by Drew Wagar
A faint smile crossed Kiri’s face. Rihanna had been right, such things were pleasurable. She had no idea what she had been missing out on. The lessons had been … different, but she had learnt quickly. With her rank as a priestess, the men of the temple were hers to choose from. She had experimented for herself, her confidence growing. Her lust had been sated for a while, but the desire remained. It smouldered, biding its time, but at least now she had some control of it.
Her thoughts turned to Rihanna and the easy familiarity she possessed with the men of Drayden. The thoughts broiled away somewhere deep within her, biding their time.
She was right, I am going to have to deal with that. Yet as Empress, everything would be subject to my will, my bidding …
For now though she wanted to focus on her immediate plans. A knock came from the door behind her.
‘Come in,’ she called. The door opened.
It was Pootle, her manservant, laden down with pressed clothes and fresh bedding. He was a short rotund fellow with a crumpled, but friendly expression. The hair atop his round face was cut down short, with the exception of a braid on the right side, hanging at shoulder length.
‘I’m here to change your room, mistress, if that be pleasing to you.’
She nodded, gesturing for him to come into her chambers.
‘It is good to see you once again, mistress,’ Pootle said. ‘You’ve been on such a journey. Quite the talk of the temple you are again.’
She smiled at him; she had missed her manservant’s bumbling and talkative manner.
‘And what are they saying about me now?’ she asked.
‘I wouldn’t presume to know everything of course,’ Pootle replied.
‘Of course,’ Kiri said. ‘But you’ll tell me what you do know, won’t you Pootle?’
Pootle began pulling the old sheets away from her bed. ‘Talk is that you’re becoming the most powerful priestess in the ranks,’ Pootle said. ‘That perhaps you’re in-line to become high priestess after Nerina. Some still sneer about …’
‘About where I came from,’ Kiri said, her eyes narrowing. ‘The guttersnipe? No prizes for guessing who that was.’
‘Horrid lies,’ Pootle said.
Kiri shrugged. ‘No, it’s true enough. But I’ve come a long way since then.’
‘You have indeed, mistress,’ Pootle affirmed. ‘Many admire you. There are many stories of Scallia and Drem circulating amongst the servants. They all talk of you.’
Kiri considered that as Pootle placed new linen on her bed.
‘I hear people talking about you as young and fresh,’ Pootle said. ‘Not weighed down by tradition and old thinking. Somebody who decides what to do and gets things done. If it’s not too presumptuous, I’d say you’d caused quite a stir.’
Kiri licked her lips.
‘You are presumptuous,’ she said. ‘But I like that about you. Dress me.’
Pootle finished with the bed and moved across to her, removing her clothes and replacing them with new in a business like way. Kiri had long since got used to being undressed and dressed by him. It had seemed so odd when she had first joined the temple priestesses. Yet everyone had their role, and this was his. Pootle had always been good at his job and he had a knack of keeping his ears open too.
‘I daresay Priestess Nerina isn’t best pleased though,’ he said from behind her, tightening the draws on her tunic.
‘Why?’
‘She’s always been the young one,’ Pootle said. ‘Now, here’s you, equally gifted, even younger.’
‘Is that what people say?’
‘They think it,’ Pootle said. ‘They like your story, you weren’t born to this life. You’ve earned it through hard work and application. That gets you a respect none of the other priestesses can attain.’
Kiri sat down as Pootle turned his attention to her hair, brushing and braiding it before fitting the slim tiara that marked out the priestesses. He dabbed a little sweet-smelling perfume on either side of her neck before standing back.
‘There,’ he said.
‘Thank you, Pootle’
‘If there’s nothing else, mistress?’ he asked.
‘No, that’s fine.’
‘I’ll attend to the laundry then.’
Kiri watched as he gathered up the old bed linen and retired from the room, closing the door behind him.
She turned her thoughts back to Nerina.
So the people also see that Nerina thinks only of herself. But for the sake of Drayden and all the other lands we must complete the task appointed, or doom will take us all. The wrath of Lacaille will return. Amar must be our next priority.
