by Annie Eppa
Adelai took a deep breath. That the high priestess said all this to the king and possibly more, was a shocking discovery, for the old woman had never once given her - or most of the other shrinemaidens, for that matter - so much as a grudging compliment, if she didn’t include that confusing meeting she had had with the priestess after her lessons with the captain had ended. “High Priestess Saleia is very kind,” she said, thinking fast and trying to hide her confusion, “Perhaps if I am told why and how I am expected to be a woman of wit, intelligence, and so forth, I might be at a better position to agree or disagree.”
The king nodded his approval. “I trust the high priestess with her good judge of character, and I can see that her instincts are right. What we are doing at the moment, Lady Adelai, is taking a gamble.” He sighed. “A very risky gamble, one that could save or break my kingdom. Atalantea has a strong army, but I’m afraid nothing in comparison to the military state Sarcopia is now fast becoming. We are all gathered here, my lady, to ask how far you are willing to go to help save the kingdoms.”
“Save the kingdoms?”
“We cannot win against Sarcopia with might alone, I’m afraid. It will take a good combination of strategy, guile, intelligence, and even a bit of luck to do so. I have already sent several spies into Sarcopia, seeking for any chinks in their military might. I have been successful so far, for the spies that have succeeded in infiltrating their defenses are not the spies one would normally expect to send, and spies no one thought would be capable of treachery. A powerful jeweler, one who fashions the king’s crowns and the pommel on his swords. Or the palace’s head chef. Or, in this instance, the king’s own captain of the guard.”
Adelai found her eyes straying back toward Thornton who, without so much as a change of expression, nodded in full agreement with the king.
“I wished I could say that it was my prowess and skill that convinced these men to turn against their king, for they are to the man brave and honest people. No, it was the king’s own nature that turned them against him.” King Belair rubbed at his temple. “Peace will not last as long as Garrant holds the crown, and they know this. Highrolfe is proof enough. If there is any way to overthrow Garrant without the need for bloodshed or military warfare, I would gladly do so. And that is where you come in, my lady.”
King Belair smiled at her. “I work secretly with the rebels, supplying them with what I can. I already have spies among the common folk, among the bourgeois, and among his military. Now I require one capable of infiltrating Sarcopian politics; one who can easily move through the courtiers and the nobility of the kingdom despite her status as an outsider. Someone who can think fast on her feet, who can ferret out information from the sycophants that hang on to the king’s every word, who can determine which factions are allied to the king, and those that oppose him.”
“And that would be me.” Adelai said, finally understanding. A shrinemaiden enjoyed a status unheard of by any other nobleman or noblewoman. Her presence at court held it to greater prestige, and only she could move through the intricate politics that surrounded every kingdom undisturbed, and with little suspicion.
But the Temple of Inne-anneah had always remained outside of politics, refusing to take sides throughout its history. In many way, shrinemaidens could function much like a priest, in that any confessions made to them were privileged, and it would be almost sacrilegious for them to betray this, even after retiring. There was no faster way to ruin a shrinemaiden’s reputation, and being found guilty for these crimes would strip her of the immunity she enjoyed in all the kingdoms. “Your Majesty, at the end of my final training, I am to swear an oath to remain neutral in all manners of court intrigues. I cannot break that vow.”
“You cannot break an oath that you have yet to make, Adelai,” Saleia said. “If you agree to this, you will never take that oath.”
She gasped. Each oath ceremony was a personal affair among shrinemaidens, with only their close friends and sometimes their first patrons attending. One could not be a true shrinemaiden without it.
“We will conduct a ceremony for you of course, but in a way to prevent those oaths from being binding. It would be quite suspicious otherwise.” The priestess sighed. “You will be asked to make many sacrifices, Adelai. We want you to know all the terms before accepting this offer.”
