by Annie Eppa
She congratulated her friend on her success, trying not to be jealous. At least the pretty brunette would remain safe and happy within the borders of Atalantea, and she was such a sweet girl that her nobleman would be sure to keep her on for some more years if he could afford the price. While Lyspae’s star was on the rise, Adelai couldn’t help but feel that hers had already its zenith, and that there was no other way to go but down.
Lyspae had expressed some surprise that Adelai had not yet received word of any of her own contracts. “You received the highest bid out of any of us, out of any shrinemaiden in the last twenty years!” she pointed out, “I’d thought the high priestess would have sent for you first out of all of us.”
Adelai tried a nonchalant shrug, though her insides churned at that sudden thought. What if no one had asked a contract from her, after all? After her very public and expensive bidding, it would be the very worst humiliation a shrinemaiden had to suffer through. “Perhaps no one was interested in me, after all.”
But Lyspae shook her head, adamant. “That’s not true! I heard Priestess Saleia herself marvel over the amount of contracts sent to her office on your behalf, and you know how hard it was to impress her!”
Adelai thought that over even as Lyspae bid goodbye and hurried to finish the rest of her packing, after promising to write as often as each possibly could. If the high priestess had received many offers, then why was it taking so long to summon her? Perhaps Priestess Saleia had been aware of her despondent mood - the servants undoubtedly would have told her, for they were some of her eyes and ears - but far too much time had passed, especially in light of the high priestess’ infamous impatience. She conceded, therefore, that she was doing this deliberately. But why?
She watched from her window, waving as Lyspae finally rode away in the nobleman’s carriage that had been sent for her, before coming to a decision. She was now the only senior shrinemaiden in the temple. Many of her other sisters had already departed for their own respective contracts; some, a few days ago, the final few around the same time as Lyspae. The high priestess was deliberately goading her into making the first move, and while Adelai was loath to dance to her tune, to march into her office and demand information on her contracts as Saleia obviously wanted her to do, she didn’t see any other alternative. In this matter, the priestess’ cunning would outlast Adelai’s current frustration and curiosity to know who had bought her. The old woman, Adelai thought sourly, was crafty indeed.
When the horses and carriage with its accompanying bodyguards had receded into the distance, Adelai turned away from the window and strode out of the room. She made for the high priestess’ office without delay, and the anger might have been apparent on her face, for servants took care to hurry themselves out of her way.
The high priestess was engrossed with several important-looking documents by the time Adelai burst into her office without first announcing herself to her clerk, as others were expected to do. The high priestess was neither annoyed nor furious by this breach of decorum. Instead, she gazed placidly over at the shrinemaiden, like she was no more than a sudden errant breeze.
“What is it, my dear?” She inquired mildly, like her purpose had not already been written in her eyes.
Adelai knew that the high priestess expected her to be furious at the delay, so instead she strove to do the exact opposite. She took a deep breath, and smoothed down her skirts. By the time she could finally speak, her tone of voice was pleasant, almost amiable.
“It occurred to me that while my other sisters have already departed, I have not even been told of my own contracts. I thought temple affairs have kept you too busy to relay the information yourself, so I have taken the liberty to come to you instead.”
The high priestess actually fought to hide her smile, though Adelai saw it. “The lack of news was not an error on my part. I had thought to wait awhile until the dark vapors that had followed you during the last few days has finally departed.” Her expression changed then, to one almost of sympathy. “Do you feel better, Adelai?”
Adelai nodded, trying hard not to let her true feelings show, even if this was only for her own pride rather than to antagonize Saleia further. The high priestess had done all she could on her behalf, including allowing the captain to train her, though she might have thought it would do them both more bad than good. To hold some petty grudge against her now felt churlish.
“Things have happened, and cannot be undone. I will get past this. What happens next?”
Priestess Saleia looked approving. “Good. I am glad to see that my instinct about you is as sound as ever.” It sounded more like patting herself on the back rather than giving Adelai any actual praise. She glanced down at the papers in her hand. “There have been a significant number of bids for your contract from all corners of the kingdom. Obviously, King Belair’s bidding price for you has had some significance.” She gestured for Adelai to seat herself at an empty chair by the table, and from the pile of papers she began to single out several, laying them before her.
“Out of a considerable number I have chosen these contracts for your own perusal. Each of them have their own merits as well as drawbacks. Given the important nature of your role in Belair’s plan, I thought that you might like to go over the different options you have before making a decision. Needless to say, only contracts from Sarcopia are being considered for you. Other contracts offering paltry sums have already been declined.” Adelai looked, hiding her astonishment. There were easily three dozen pieces of paper on the paper, each a different contract for her.
“This one,” The high priestess said, pointing to the first sheaf she had laid down, “is a contract by the Duke of Alzhon. A nobleman very much in the confidences of King Garrant, but of a somewhat unsavory reputation. Since there are far too many other contracts available to choose from, and all with better distinction and reputation than this duke, I would suggest declining.”
