The Warlord and The Priestess

[4Chiri]

The basilica was warm and quiet, as usual. The sounds from outside were slow and murmuring. From the main stained glass window in her room, she could see down to the market district and the other window, across the small alley to the roofs of the barracks. A large meal was brought up to her by the young oracles and a new set of robes for her old ones to be mended. Moganthe had already sent out a patrol to recover the lost items in the wagon, for to any passerby, or thief, the items of the priestess would be priceless to any blackmarket.

 

[Morigan]

Melia sighed. She slowly ate her meal, grateful for warm food again. What was she going to do about Ithet? She clearly was pursuing Moganthe, who did not seem to return her feelings. And she had written those things in the letter...


Realizing she would not be able to solve the problem tonight, she decided to go to sleep and see what the morning held.

 

[4Chiri]

In the morning Ithet knocked on the door and let herself in.


"Goodmorning milady, you've a note from the palace." she said and held up a small sealed royal letter.

 

[Morigan]

Melia glanced at Ithet as she took the letter. "We have something to discuss later," she said. But it would have to wait until the duties of the day were complete. She unsealed the note to read it.

 

[4Chiri]

The note was signed by the Emperor's Foreign Advisor Zegothan.


"I heard you've safely returned from Kenwyte, I congratulate you on your success in restoring Karamina's Altar. But if you would, come meet me in the Gentry Offices in the Palace as soon as you are able."


Ithet stared on in curiosity.


"what did you want to talk about?"

 

[Morigan]

"Later" was all she said as she headed to the offices to meet Advisor Zegothan.

 

[4Chiri]

In the palace cathedra, Nheir and Naida stood near the empty throne, sharing what seemed to be pleasentries.


"Ah Priestess," Naida bowed, "I was hoping we would meet." she smiled. Nheir bowed also.


"If you have a moment?" she asked with a smile.

 

[Morigan]

"A short one, yes. I am on my way to a meeting with the advisor." She inclines her head and moves closer. "How may I be of assistance?"

 

[4Chiri]

She smiled, "thank you priestess, but I was wondering...I am beginning to make preparations for the marriage ceremony between the Emperor and I...he's hesitant, to say the least...I was hoping if you could perhaps, be our matchmaker - to conduct the ceremony?" she asked. "it won't be until summer however..."

 

[Morigan]

Melia bows at her words. "Certainly, it is a great honor that you have asked me. I will be very pleased to perform the ceremony for you and the Emperor," she said.

 

[4Chiri]

"Ah, thank you so much milady, you bless us with your presence," she bowed again with a wide smile.


"I shan't keep you any longer, hopefully we can have a proper meeting soon over tea?"

 

[Morigan]

"Of course, I'd be delighted." She nods again and continues on her way. Eventually she arrives at the offices for her meeting with the Advisor. SHe knocks softly on the door, listening for a response.

 

[4Chiri]

"Ah, come in," Zegothan said.


Upon opening the door he stood from his desk, papers scattered in every which way.


"I'm glad you could come at such short notice." he said, though his expression was harsh, as usual.

 

[Morigan]

"Of course. I had no other pressing business." She answers formally. "What is this meeting regarding?" she asked cautiously.

 

[4Chiri]

He stared for a moment.


"News spreads quickly in the region, you know. Kenwyte went through quite the panic when they lost four soldiers to that Basilisk in the Graves."


he came from around his desk and paced around the room, coming up to the priestess, making sure the door was tightly shut..


"...basilisks don't come far from their home region which is as far south as Tankor. Not to veer off topic, but...I am glad that Moganthe was able to protect you from the beast, what I am not happy with is the effect this is having on the relationship between you three." He huffed and held up Ithets letter. How he got it was unclear, but it was certain that he would twist it in the most negative way possible.


"This alarms me. Yes he performed his duty well, you are indeed unharmed, however I think he is not up for the task - mentally and I will suggest you replace him with someone who is more professional."

 

[Morigan]

"As I have discussed with Mother Dyona, for whom that letter was intended only," she said narrowing her eyes, "that is incorrect and is the result of a harmless crush on the part of my handmaiden. I will be lecturing her about it later. But there is nothing to be concerned about- once she gets through this crush, everything will return to normal." She paced about the room.