“You may be suspected nevertheless. We must allow for any suspicions that you had been deliberately sent to Sarcopia on my behalf.” The king said. “But the beauty of the plan is that by all accounts I have bought you for a night, and no more contracts between us need be forthcoming. Garrant is aware that I have purchased you for an admirable sum, the greatest price ever paid for a shrinemaiden, and his interest will be piqued, to know what you have that has caught my interest. He will undoubtedly suspect a trap, but he will also be eager to force you to break your vows, to find any secrets I may have told you. In any case, he will be curious to see what I have seen in you, and I suspect it will not be long before you shall be contracted out to one of his followers. I have familiarized myself with his ways, and I know his curiosity shall be too great for him to ignore.”
He leaned back in his chair. “But still, you are free to accept or reject my proposal, and I will think nothing of either decision. You have my word on that. I do not want you undertaking something that you do not want. You are currently the most popular shrinemaiden at the moment, given my substantial bid for you. If you reject this offer, you can walk away from this room and still enjoy the advantages of your high bid, as more people will be seeking you out after this. You can well be on your way to becoming one of the finest shrinemaidens in the land, and retire a very rich woman.”
“But if you accept, the priestess is willing to release you from any debts you owe her, to be a free woman or remain a shrinemaiden once this business is over and done with. It is your choice to make.”
“What if I am caught?”
“I will not allow that to happen,” Thornton said fiercely.
“If they have uncovered our little plot, then tell them I coerced you into doing so.” The king’s smile was only partly in jest. “There is an exception to the oaths shrinemaidens take, is there not? If their lives are in danger, then they are obliged to break those oaths to protect themselves. It is why many patrons ensure the safety of their shrinemaidens. It could be a defense you can opt for, depending on your situation, but I intend to take the full blame either way. War would be inevitable at that point, so what you do or say will matter little. I hope your role in all this would not be discovered even should our plans succeed. But if it does, then do whatever is necessary to survive it, and survive the war, Adelai.”
Even as he spoke, she had already made her choice. The thought of Sarcopia one day ravaging through her beloved temple sent chills up her spine. Besides - if what the king said was true, then the possibility of being sent to Sarcopia was already high, and she would be in the perfect place for the espionage without much effort on her part.
And then there was the captain. If she was to be sent to Sarcopia, then the chances of meeting him there again would be greater. If King Garrant was as bad as they say, then she could not bear to see Thornton taken away, perhaps captured and displayed like the slaves at the auction, or be killed for treason. If she could prevent that from happening simply by being there, she would risk everything.
Because if she chose to reject his proposition, Adelai knew she could never be with Thornton. Shrinemaidens could not retire without repaying the debt they owed to the temple, from the costs it had taken over the years to pay for their upkeep, to the gowns they wore, to their varied lessons. Even the most skilled of shrinemaidens required at least ten years to recoup the money, and only if most of their patrons were of royal blood.
“What must I do as I spy?”
She was unaware of the tension in the room until she saw the king’s shoulders sag, and the high priestess take a deep breath. The captain was silent as always, and she could feel his eyes
still on hers, though she didn’t dare meet his gaze.
“It shall be easy enough, as far as the job goes,” the king answered, “Move among the different royal factions, keep your ears open for anything worth reporting. The High Priestess will help you arrange for a code we can use so any communication between us will leave little suspicion, even if they are intercepted. But most importantly, I wish to know which of the people in Garrant’s group can be subverted, and which of those will stay loyally by his side. That is of paramount importance.”
“Won’t they suspect us now?”
“I have taken pains to ensure that I was not followed on the way here.” The king grinned, looking suddenly boyish. “One of my servants, one selected because he looks so remarkedly like me, is currently at my rooms dressed in my clothes. I guarantee he would fool nearly anyone but my valet and my wife, as long as they don’t draw close enough. I hope he keeps his theatrics in check, however. Stephan has always been prone to overdramatize.”
There was one last question niggling at her. “Why did you not choose to ask me this before, though? Before the auction took place?”
But it was not the king who answered.