“Please do.” Adelai said with a shudder, remembering the fat duke with his toad-like eyes.
They went through each of the contracts one by one, and it took much longer than Adelai had expected. Some of the contracts were from noble households with honorable reputations, but so far from the close circle of the king that they had to be rejected, knowing that the information Adelai sought would not pass through them. Other contracts were from those close enough to Garrant, but of such spurious reputation as that of the Duke of Alzhon’s that the high priestess felt it would not be worth saddling her with an out-and-out sycophant. The best contract of all, she said, would be to find one whose buyer was close enough to the king to have gained his ear, but with equal amounts of reputation, intelligence, and the respect of his peers and of the people, one capable of swaying influence himself.
Finally, there were only three contracts that withstood both their scrutinies. The first contract was from a military general named Kazer, one of the king’s most trusted advisers. He was also known as the Jackal, for his military cunning.
The second contract was from a high-ranking noble, the Earl of Sevrigne. He had married the king’s own second cousin, and currently holds the position of Comptroller of the Household for the ruler. By all accounts he was a quiet gentleman who liked to hunt, and was respected by many who know him. His wife had passed away only a year ago, and as it was said he was still in mourning for her, no one knew exactly why he wished the services of a shrinemaiden.
The last contract was from an immensely wealthy merchant named Enzo, who controlled most of the grain industry within the kingdom. While not exactly royalty himself, he has made many other noblemen indebted to him, and his opinions therefore carried great weight among most of them. It is said that the king himself considers him a close confidante, and many meetings have passed inside the palace where he had been present, despite his lack of a title.
The settlements for all were similar. Adelai was to set up residence in their households and to play hostess to all guests of her new patron. She would attend
parties and other formal functions with her master if it would so require. Sexual relations was implied rather than made explicit in the contract, but they were worded in a way that there was no misreading the intent. What was explicitly written though, was that Adelai can only pursue relationships of an intimate nature with anyone else only if her patron had given his consent. The only exception to this rule was the man who had initially bought her bidding price, though that must have Adelai’s consent as well.
It was only after they had finished looking through all the contracts did Adelai finally let out the breath she didn’t know she was holding. She had been both expecting and dreading for the King of Sarcopia to send in a demand himself, despite Saleia’s assurance that this would be showing his hand too deliberately. She was relieved. She did not look forward to being under contract to King Garrant, though it would have been the easiest route to ferret out information.
“These three seem to be the most satisfactory,” The high priestess said with a sigh, laying down the final sheaf. “The decision now comes down to your own personal preferences, Adelai.”
Carefully, Adelai studied each of the contracts again, though she had already studied them countless times in the last few hours. Her first instinct had been to reject the first contract, though others who know her position might have chosen that as the most desirable. It was true that the Jackal’s being a general might mean he shared the same circle of comrades and friends as Thornton, which would increase the chances of seeing him more often. But the Jackal had also been responsible for much of the destruction and devastation that had happened in Highrolfe, and her blood ran cold at the thought of being with someone who had caused such untold grief. It was he who had ordered the burning of the defenseless town of Schrede, and he who had sought a truce at Arcfax but then went on to slay the whole town to ensure no one, innocent or guilty, child or soldier, escaped alive. Also, he was talkative when drunk, and it wasn’t likely that he would be entrusted with important secrets.
It came down then, to choosing between two contracts. Being shrinemaiden to a wealthy and powerful merchant might afford her greater leisure among the people, where she could scout out those who were discontented at the king much easier that way. On the other hand, his circle of influence might not be as much as what was claimed, and she might not be able to find access to the king’s court after all.
The Earl of Sevrigne might be the better option. As the king’s cousin by marriage, she would be guaranteed contact with many of the other courtiers and nobles close to the king. But if the Earl was no better than King Garrant, it might not be so easy for her as that. It might put her at even closer contact with the king than she might want, and Adelai knew she did not want a repeat of the gardens with King Garrant. She suspected that being a shrinemaiden would not exempt her from his cruelty, if he wanted to.
She was silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, reading and re-reading the contracts. Finally, she looked up at the high priestess. “I think that the Earl of Sevrigne’s contract would be most suitable for me.”
Saleia nodded, and Adelai sensed that she was pleased at her decision. “Had I been given the choice I would have done the same.” Se reached out and patted her hand reassuringly, another rare smile flashing across her wrinkled face. “And perhaps soon enough you can see the captain you love again.”
Adelai reared back, her mouth falling open in an attempt to deny her feelings, but the high priestess’ eyes read her too well.
“Inne-Anneah Herself knows that I am not one to be judging,” the woman said, “I have been the keeper of this temple for many years now, and I have seen many girls succumb to heartbreak. This is not an easy business, my child. Take what little happiness you can get, find those moments whenever you can. But it has never been an easy business.”
Adelai knew then. “It was you, wasn’t it?” She asked. “It was you who first suggested that the captain be my trainer, not the king. Not Thornton. But why?”
