Fall of Autumn, Week 4, Day 7

  The sermon came to an end slowly, the High Priestess meandering in her descriptions, but soon enough, she was losing the cadence of a storyteller.

  “Please, if you can, say a prayer to Frill today. Ask for compassion in your everyday life. Ask for your own capacity for compassion to mirror Hers. And, if you can give anything in her name, we will be bringing around the collection basket.”

  I watched as small wicker baskets appeared in all of the priests' hands, and they began making their way down the pews. It was moments before they got to us, and Sylvie handed me a purple velvet bag that clinked when it landed in my palm.

  Dame Arella put in several copper pieces while saying a prayer under her breath. The basket flashed a dull yellow, and the coins disappeared. Klein did the same but put in a silver piece. Once again, the basket flashed yellow. Then it was Sylvie. A single copper piece and a flash of yellow later, and it was my turn.

  I could tell that if I prayed to Morloch, it would be an issue. Frill’s colors were yellow and white —thus, it was obvious that Frill was who they had prayed to. Meanwhile, Morloch’s colors were black and red.

  If I pray to Frill, she could descend. If I pray to Morloch, it will look as if I’m against the High Priestess’ sermon. That could cause me more issues than a Goddess descending.

  With a great amount of trepidation, I closed my eyes and mouthed my prayer silently.

  “I pray for the suns and the sky. I pray for the moon and the tides. I pray for Fellan’s existence, for its prosperity. Frill, I ask you not to answer my call. I pray for our continued separation.”

  As I emptied the velvet bag into the collection basket, several gold pieces fell out. As quickly as they landed, they disappeared in a flash of yellow light. The priest smiled down at me, and I held my breath.

  We held eye contact for a moment before he moved along to Juniper.

  Nothing happened.

  A statue did not come alive.

  I was not taken hostage in my own body.

  No Goddess desce—

  “Call for me again, little one, when you are less hurt. When you are ready for the compassion I can show you.”

  The words were a whisper in the wind, and they wrapped around my head, echoing briefly before dispersing into nothingness. I tightened my grip on Haze, looking around at those surrounding me. No one was looking at me; no one seemed to have heard. My eyes flicked to the only priestess in yellow. She was a few rows back, but she had a smile on her face. And she was meeting my gaze. Again, my grip grew tighter around Haze, and my knuckles were white.

  I pulled my gaze away, and the woman went back to her collections. My heart was beating out of my chest, and I swallowed thickly.

  Calm, Nora, be calm.

  To help myself focus, I tuned back into the High Priestess’ announcements. She hadn’t stopped speaking during the collections, instead giving updates on the events in town.

  “Lastly, Children of the Gods, please do not forget that the church is looking for volunteers for the winter festival. It will take place the first week of Rise. So there’s only nine days left to register.”

  I will not be doing that, thank you, I thought. Aloud, I said, “That’s interesting.”

  The High Priestess finished by thanking the congregation for their time and attention. But I was hardly listening. Instead, I was forcibly loosening my grip and stretching out my palms. Placing Haze back into my bag, I looked over, trying to catch Sir Neil’s eyes and hurry him along. I had no interest in socializing with the general populace of Fellan, especially not the gossips of the upper class that were eyeing me like their next fortune had just walked into the palm of their hands.

  As Sir Neil met my eyes, he gave me a half smile and stood up. It was, unfortunately, not fast enough. Because while I was getting ready to flee, the High Priestess made her way over to us.

  I felt my stomach drop.

  Bad, no, no, do not want. I swallowed thickly.

  “Lady Dawn,” the High Priestess said, her voice gentle. “Let me be the first of the church to welcome you to Fellan.”

  My heart swelled, and I felt a soft warmth envelop me —the anxiety I’d been carrying began to lessen. I was… I was…

  High Priestess of Ital, God of Hospitality, Lord of Warmth.

  I reared back from the High Priestess, my face likely showing my displeasure.

  “High Priestess,” I said.

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  She blinked, and her eyes widened, “Oh, my! I apologize, Lady Dawn, I didn’t mean—”

  She cut herself off and held out her hands, “I didn’t realize you’d feel my Skill. Or that you would reject it.”

  The High Priestess didn’t look at me as if I’d committed some great blasphemy, so I allowed myself to relax—just a little. I eyed her hands, which were held out as if she wanted to grab my own. I could feel the eyes of the church on me. I could feel the expectations. I could feel the gossip already brewing.

  I released a breath, and with it went some of my tension. I took hold of the High Priestess’ hands and feigned a smile.

  “It’s all right, High Priestess. Thank you for your consideration after the fact.”

  She beamed in response, “Of course. Could I offer you some tea? I’d love to chat a bit.”

  I glanced over to Dame Arella, who nodded, then Sir Neil, who still had that amused smile on his face. It looked as if there was no escaping this if I wanted to maintain cordiality.

  “That would be delightful,” I lied.