“It was at my request.” The captain of the guard said. Adelai stared at him. “Whether or not you accepted his offer, I wanted you to be assured good standing as a shrinemaiden, in such a way that you would never have to struggle to find contracts. He agreed.”
He had been looking out for her all along. It gladdened her to think of how much thought he was placing over her welfare, but was unsure how she could express her gratitude, with the others watching. “Thank you,” she said instead, trying to inject as much warmth and gratitude into her voice as she could. He must have sensed that, for his gaze deepened, and they kept on staring at one other until the king cleared his throat.
“Any other questions you might have, I am sure that the high priestess shall be able to answer.” The kind stood. “And now I must go. I’m afraid my wife had not been privy to this knowledge, and is not quite happy about my purchase at the auctions last night.” He winced. “My queen cannot lie to save her life, hence my decision not to inform her. The damage she has done to our bedroom door and every breakable thing beyond it will only help bolster our little espionage. I’m afraid it might take me quite some time to make things up with her.” He bowed at the high priestess, then at Adelai. Finally, he turned to the Sarcopian captain of the guard.
“It’s all in your hands now, Thornton,” he said, the laughter fading from his voice. “Can I count on your trust?”
“After what you have done for me,” the other man said quietly, “know that I am your man from this day onward.”
“I am glad to hear of it.” With another nod of his head, the king opened a different door from the one Adelai had entered, and left. The captain too, had risen to his feet.
“I shall talk to you again at the appointed time.” He told the high priestess, who inclined her head. Without saying another word to her he too, left the room. Adelai felt disheartened by his sudden abrupt manner.
“King Belair is a clever man.” The high priestess murmured. “The captain only seems to have realized just how crafty he is.”
“What?”
“If the captain is as fond of you as he seems, then he knows very well that Belair shall be sending you into enemy territory, a lamb among wolves.” The priestess rubbed her wizened hands. “Any treachery on the captain’s part would put you in danger, and he knows it. Yes, the king has tied his hands up quite prettily, though I don’t think the captain is as sour about it as he lets on.”
“It’s all happening too fast.” Only one day ago she had been an unschooled shrinemaiden, poised to lose her virginity to the highest bidder. Now she was a spy.
“Chut, chut, girl!” The high priestess snapped her fan. “I have taught and trained you not to mope about when the unexpected happens, but to roll with the tides as they come. Perhaps you accepted the king’s offer out of the desire to protect the temple as I did, or to see the lands free of war. I would think seeing your captain again is yet another reason,” Adelai opened her mouth to protest, but couldn’t get another word in edgewise, “but accepted it you have, and if you were truly my student you shall see it through the end. That the captain had shown a fancy to you was, perhaps, a blessing in disguise. I can think of no better candidate in this matter.”
On the rare occasions where she did give out compliments, the high priestess had a disarming way about her that made those compliments sound like anything but. “Say no word about this to anyone else - not to any of your other sisters, even. This is a far too prickly a situation to entrust to anyone else. Let us go, Adelai, and see how the others have fared.”
The common rooms were already full of other shrinemaidens by the time the high priestess and Adelai had arrived. There were others still completing their toiletries, and others who were already done, chatting and comparing their experiences. The chatter was cut off abruptly when the high priestess strode in, and Adelai caught one or two envious looks some of her sisters shot her way. She knew what they were thinking. To receive one of the highest bids in kingdom history was an honor enough, but to attract the king’s attention while she was at it!
The high priestess took her time moving among the girls, inspecting them and checking for injuries. To harm a shrinemaiden was the greatest offense anyone in the kingdoms could give, and the perpetrator was often renounced, no longer welcomed to future auctions - or to the court of most kingdoms. The loss of prestige that comes with such a consequence was often too great for anyone to make the attempt. “You’ve done well, my girls.” She finally said. “You shall all have a month’s respite before any contracts, but there is still much work to be done. Here is where the true training begins.”
