Sapphire

Sapphire stared at Sir Matthias as he chopped firewood for the temple and taught several of the older boys how to do it.

Even without his shining armor, he drew her attention.

In a handful of years, her mother would want her to marry.

She wondered if Sir Matthias would already be married then.

Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t die still in possession of her dowry.

Sir Matthias.

Sapphire had a name for the young Knight of Valor that volunteered at the Temple of Thalia.

Not that it mattered.

He never noticed her, and it wasn’t like she wanted him to.

Her cheeks crimsoned at the lie.

Sapphire thought about the young Knight of Valor she’d met repeatedly.

As her family attended services at the Temple of Dracor, she searched for him among the Knights, and the strange warmth intensified when she identified him.

Suddenly, the service was a lot more interesting.

As Sapphire helped a bright orphan with his letters, a young Knight of Valor several years older than her entered the orphanage.

He roughhoused with some of the boys, laughed with the priests and priestesses of Thalia, then offered to help in the kitchens.

Sapphire stared after him, a strange warmth in her chest.

Helping at the orphanage showed Sapphire how much privilege she enjoyed.

And to think, her father had started in such humble surroundings.

She would do all she could for the other children.

One of them could grow up to be like her father.