Intelligent lavender eyes regarded her for a long moment. “Do you know why all girls with violet eyes are thought to be marked for the Temple of Inne-Anneah, child?”
Adelai shook her head, taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation.
“It was thought that those with violet eyes are said to be the most sensual, most capable of being taught the arts of love - the most capable of loving too much. Inne-Anneah Herself is said to have violet eyes. As the head priestess, it is my duty to see that each girl that passes through these walls are safe, and satisfied. And as for you….”
The silence was deafening, and it lasted for several minutes, before she spoke again.
“I said before that you reminded me very much of me at your age.” Saleia said candidly. “And as thanks for what you are doing for the king, I thought the both of you should enjoy a little reward in gratitude, for all it is worth. Now go, Adelai, You have much packing to do.”
The high priestess had said very little to her in the day and a half leading up to her departure. Adelai knew that there were a lot of other things the woman was going to oversee… things that she was not privy to, no doubt. Adelai had no idea how long this scheme she had with King Belair had been brewing, and she suspected it was even longer than she thought.
She was summoned one last time to the office to be given the rest of her instructions. “One of Belair’s contacts will be in touch with you when they can. They will be presenting you with pink lady slippers, six all in all, so be on the lookout for them. In the meantime, you must keep your eyes and ears open for any sign of trouble.”
Adelai herself had not been idle during this time. She had thought to brush up on as much as she could about Sarcopia as their library could provide. The cultures and customs of all the kingdoms had been a daily part of their instruction as apprentices, and she had also went ahead and devoured all the books she could get her hands on, not satisfied with such moderate knowledge.
She knew that Sarcopia was unrivaled when it came to pikemen and phalanxes, used to fighting in the plains and forests as much as the wood-strewn Atalanteans boasted of the finest archers. Copper and coal from nearby mines had allowed the kingdom to be one of the richest in the land, although the previous war and the threat of another had tempered the flow of trade as of the moment. The average Sarcopian had served several years in the army as part of their tithes, and their military was easily the largest among the nations. Most led simple lives as farmers and cattle-raisers. The women tended to be more conservative when it came to their clothing than the Atalantean woman, often donning veils and headdresses that marked their ranks. Great significance was placed on status, and deference was given accordingly. To marry or mingle above one’s station was unheard of, and violaters often stigmatized, even exiled in rare cases.
Adelai brought many more books with her, in case she desired more information. She was fairly confident however, that she could easily adapt to the Sarcopian way of life from everything she’d studied. The clothes she brought with her were tasteful and adhered to the conservative custom, though she kept several of her favorite dresses, knowing that fashion restrictions were eased when it came to shrinemaidens.
It was two days later that Adelai found herself in the same position as her other sisters had: riding in a carriage bound for Sarcopia. As always, a small retinue of soldiers and bodyguards rode along with her, but as Adelai had only an aging female companion along to help her with her dress, and who dozed off frequently, she had spent most of the trip in quiet contemplation. Other noblewomen might have brought along a dressing-maid, but the shrine’s policy had always been to select one from among her future household once she arrived, and so the old maid would return to Atalantea along with carriages and soldiers after she had been delivered safely. These roads were well-traveled and therefore well-patrolled, so potential ambushes were unlikely. Still, security around her was tight. Shrinemaidens were considered a certain kind of commodity, if an unusual one. In three days, she knew, she would reach the
borders that separated Sarcopia from Atalantea, and while she thought she should be more nervous than she was, she was surprised to realize this wasn’t the case. She had made one decision long before she had seen any of the contracts; her decision to go to Sarcopia, if only to be comforted by the knowledge she would be a step nearer to Thornton.
Her oath ceremony had been conducted earlier that week. Because many of Adelai’s friends had already departed, it was easier to keep up the subterfuge, leaving out many of the details of the ceremony. Adelai swore a vow to be adept in the services she would offer to all future patrons, and to do nothing to besmirch the name of Inne-Anneah for as long as she remained a shrinemaiden. She was not asked, however, to swear a vow to keep all her patrons’ secrets, or to remain neutral in all politics of the land. King Belair himself attended the ceremony, a move he did not bother to keep hidden, which lent much credulity to the affair.
Captain Thornton Altfyre did not attend.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Sarcopia
The earl of Sevrigne lived in a splendid house inside Sarcopia’s capital city of Arbentide. The proximity of one’s manor to the castle, located at Arbentide’s center, also denoted one’s status and accompanying proximity to the king, according to the history books Adelai had read. That the earl’s was among those bordering the palace walls said much about his position. Adelai had prudently decided to keep the windows of her carriage covered, though from time to time she sneaked a look outside, to stare at the buildings and people that walked past, without herself being seen. It came as a surprise to see that the people of Sarcopia didn’t look as different from those back home, and it saddened her to think about the fighting and the suffering that came from war, between people who truly had no real quarrel with each other than the politics of the day.
