CH 26 - Half Truths and Hauntings

Peak of Autumn, Week 5, Day 2

I listened to Father Regin speak, and I tried to mind my responses, but there was an overwhelming sense of defeat filling me. My arms and legs were like lead, and my throat was dry. The best I could do was shove it away, hide it beneath my skin –save it for unpacking in the silence of my carriage.

I stared past the High Priest, looking at the tense stance of the other priests –priests of different gods. All wrapped in different body chains. It was rather poetic, that. The Gods chose these people –gave them strength and Divinity, only to bind them to their will. They were no better than slaves in the face of the might of the Divine.

My eyes settled on a woman in a blue and white toga, her skin was pale but it held tattoos of blue etching on her skin. And her eyes were the same pitch black of Scylla. One of her Godtouched, no doubt. The very look of her was calling to me –and Eunora was well versed in Scylla and her Tydes. It was, after all, one of the things she fought to be allowed to know. The woman had her hair set in waves that were a pale comparison to the Goddess, and the deep oceanic blue coloring of it made her the direct opposite of the Divine she was sworn to.

I knew if I spoke to the priestess then and there, I would collapse. And there were too many eyes for me to allow myself to fall apart. Not that it was really an option, even if I wanted to talk to her. I was supposed to be saying something to the priest of Abelia.

What was it again? I couldn’t remember. There were so many rules. This seemed like an important part –he was holding out his hand.

“Congratulations.” The power left his voice, and his body ceased glowing.

I didn’t bow. I remembered reading that to bow to a priest is to acknowledge their God as supreme. I didn’t smile –I didn’t have it in me. Instead, I met Father Regin’s eyes –still filled with storm clouds.

“Thank you.”

I put my hand in his. My response was wrong. I was supposed to use some five-hundred-year-old phrase to express my gratitude. But it was lost to the buzzing that was currently filling my ears. Father Regin didn’t so much at pause at my indiscretion. And I hardly flinched as I was turned to face the entirety of the church, and my hand was raised.

“It is darkest before the Dawn, my friends,” Father Regin’s voice filled the room, overflowing with strength, “And the newest Light of Dawn shines brighter by the Day.”

Suddenly, a thunderous roar filled the church, with everyone standing and clapping –the knights stomped their feet –the priests shook with a high-pitched tinkling of chains.

I wanted to tell them they were cruel.

That they had no idea what I had been through.

That they were following monsters disguised as Gods.

I wanted to lie down.

Instead, I let a wry grin fill my face, and, despite the protests of my muscles, I waved my free hand.

I let the knowledge that such cheering never occurred for Eunora ground me. No. Her Affirmation was a muted affair –a mild flicker of a light had appeared. She hadn’t set off a flashbang. She had fought tooth and nail for every ounce of power. And I had been given a gratuitous modifier to my Skills. Several times over, as Scylla had said.

>And I died without it.You cannot lie, not here. So do not promise anything you can not keep.His name is Neil. In case you forgot.Of course not. This is just their uniform.<

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as the voice once again intruded on my thoughts.