Kiri licked her lips. Zoella’s gift. Meru. It all could be achieved.
And yet, Lacaille’s will be done. What does our goddess want? How would she determine our ways? Elena told us to complete the task appointed, surely that is what we must do? The conquest of Amar, is that not her will?
A bell tolled, ringing out from the temple. It rang continually; a warning. A summons for the priestesses.
Kiri frowned. She had only heard those tolls on rare occasions, when some imminent danger threatened the city. She walked out to her balcony to see what was happening. Nothing seemed amiss, but the ringing faded and then stopped.
What was that for …?
Pain flashed across her temple and she staggered back from the balcony, pressing her hand against her forehead in surprise and dismay. A headache was pulsing there, sharp and intense. It intensified, causing her to cry out in pain and alarm, staggering back to fall upon her bed. She heard screams from the nearby rooms.
Not just me …
The pain ratcheted up, excruciating, burning into her skull. Amidst the torment a strange image formed in her mind. A bizarre tower, stretching far into the sky, burnished metal gleaming in the light of Lacaille, a wall of furious cloud …
What is this?
A sense of dread descended on her, a desperate urge to reach the place to avert some unknown calamity.
Words formed in her mind, shocking as their meaning inflamed her mind.
The Obelisk Commands! The Obelisk Requires! Obedience and urgency!
Terrified, Kiri fell to her knees, her hands clasped before her. She cried out again as pain suffused her body but even as she set her mind against it, she welcomed it. A brief snatch of thought was all she was able to muster.
Like Elena in the sixth element! Purification!
Changes must be made! Lacaille must be sated, all must be set right or death and destruction will blossom, fires will come more devastating than any you have known.
Kiri fought the trembles that racked her body. The voice of the Obelisk was speaking to her, directing her, anointing her …
What must I do, Obelisk, great servant of Lacaille?
Come to me, faithful one, servant of Lacaille. You are chosen! Come to me! This you must do! Carry out the task appointed! Changes must be made!
Kiri gasped.
Chosen? Chosen! Changes must be made?
Then another image replaced the first. Concerned faces, she saw a woman with closely cropped blonde hair, a stern man with a full beard and a young man she recognised …
Meru!
The pain relented a touch. She made out a strange grey room, festooned with pipes with a simple sleeping bunk above her. Off to one side was a small circular window through which she could see …
The sea!
Voices, heard or imagined, buzzed in her ears.
What’s happening? I don’t know, she’s just … Help me! Mel, help us, can’t hold her!
And then, as quickly as it had arrived, the vision and the pain were gone. All Kiri could hear were faint moans from somewhere nearby.
She continued to kneel there, her hands clenched, her body in shock and her mind dazzled, her breath coming in short sharp gasps. Sweat cooled and the shivers brought her back to herself. She could scarcely credit what had happened.
The Obelisk spoke to me! To me
! It commanded me in the name of Lacaille herself. I am chosen, anointed! And then I saw … through her eyes …
It was clear what she had to do.
The task appointed!
Nerina stood at the very summit of the temple, looking sunright across the city of Daine. Before her the grounds of the temple were spread out below, beyond them were the houses of the rich and well to do of the city, beyond that a wall, fixed with watchtowers at intervals around its perimeter. Daine had always been a major city, even in the time of the Voren Empire; it was fortified with defence in mind.
Outside the wall lay the slums. Nerina had never visited them and she never intended to, they were none of her concern.
Below people were running to and fro in alarm. She could see some priestesses being carried in stretchers, others staggering towards the infirmary, supported by their manservants.
Strange visions. Almost as if there was some meaning behind all the ancient words.
As ever, Merrin stood alongside her.
‘Our priestesses?’ Nerina asked.
‘A count is being made. So far, none are hurt. Shaken, disturbed, but there seem to be no lasting effects,’ Merrin replied. ‘But as to what it was …’
Nerina nodded. ‘Have we learnt any more?’
