The Warlord and The Priestess

[4Chiri]

Ithet walked up the road a bit and looked up at the sky.


The air was damp and heavy, rain was on the way...


Moganthe resituated the horses and fed them taking a small break himself.


"There's food in the pack, shall I fetch you some?" he asked Melia.

 

[Morigan]

"If you will eat with me," she said. "I get tired of wondering if you eat alone all the time," she said, a bit of teasing in her voice.

 

[4Chiri]

He chuckled and looked down.


"ah...hehe....well, I'm so used to eating alone I don't really pay attention to it anymore." he scratched his head. "is...that an order?" he grinned.

 

[Morigan]

"If it needs to be," she nodded with a small laugh. She found a reasonably dry boulder and sat down, still watching Moganthe.

 

[4Chiri]

He couldn't hold back a smile and grabbed two apples from the pack. Setting one down between them, he sat and chuckled.


"...In that case, yes ma'am," after polishing the apple, he took a bite. "but....how're you going to eat with that cowl on?" he wondered.

 

[Morigan]

She sighed. "Oh it's a ridiculous process, mostly involves me holding the apple under the veil and eating like a chipmunk." She rolled her eyes. She picked up the apple and looked at it for a few moments. "It would be nice not to have to deal with this thing every waking moment, but...it's a rule. One of the many I have to abide by..." she brought the apple up under the cowl and took a small bite.

 

[4Chiri]

He grinned.


"...excuse me for saying but...that's....cute.." he took another bite. "Must be annoying. if I were you I'd damn the rules...especially if I have an authority almost as powerful as the Emperor's.."


he sighed and took another bite, in a simple three bites the apple was gone and he tossed the core.


"I don't have as much patience as you do...apparently. I don't understand how you can stay so calm while all these diplomats and politicians are constantly clawing at you."

 

[Morigan]

"I've thought about it, honestly. Doing away with these robes and this cowl...I wondered who could stop me, question my authority. I miss feeling the wind and sun on my face..." she said longingly, looking up at the sky for a moment. "Even the rain as well."


"I pray for patience every night. I am afraid mine will run out with the way everyone acts around me. Telling me I have the highest authority but then turning around and telling me what to do and what to say, how to act and where to be. I've just about had enough." She took another bite of her apple, enjoying the sweetness of it as she ate.

 

[4Chiri]

He sighed and looked down. a few droplets of rain pattered against the grass around them.


"...I'm sorry. I wish I could help." he said quietly. He wanted to take her hand and give her reassurance that he was there for her, and would


help her inforce her own law but...he couldn't, as he too was bound by protocols and rules. At the end of the day, she was just an assignment...he was given a job by the Emperor and once her pilgrimage was over, he'd return to the barracks office and continue his duties.


Marching and warring, skirmishing and training with the men. He missed it, but this was an entire new experience.


"...Shall we continue? Don't want to get sick in this cold rain." he stood up quickly with a stretch.

 

[Morigan]

"As you say," she murmured before returning to the carriage.


While she could never be what she wanted with him, she could at least daydream about what a normal life would be like. If she was just another young woman would things be different? Would she fall in love, have a family...touch her friends and loved ones casually, without fear of "sin". She lost herself in these thoughts once she was resting in the carriage again.

 

[4Chiri]

After another few hours, between Ithet's snoring and the loud, heavy rain, the sun began to rise again - yet the carriage never slowed or stopped. The bright morning brought partly cloudy skies and the sunlight pushed away the rain.


He sat atop the horse, staring ahead, sleepily. It would be a welcome sight to come across Linlyn Port soon. Then they could go to the altar of Iroth'an and be done with it. There were still so many altars to visit...hopefully there would be no more interruptions. Ithet continued her deep sleep.

 

[Morigan]

Melia too, eventually fell asleep to the sound of the rain. She lost track of time since they had not stopped again, but she hoped they would be there soon. SHe and Ithet had not spoken since the night before they left, and their silence was a bit tense at times, but Melia let it go and said nothing.

 

[4Chiri]

Another few more hours...another night and another day..


The air became slightly humid and the smells of the salty ocean floated in on the sea breeze. the sounds of seagulls echoed in the sky and eventually the sound of civilization in the late evening. The carriage slowed to a moderate pace as they passed through the large wooden gates to Linlyn port.


"...Welcome warlord! we received the platoon you sent ahead, they await at the altar, but there's a problem..." one of the guard captains said as they walked along side the carriage.


Moganthe huffed.


"...It's always something..." he grumbled.


