anyone could live by this set of rules was beyond her. Even more ridiculous was that they would be rewarded for their blandness in the afterlife.
She stuffed the book back into her bag and started the track through the woods back to the Academy. If she got there early enough she would have time to put the book back before dinner.
In her annoyance at the False God, she missed the rotted tree root in front of her and went tumbling to the ground.
She let out a groan of frustration and got back onto her feet. She brushed the dirt from her hands and noticed a single drop of blood fall from her finger and onto the Earth.
Not for the first time, Prudence Night began to wonder what Heaven would look like.