They understood. The loss of a shrinemaiden’s virginity also meant the loss of a shrinemaiden’s innocence. Now they are no longer expected to attract and entice with their vulnerability and their playful naivety. Some of the most famous shrinemaidens had been, not coincidentally, just as good outside the bedroom as they were inside of it - sometimes even better. Most of their training till then had been on history and culture, on etiquette. Now the training becomes physical.
“I will be talking to each and every one of you soon enough, to talk about the choices you may wish to pursue. You can choose to remain with toys and self-stimulation if such is your desire, but if you wish to be accommodated with a partner to further your experience, then arrangements can be made.” Many of the shrinemaidens blushed. “You are also free to explore the palace grounds today, but I do not advise going into the city until I have talked to you. You may all have the afternoon off, but I will not tolerate any shenanigans!” She added sharply, when a few of the girls cheered. “Any misdemeanor on your part shall be punished as if you were still mule-headed novices. Now go.”
“Except you, my dear.” Adelai was turning to follow the rest of the shrinemaidens out of the room when the high priestess called her back. Biting her lip, she returned to her seat, as the High Priestess paced.
“You are a very unusual exception, as you already know,” she finally said. “Sometimes a very high bidding can work at a disadvantage, particularly if your sexual services are not up to par.” The high priestess rarely talked about things of a sexual nature in the course of their training, and it was almost embarrassing how blunt and forward she was about it now. “I am going to take more interest with your training in this.”
“You will?” Adelai asked nervously. The high priestess was one of the last people she wanted to oversee her trainings in sex, for reasons that were obvious.
“Don’t look at me like that, girl.” The high priestess cackled suddenly, surprising her. “I might not look it today, but I once cut a large swathe among the men in the kingdoms myself, my dear. I know all the tricks of the trade, and I’ll be damned if you’re going to protest because I look like an old prune now.” She was smiling, which was alread
y unusual in itself. “I have my own reasons. Naturally, war would make it bad for business, but I’m very fond of King Belair. His father and I used to be quite close. If not for him, I might not be the High Priestess of Inne-Anneah today.”
It was difficult to imagine the High Priestess looking anything other than what she was now, but Adelai had heard all the stories of how Saleia had been one of the most beautiful shrinemaidens of her time. Her face bore no trace of that supposed beauty now, though the priestess’ unique lavender eyes were striking enough.
“The king had asked Captain Thornton to oversee your training, but he refused.”
Adelai could not stifle her gasp. It was just as she had feared. After all, the bidding had fallen under the king’s name, which meant Thornton had no rights to her as the king in theory had. He was busy enough with his other duties, she supposed, but she still could not help but feel abandoned.
The high priestess chuckled at the look on her face. “Do not look so alarmed, Adelai. It might be for the better. I had observed you and the good captain before, remember? It took a lot of effort to ensure your tryst remained hidden from the others, that none in the compound but those I trust would know. I had hoped he would agree. His training you would ensure your safety should any contracts do arrive from Sarcopia, and his infatuation would tie him even closer, which would work to our advantage. The risk is to make sure your infatuation with him does not also become your downfall.”
Adelai looked at her. The high priestess was no longer smiling.
“I am not always a terror, as some of your sisters like to call me behind my back. I have known what it feels like to be infatuated beyond all reason - to be in love, as others might call it. That path leads to much heartbreak - and in this case, to much danger. Do not lose your heart over him at the cost of losing your head, my girl, or you will both suffer for it in the long run.” To Adelai’s surprise, she patted her cheek fondly again, much like she had done at her last interview at the temple. “We shall leave this accursed palace this afternoon, and return to the Inne-Anneah, where we will begin your training. Till then, heed my words carefully, Adelai. The heart is a fragile thing, and to fall in love is the sweetest, most agonizing thing you will ever have to endure in your life. When all this had been carried out to the king’s satisfaction, and hopefully with all of us surviving, including your young captain, then you possibly you shall have what many of us never did - a chance.”