‘Only that the priestesses alone were affected,’ Merrin replied. ‘Those with the greater gift more so. Those who lack the gift noticed nothing and, of course, none of the men.’
‘It feels like a weapon has been turned against us,’ Nerina murmured. ‘But by whom?’
‘Who could attack us thus?’ Merrin asked. ‘It cannot be the doing of our own people.’
‘No, but we can use it to our advantage.’ Nerina smiled. ‘It would seem that Lacaille has issued another incentive to action.’
‘Many saw an image,’ Merrin added. ‘A tower …’
Nerina held up the pendant she wore around her neck, fingering it. All the priestesses wore a similar emblem; a stylised isosceles triangle.
‘And a sense of warning,’ Nerina said. ‘That some doom would soon transpire. Yes, I felt it too. I will search the libraries. We must know the nature of this vision. There are equally pressing matters though, our borders … If word gets out that the priestesses can be weakened in this manner …’
‘The shaderight borders are secure,’ Merrin replied. ‘We have had reports this stretch that those of Keriak have backed away. They do not have dachs and the way is rocky and barren. They have seen what became of Viresia and dare not challenge us.’
Nerina nodded.
‘This is good,’ she said. ‘We have conquered Scallia and Drem. Keriak we can deal with in time, but make sure there is a show of strength aplenty. For now my thoughts are with Taloon.’
Merrin nodded. ‘Their emissary is with us and anticipating an audience with you.’
‘A man?’ Nerina asked.
Merrin nodded.
‘Then he should be easy to manipulate,’ Nerina said.
‘He is old,’ Merrin said. ‘And wily, I would say.’
‘Taloon has always provided the tithe as directed, what brings him to us now?’
‘It seems the King wants to re-iterate the alliance of Taloon and Drayden.’
Nerina chuckled. ‘As well they might. They have seen what we do to those that defy us. All fear us now. An advantage we will make much use of.’
‘We could simply take them anyway, we have the strength now …’
Nerina shook her head. ‘There is no need, when they already prostrate themselves before us. We can ask what we may and … I will be asking much.’
Kiri made her way down through the accommodation buildings and across the piazza towards the temple, her steps uncertain, her thoughts in disarray. Here she had once been tested with all the other acolytes – the choosing – how long ago it seemed! The temple rose above her; she never failed to be impressed by its sheer size and remarkable design. It rose hundreds of hands into the air, a vast redstone pyramid.
Around her, other priestesses were talking and arguing. Some still looked distraught after the strange visions. Many had seen things, Kiri overheard talk of towers and storms. Others had only received the blinding pain; some had fainted and were still overcome.
But no one has talked of the Obelisk … was that message only meant for me?
Within the temple pyramid, visitors might have expected it to be dark, but the interior was lit by hundreds of mirrors which were set to reflect Lacaille’s light within the corridors and rooms. Before her she could see the great hall where she had been chosen as an acolyte, but she turned aside, walking down the now familiar corridors to another doorway, flanked by two guards of the temple. The meeting hall of the priestesses was much smaller, but no less imposing.
Once she had been here to be subject to the judgement of priestesses, for an alleged crime. Just a girl from the slums, a guttersnipe they had called her. She had been summoned and judged. It was here that Nerina had spared her life, called her to be an acolyte. She had learned the way of the priestesses over many rounds. This stretch she was one of them, standing proud, with a string of achievements behind her. None dared defy Kiri any longer.
The headache had gone, but she could still recall the vision of the tower and the group of people clustered around her. It had not seemed like a dream. She had been there. But that wasn’t possible, so …
I was seeing through her eyes. Zoella’s eyes! She experienced the same thing as we did.
The priestesses had talked of little else for the last chime. All had felt some measure of pain, most had seen the image of the tower, but despite listening for a while, it seemed that none had seen or heard anything else like she had.
The Obelisk! As in the sixth element, it called to me! Me alone? It said I was chosen!