"There is no one more professional, I assure you. What worries me is why you have so little trust in your Warlord and your Priestess. It highlights a disturbing lack of faith in the will of the gods that you doubt their hand in our fate." She came to stand before him, holding his gaze without blinking. "Is there perhaps some other reason that you have not shared out loud?"

 

[4Chiri]

He crossed his arms and returned the glare.


"...As you know, Priestess, The Warlord is my only child. I will not see his stray, or distracted from the path I chose for him."


he tightened his grip on the letter.


"it's clear you hold him in too high regards, you refuse to punish him for his mistakes, or correct him. You say he is perfect but he's done nothing but put you in danger."


his voice raised a bit as he became lightly irate.


"You distract him, and as honorable as it is to be the protector of the Priestess, you are still a woman. I've kept him from such temptations...and since this letter states clearly that you and he have shared less than appropriate conversation, I demand that he be taken from you."


he leaned closer to her with a vile stare.


"...You're young...priestess....you still long for the things you cannot have...and from my experience, I know you will slowly poison my son."


He continued to look into her green eyes - his own, filmy and old. There was a knock on the door however.


"Advisor, Chancellor Ramont from Lanloden is here to see you." spoke a guard through the door.

 

[Morigan]

Melia stood straight and her eyes filled with rage. "Do not speak of what you do not know. A man who feeds on rumors and lies is a disgrace to the gods. You forget your place, and you ignore my own sovereignty as Priestess. You can take nothing from me that I am not willing to give, Advisor," she spit the words out, venom lacing each one.


"If your son chooses to leave, I would not ever prevent that. But I will not be cowed by your hateful thoughts...perhaps you project your own desires onto your son." She stormed out of the office and headed straight to the barracks, to speak with Moganthe immediately.

 

[4Chiri]

Soldiers filled the barracks, noisily and scattered. But when the Priestess entered they all stood rigid and straight, saluting.


Moganthe was all the way up in the main office as he was so many days ago, with things piled high since he left.


One of the guard captains stood there with his hands at his sides.


"I'll report to the garrison right away warlord, and send the platoon out to linlyn immediate to await your arrival."


"Good," Moganthe sighed. He wore normal dress clothes, he was clean, and looked much more rested.


"make sure you send Erdic and his men out to locate the carriage I left behind near walchwood."


"Yes sir!" the guard said and quickly left.


Moganthe looked up from his desk to the priestess and stood straight.


"Priestess, what do you wish of me? I hadn't expected to see you today."

 

[Morigan]

"We must speak about serious matters that have arisen." She walked in to his office, shutting the door behind her. As she began to relate everything that had happened since the letter last night she paced and nervously fidgeted with her hands. Eventually she finished with the words she had said to his father.


"And then I came straight here, to speak with you. You once said you would be loyal to me, always..." she trailed off, looking up at him and holding his gaze. "If that is still true...you may be the only one I can trust."

 

[4Chiri]

"..." he paused for a long while, staring down at his desk.


"...I am loyal to you, milady. But I don't have much say over the advisor when the Emperor is not at seat. It would be easier to deal with Zegothan if he were here."


he sighed and went to the window.


"...It looks like things are more complicated than we'd hoped, but what I wonder is...why he didn't care about the raid that happened. that we were attacked...did Ithet not include that in her letter?" he asked.

 

[Morigan]

"I cannot say as to why he did not care, his desire for control of you seems to have obscured all else in his mind." She looked down, staring at nothing in particular.


She knew there was more she should say, but she hesitated. "I...I feel there is something you should know..." she looked up at him for a moment before looking away again. "Ithet, I believe, has developed feelings for you. I think this may be the cause of the allegations in her letter..."

 

[4Chiri]

He sighed heavily and stared down at his desk once more.


"... I know."

 

[Morigan]

"That is not all..." her voice was barely a whisper now. "She said things out of jealousy, but they were not all untrue..." she paused, trying to gauge his reaction.

 

[4Chiri]

He stared at her intently for a moment.


"..."


He stepped back to the window again and folded his hands behind his back, thinking.


"...would it be easier for you if I left your service milady? it seems as though it's me who is causing you unnecessary difficulties...I don't want to be the reason everyone is giving you a hard time." he sighed.