  It was rather easy to follow the High Priestess—as we were in the front pew, and she held up the velvet rope for me to go under. It did serve another purpose of discouraging the others present from approaching me, which was fortunate as I had no desire to be on display any further than I already was.

  I followed behind the High Priestess, watching her long blue hair sway and bob as she walked. Behind us, the knights and maids were following closely. Their figures stopped anyone from getting a view of the two of us. It was comforting, knowing that I wouldn’t be so far from everyone, even if I would likely be the only one inside the High Priestess’ office.

  She took us around a bend, and past several doors down a long hallway. When we were about halfway to the end, the High Priestess opened a set of double doors and waved me in.

  The inside of the room was cozy, with warm lighting and two gray velvet couches. A tea set was on the low table that separated the couches. The walls were lined with books of all shapes and sizes. I worriedly worked my lip, looking back over my shoulder, where Dame Arella and Sir Neil were standing just outside the door.

  As if reading my mind, Sir Neil went to step inside. I felt a relieved breath working its way through me when Dame Arella gave me a smile and stopped Sir Neil.

  “Let them talk, Neil. You know Ophelia well enough by now.” She said it under her breath, but I could hear it clear as day —which meant so could the High Priestess. When my eyes flicked back to her, she looked unbothered at the casual reference.

  After a moment, Sir Neil nodded and then spoke directly to me, “We’ll be right outside the door if you need anything,”

  I nodded gently, then sat on the couch facing the door.

  The High Priestess, who seemed to know my knights, sat down across from me, a soft smile on her face.

  “Now, the real question, Lady Dawn,” she said, her voice overly serious. “What kind of tea would you prefer?”

  I watched her lip twitch and then break out into a wider grin, “I have some staples —like Cloudgazer, but I also have a nice fruit tea or the more earthy mingth? Though that one is an acquired taste.”

  I debated it for a moment, but ultimately I gave in to my base desire.

  “Cloudgazer, please,” I said, defeated.

  “It’s a popular one,” she hummed while she pulled loose tea out of a pale blue metallic container.

  I watched quietly as she pulled the tea kettle off its stand, runes lining the base and glowing red. Steam billowed out of the top as she opened the cap and dropped several scoops of the tea leaves into the kettle.

  “Do you know my favorite bit of Cloudgazer?” The High Priestess asked lightly as she began pouring the tea.

  I shook my head as I watched the silver liquid from the teapot fill the cups laid out.

  “It’s that it only takes a moment to steep. It’s something about the magic of it all.”

  As the drinks settled, their steam coalesced into small clouds that decorated the tops of the teacups.

  It wasn’t the first time I’d had the drink, but it caught my attention nonetheless. The way the clouds levitated inches above the water, occasionally growing a shade too dark and releasing tea back into the teacup, enraptured me.

  It was a different kind of magic than in elsewhere. It was one of the lights of this world.

  My world. I’m here. I’ve accepted it. Think properly. I scolded myself.

  “Is everything all right, Lady Dawn?” The High Priestess asked, catching my expression.

  I picked up my cup of tea and took a sip.

  For all that it is beautiful, it is too sweet for me.

  “I would like you to call me Nora—not Lady Dawn and not Eunora,” was the answer I settled on. Not a lie, but not quite the truth either.

  “It’d be my pleasure,” she smiled down at me. “And to make it fair, please call me Effy. All my friends do.”

  I swallowed thickly. The High Priestess—no, Effy, was… well, she was warm. Just like her patron God would claim.

  “Now, Nora,” Effy said with a glint in her eyes, “Tell me, what are you looking forward to most in Fellan?”

  “Looking forward to?” I repeated, unsure.

  “Yes, I’m interested to know. Surely there must be something you want to see here?”

  “Well, I heard there’s a glassworks,” I responded slowly, as if testing the waters.

  “The glassworks?” She said, looking into her drink, “Yes, it’s run by Micah. Micah Twern. You would have passed it on your way in, though if you’ve never been there before, it’s easily missed. He does excellent work.”

  As she looked up at me, I saw the question on her face. I shifted in my seat.

  “On the road, we met a woman who made me a glass figurine,” I explained, setting down my tea and pulling on my bag. I pulled out Noir. “She made me a replica of my Noir, and I was hoping while I was here, I could get the other two as well.”

  Noir tilted his head back, looking at me, and Effy blinked slowly.

  “I apologize for such a frank question, but is your stuffed animal alive?” She asked, leaning forward.

  I tugged Noir close to me. “Well, it depends.”

  “On what?”

  “On how you perceive living,” I whispered. “To me, he is always alive, no matter if my Skill keeps him such.”

  Effy laughed, and it felt like bells were ringing. It wasn’t a Skill this time when my heart felt warm.

  “That’s wonderful,” she said after a moment. “Well, Noir, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  It was a moment of silence before I made a decision. One that felt momentous, but was truly mundane.

  “Noir, say hello.”

  “Hello.”

  Effy spilled her tea in response.

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