The guards stepped aside and the doors opened. Kiri stepped through, seeing many of the other priestesses already assembled. Ahead, Nerina sat in her customary place in the centre chair, draped in her black garments as ever she was, her face pale and enigmatic, her black hair with a single silver streak, finished with an ornate tiara.
Benches were set to either side, lit by upturned metal oil burners, fashioned to resemble the shades from the forests. They were lit, flames leaping from them, to warm and light the interior further. A thin film of sweet-smelling smoke laced the air.
Kiri looked down at the marbled floor passing beneath her feet, with its interlocking red and sand coloured tiles. Rihanna was already sitting on the benches, waiting. Their eyes met. Kiri ventured a small smile. They hadn’t spoken since …
Since I caught her love-making and she taught me!
She took her place, sitting next to Rihanna, watching as all the other priestesses filed in.
Kiri turned to Rihanna.
‘I … meant to … thank you for …’
Rihanna smiled by return. ‘I hear you’ve been studying hard.’
Kiri blushed and looked away.
Rihanna laughed. ‘You are such a strange one. The fearless warrior, slayer of kings! Yet shy when it comes to men and–’
‘Shhh!’
She looked across to where Merrin was sitting opposite, her face twisted in an unpleasant sneer as she looked at Kiri. Kiri threw her a fake smile in return. Kiri sensed something new, there seemed to be some sense of smug satisfaction about her.
‘I see your mother is happy to see me once more.’
Rihanna smiled. ‘At least she noticed you. She hasn’t said a word to me yet, despite not having seen me for almost a pass.’
Kiri had often envied many of the women in the priestesshood, with their families and relations, but right now, being an orphan seemed to have its advantages. Only herself to worry about, no need to deal with annoying relatives …
But I wasn’t an orphan, as I’ve learned …
She clenched down on those thoughts, now was not the time. She didn’t know who might be listening … or trying to listen.
‘What do you t
hink that pain was caused by …?’ Rihanna began.
‘Rihanna,’ Kiri interrupted. ‘I need to announce something to the priestesses, the pain … something happened to me, something … remember what we promised each other back in Viresia?’
Rihanna nodded. ‘Yes, but …’
‘We must play our parts, keep this secret … I need you to do as we discussed … there’s no time to–’
Kiri was cut off. Rihanna nodded in acknowledgement. Nerina got to her feet, her movements elegant and measured. She stepped forward, her shoes clicking on the tiles.
‘Priestesses,’ she said. ‘We have won a mighty victory. Viresia sought to defy us and paid the price of their folly. Drem capitulated in fear and Keriak have bowed their heads in obedience. We return with a string of captives and renewed commitments to the tithe. Our strength is restored. The legacy of our inaction under Launa and her ilk is banished to history. None dare challenge us. We are strong once more!’
The priestesses cheered. Kiri exchanged a look with Rihanna before joining them.
‘Yet, we still have much to do,’ Nerina said, as the cheers subsided. ‘Just this stretch Lacaille has reminded us that the task appointed is overdue. She is displeased. Pain she has sent, to remind us of our duty …’
Kiri found herself on her feet. Nerina stopped speaking, turning her gaze upon her. Kiri could sense the eyes of all the priestesses turning to her. Silence fell in the hall. Words came to her, almost wrenched from her despite herself.
‘I … I was given a message,’ she managed to say, her voice stuttering. ‘From Lacaille!’
Maybe this isn’t such a good idea …
She saw Nerina’s eyes narrow. A gasp went up from all about her. No one spoke. Kiri shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She looked around, seeing Merrin glaring at her, and then turning towards Nerina. Both exchanged a knowing glance. Nerina looked back at her, her expression impassive.
‘A message?’ Nerina said.
Kiri nodded.
Nerina gestured expansively. ‘Then I am sure we would all like to hear it.’
Kiri swallowed.
‘When the pain we all endured struck me, I was forced upon my knees,’ Kiri said. ‘I cried out for it to stop, but it would not relent. Then I saw a vision, a great tower wreathed in cloud …’