"Someone took the eyes of Iroth'an." the guard shook his head. "people are frantic around the temple, they hope the Priestess can restore the temple just as she did with Karamina in Kenwyte!"


"...No one saw this person, or persons who has been going around desecrating the temples?! You're a guard captain, something like this shouldn't happen!" Moganthe snapped. He mostly didn't want Melia to be put in any more danger... "Ceru's mercy..." he squeezed the bridge of his nose in irritation.


"this has got to come to an end."

 

[Morigan]

Melia exited the carriage and heard the discussion. She shook her head sadly.


"Have there been any rumors about where they have taken them?" she asked. This was getting to be a trial, every place she went some calamity occurred.

 

[4Chiri]

"Sorry milady," the commander bowed, "one day they were there, the next, gone. No one saw a thing. You may want to ask the groundskeeper though." he shrugged. Moganthe grabbed the man's collar in a sudden burst of anger.


"Why didn't you do so before hand!? Don't expect the priestess to pick up your slack!" he seethed. The commander cowered under Moganthe's powerful blue gaze and shivered. "Go round up all the groundskeepers and bring them to the chapel. We will get information from them." he huffed and the commander ran off.


Ithet stepped fowards, carrying some of the lighter luggage.


the town was sandy and quaint. the faint sound of the waves could be heard, crashing over the rocky edge of the beach just a few yards away from the town walls. the chapel just across the street, small and made from hard, carved sandstone. It was where the priestess would be staying until yet another altar was restored.


Moganthe sighed irritably while Ithet silently began to take their things to the chapel.

 

[Morigan]

Melia watched his outburst but said nothing. She was also very frustrated by the situation and did not blame him. She headed to the chapel, ready to find out what the groundskeepers knew. Surely someone had seen something...

 

[4Chiri]

Mother Patricia welcomed Melia and Ithet with open arms, she looked much younger than the usual mothers, maybe just a few years older than Melia.


"Ah hello! We had word that the priestess would soon be here. Welcome, welcome!" she smiled brightly and bowed, profusely with much rigor and enthusiasm.


Ithet scanned the chapel, it was small, mostly wood and looked a bit poor, without a proper altar to pray, most of the benches splintered and the clothes they wore, were frayed and tattered.


"we have warm food in the ovens now, come dry off!"

 

[Morigan]

Melia surveyed her surroundings after being welcomed by Mother Patricia. Although it seemed less wealthy than the other places she had visited, she already felt more welcomed here.


She made her way inside to dry off and have some of the food that had been mentioned.

 

[4Chiri]

The oracles all bustled around quietly cleaning and servicing Melia's things. Washing her shoes, mending her clothes..


Mother Patricia stood nearby with a wide smile.


"I'm so glad you made it here safely milady, there's been talk of a troll wandering around the highways. But, you must be here


about Iroth'an aren't you?"

 

[Morigan]

"Yes, I am. But a troll? Has it attacked the town?" she asked worriedly. First the temple, now this...Melia feared this would not be a simple visit.

 

[4Chiri]

"No it hasn't, ...I hope it never does." she sighed. "We aren't sure why...sometimes they wander far out of the south-east and don't leave."


Wearily she poured some hot tea.


"But you needn't worry, I'm sure it will leave you alone, if it knows what's good for it! I heard about that basilisk in Kenwyte...your warlord must be unstoppable! No wonder the Emperor appointed him as the commander of the entire military, what a huge responsibility."

 

[Morigan]

"The Warlord is quite...impressive," Melia agreed with a secret smile. "But you are correct, he has many responsibilities, which is why we need to complete the pilgrimage as quickly as possible. He has many things which require his attention after we are finished."


She sipped some tea, awkwardly maneuvering it under her cowl.

 

[4Chiri]

She nodded.


"Perhaps like the war in the south? Well, not yet a war - but that's what the rumor is. Apparently the Emperor is there now trying to settle some debate with King Ferodith Elsik in Tankor." she sipped some more tea and sighed.


"Oh, I was telling the young oracles that you were coming to visit, the young initiates, they're no older than seven years old...perhaps you could give them a small lecture before you leave town?" she asked.

 

[Morigan]

Melia nodded. 'I'm certain that shouldn't be any problem at all." She took another sip of her tea and relaxed a bit as she sat. "I really wish there was a clue as to what happened at the temple."

 

[4Chiri]

She perked up a bit.


"Well, just last week a young scholar came into town. He hasn't really spoken to anyone...maybe you'll find that suspicious...I'm not


sure." she shrugged.


"He's been staying at the inn as far as I'm aware."