arrived, they saw Nemia at the front gate dispensing flowers and water to the followers who came for them. As soon as she spotted Reena she nodded slightly and held up a finger in a fleeting gesture that meant wait.
Reena did wait, they all did. When the temple doors were finally cleared, Nemia beckoned them forth and they came, still in the small groups, to the doors of the temples.
If Nemia were surprised to see so many of them it did not show. She led them inside, taking them past the bathing chambers and to the small room where they all gathered. There were so many of them the room could barely hold them all, but that was not a situation that lasted long because as soon as they were all inside, several other priestesses appeared bearing pitchers of cool water and plates of food: cheese, bread, fruit, and sliced meat.
There were not enough chairs, so they all arranged themselves on the floor, all of them were hungry and tired and it showed. When Reena asked Nemia were Praxis was she said, “He will not be able to get away until later tonight. I will send word for him. Until then, you must all remain here and remain quiet. At some point we will get you all bathed and clean so that you can begin your quest.”
At the word quest every person in the tribe stiffened. They exchanged glances that said exactly what they thought and the priestess saw those glances. “Yes, this is an ordained quest. The gods have seen fit to favor you; do not be afraid and know that even as your journey shall be hard it shall be rewarding.”
Reena reflected bitterly that it was easy for the other girl to say that, she was not the one who was about to have to journey across the desert. She kept that thought to herself though, just as she did not ask what time Praxis would be able to come.
Why was she so excited about seeing him again? Her face burned every time she remembered the kisses that they had shared here in this very room. Was he just using her? He captured her and brought her to the city and then he had helped her escape although she could not say why and she still wasn’t sure what his motives were, or who he was truly loyal to, if anyone.
He was so handsome though, so strong and he seemed so brave all the time. The other soldiers would have killed her the night she had put the werebene in the cooking pot if he had not intervened. A frown creased her brow at that memory. Why was it that he alone had noticed that she had been plucking the werebene? It wasn’t a plant that was common to the people in the city — it grew deep in the woods, where most were afraid to go because they were afraid of spirits.
Praxis was a puzzle, and one she was not sure she can afford to try to solve. When he came she was going to guard both her heart and her words — and her mouth. If this quest was indeed one that the gods had decided for her, this was her fate and her destiny and she would do it, but she was going to have to have help.
All of the tribe bathed and were given fresh robes, Reena included. She already knew what it was like to be cleaned in those sacred chambers, but even so, after it was finished and she was back in the small room clean and fresh with her belly full of food, she could not help but feel grateful for the experience.
The other priestesses had brought soft pillows and blankets for them to sleep that night; the room was crowded and mostly airless but it was still more comfortable and secure than many of the places they had been laying their heads lately, so all of them were happy to take that night and its respite regardless of what small discomforts might be involved.
It was late when Praxis arrived. Reena knew he was there because Nemia shook her awake, putting a finger to her lips to remind her to be quiet. Lucas sat up immediately, his hand going for his weapon, but Reena shook her head and whispered to him that she had to go meet a friend, an ally she would help as they made their way across the desert.
Praxis
Reena did wait, they all did. When the temple doors were finally cleared, Nemia beckoned them forth and they came, still in the small groups, to the doors of the temples.
If Nemia were surprised to see so many of them it did not show. She led them inside, taking them past the bathing chambers and to the small room where they all gathered. There were so many of them the room could barely hold them all, but that was not a situation that lasted long because as soon as they were all inside, several other priestesses appeared bearing pitchers of cool water and plates of food: cheese, bread, fruit, and sliced meat.
There were not enough chairs, so they all arranged themselves on the floor, all of them were hungry and tired and it showed. When Reena asked Nemia were Praxis was she said, “He will not be able to get away until later tonight. I will send word for him. Until then, you must all remain here and remain quiet. At some point we will get you all bathed and clean so that you can begin your quest.”
At the word quest every person in the tribe stiffened. They exchanged glances that said exactly what they thought and the priestess saw those glances. “Yes, this is an ordained quest. The gods have seen fit to favor you; do not be afraid and know that even as your journey shall be hard it shall be rewarding.”
Reena reflected bitterly that it was easy for the other girl to say that, she was not the one who was about to have to journey across the desert. She kept that thought to herself though, just as she did not ask what time Praxis would be able to come.
Why was she so excited about seeing him again? Her face burned every time she remembered the kisses that they had shared here in this very room. Was he just using her? He captured her and brought her to the city and then he had helped her escape although she could not say why and she still wasn’t sure what his motives were, or who he was truly loyal to, if anyone.
He was so handsome though, so strong and he seemed so brave all the time. The other soldiers would have killed her the night she had put the werebene in the cooking pot if he had not intervened. A frown creased her brow at that memory. Why was it that he alone had noticed that she had been plucking the werebene? It wasn’t a plant that was common to the people in the city — it grew deep in the woods, where most were afraid to go because they were afraid of spirits.
Praxis was a puzzle, and one she was not sure she can afford to try to solve. When he came she was going to guard both her heart and her words — and her mouth. If this quest was indeed one that the gods had decided for her, this was her fate and her destiny and she would do it, but she was going to have to have help.
All of the tribe bathed and were given fresh robes, Reena included. She already knew what it was like to be cleaned in those sacred chambers, but even so, after it was finished and she was back in the small room clean and fresh with her belly full of food, she could not help but feel grateful for the experience.
The other priestesses had brought soft pillows and blankets for them to sleep that night; the room was crowded and mostly airless but it was still more comfortable and secure than many of the places they had been laying their heads lately, so all of them were happy to take that night and its respite regardless of what small discomforts might be involved.
It was late when Praxis arrived. Reena knew he was there because Nemia shook her awake, putting a finger to her lips to remind her to be quiet. Lucas sat up immediately, his hand going for his weapon, but Reena shook her head and whispered to him that she had to go meet a friend, an ally she would help as they made their way across the desert.
Praxis
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