Page 7
niara
The fourth day of the Holy Convergence included only a half day of travel since the eclipse of the sun Lyra by the moon Aurelia would happen near noon.
The ritual celebrating the patience and forbearance represented by Aurelia as he continually chased the daughter sun was also a brief one, though it required the most preparation.
The location of the ceremony where the eclipse would be visible was a rocky outcropping overlooking the Aurelian Sea.
Getting to the overlook required an hour’s hike uphill.
My job was to carry the case bearing High Priestess Valya’s ceremonial chalice, as well as the robe and headdress she would don.
The headdress itself weighed nearly a stone, and the chest protecting it along with the chalice’s container were bulky and difficult to manage on the walk.
We were halfway up the hill when I slipped on some slick stones, wet by a trickle of water flowing downhill, and landed hard on my knee. “Ouch!” I cried, only to hear a snicker. Ylena and another priestess were composing their faces, trying to hide their obvious mirth.
“Perhaps in your next prayer to Morros, you can request agility and grace,” Ylena said, as the two picked their way around me.
I took a deep breath, tamping down the vexation building within me. Don’t respond. Don’t respond. The first tenet of the Order was to be like the water that shapes itself to any vessel. Even if priestesses like Ylena didn’t embody the principles all the time, I could still try.
The geyser of emotion that threatened to burst from me began to die down. I steadied myself and rose painfully, looking down at the tear in my skirt. Blood was seeping through it from my knee. Fortunately, I could still bear weight on the leg, but it wouldn’t make getting up the hill any easier.
Priests, priestesses, wardens, and curators streamed by me as I tried to find a better position for the cases I carried. Suddenly, the headdress chest was plucked from my grasp.
Safina was at my side and hefted the case easily, making it look as if it weighed nothing.
“Did you speak to Amal?” she asked.
“Yes, yesterday.” I lowered my voice, though no one seemed to be paying attention. “He told me to keep the information to myself, that it wouldn’t look good for me to have any sort of association with the fire beast, considering my history.”
Safina’s forehead crinkled. “Really? I don’t see how anyone could blame you for this. ”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, but he said he would look into it.”
She hummed in response, still seeming a bit unsure. Her reaction made me think back to my conversation with Amal. Maybe I should have asked more questions.
We finally reached the top and Safina helped me take my burdens to the altar site, a large, flat stone near the cliff’s edge.
From this vantage, the view was breathtaking.
The camp sprawled below, the tents being assembled by the staff who had remained behind.
Beyond, the sand gave way to the turquoise waters of the Aurelian Sea, which stretched out, sparkling, to the horizon.
The flotilla anchored nearby was majestic, an unquestionable display of Water Mage ingenuity.
Once Valya was dressed and prepared, I had little to do until the ceremony began.
I sat near, but not too near, the cliff’s edge, enjoying the calming sight of the sea glittering in the late morning sunlight.
The breeze tugged at my skirt and cooled my heated skin.
I wanted the rhythm of waves lapping against the shore to lull me into a state of relaxation, but it was slow in coming.
The ache in my knees was a persistent drumbeat overpowering my attempts at calm.
It took me several minutes to realize that the spot I’d chosen gave me a perfect view of the beast’s water cage.
From this distance, I couldn’t make out the features of any individual people—they all scurried like insects completing their duties.
But the beast’s black form inside the sphere of water was impossible to miss.
Within the span of darkness making up its body, two pinpricks of orange flashed.
It was looking at me. Or rather, it was looking in this direction, and that odd knowing inside of me was convinced that I was the focus of its attention.
You are in pain?
I jolted sharply at the voice in my head, jerking so violently I nearly fell over. My mouth flew open. I stared in shock at the small dot of black, which stood out in contrast to the pale sand.
“W-what?” I said aloud.
You are hurting , the creature responded.
“You can hear me?”
You do not need to speak aloud for me to hear you. As I said, we are connected. And I can feel you. Just as you can feel me. The voice was so low it was almost a growl, but the words were sure and direct. Could I feel the creature?
I focused, filtering through the emotions within me.
I was in pain, my knee stinging and throbbing along with the rest of my muscles.
Emotionally, I was spent, tired, confused, and a little afraid.
However, I discovered a sense of calm within me that was not usually there.
Also, a feeling of outrage, like day-old banked coals on the cusp of dying that could be easily revived.
How is this possible? This time I thought the question.
There is a great deal of magic in this world , it responded. What is your name?
Was there any harm in answering? Especially to a creature who could read my mind? I’m Niara. Can you hear all of my thoughts?
No, Niara. Only the ones you direct toward me. My name in its fathomless voice made my skin feel elastic across my body. This was a very intimate way of communicating, and I felt like I was doing something illicit. Like I should worry about being caught.
Do you have a name? I asked.
Not at the moment , the creature said, which I found a very strange reply. Will you come and see me again tonight?
I didn’t know how to answer that. Such a thing was certainly a bad idea, and yet the pull to comply was strong. I was saved from answering by the ringing of the ceremonial chime. The Day Four ritual was beginning.
I rose and brushed off my skirt, attempting to push all thoughts of the beast from my mind as the moon slid into place, covering the daughter sun. But for the rest of the afternoon, I didn’t feel quite so alone.