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The gods are arrayed around me. I light extra candles and meditate, allowing my mind to separate from the ache and pain of my physical body and enter the plane of pure consciousness. I miss meals. The outside world fades away. The main altar is my refuge. I commune with the gods and give them my problems, hoping to discover a solution. Because I’m now at a crossroads with no way forward.
How can I have everything?
How can I complete my vows, save this monastery and propose to my Bound and fill her with my offspring? Right now. Today I learned that I cannot patiently wait a year to have her. I was unable to hide my feelings for this human from the pilgrims that arrived. And…I didn’t want to. I don’t ever again want to bring in a group of visitors, having to pretend that my Bound is nothing more than a trainee. How does that make me a leader in our order? A teacher? How can I train others in the tenets of our religion if I am hiding who I am and who I love?
All I see is her face. I hear echoes of the sound of her voice. Is this what the gods are trying to have me focus on? My thoughts wander to her smiles and the way she looks at me. Her joy in helping others. Did they place her here on purpose? Do they want me with Lorelei? Is she my temptation, or is she my reward? What if she’s not the female that will defile me, but the mate who will save me?
Eventually my mind settles on one essential truth: Lorelei makes me a better priest. Having her here makes the both of us better at communicating the peace and love of the gods to others. We are stronger together than apart.
The day turns into night. I still do not see how to concurrently make her mine and restore the monastery. But a strange sense of urgency sweeps through my frame.
Finally, I stand from the altar and stumble back up to my library. I’m on the edge of something important, but I know not what. The room is pitch black and I blast a flame into the fireplace. I am not as cautious with my fire as I usually am, and I see I created a flash flame along the adjoining wall. I rush over to blow it out. And that’s when I see the latch.
I hold a flickering candle aloft and creak open the secret door behind a bookcase and step inside. I gaze in awe at the cache of antiquities. They all carry the symbol of the patron god of this monastery. This, this is what I was trying to tell everyone, and no one believed me. They all thought this monastery held little value, but instead it holds a wealth of information. I’ve found it. Finally, the evidence I’ve been looking for. Here, in this library is the whole reason why this monastery needs to be preserved.
I leave the library behind to search for my female, eager to show her my discovery. She will be as excited as I am. This is the key to solving all of our problems. I can return to Minos, cut short my vows, ask her to be my Boundandhave the monastery restored.
The gods have provided.
It’s early evening but she isn’t in the Sanctuary. My human likes to sweep the floors, maintain the candles and polish the statues, especially those of her favorite gods that she admires. I glance in the kitchen. She’s not there either. And then a rainstorm begins outside, and I automatically gather all the bowls and tubs and place them where they should be to capture the leaks. Meanwhile, a fissure of unease sweeps across my thoughts. Where is Lorelei? I can’t imagine her not jumping in to help during a storm. Where is she?
The last time I saw her she was waving goodbye to the group of pilgrims that spent the night. A knot tightens in my stomach and my steps quicken.
I march upstairs and find a note on her pillow.
Cabal,
I have left to travel to my correct placement and begin my penance. It is only right. Thank you for your generosity in taking me in. I will never forget your kindness and how much you taught me in such a short time. In one year, you will be able to reach your goal and save this monastery. Now that I’m gone, nothing is stopping you.
Sincerely,
Lorelei
Heat searsthrough my chest and smoke billows from my nostrils. She knows of my goals? Who told her?
I crumble the parchment in my claw…She left?
I throw my head back and let out a thunderous roar.
Lorelei is mine.
I strip down to my loin cloth, throw open the door to the sanctuary and race alongside the road in the driving rain. I haven’t pushed myself this hard since my time as a pleb on Tarvos. The prosthetic holds up nicely. My night vision allows me to find her only an hour later.
“Cabal?” she whimpers.
She’s curled up in a ball underneath a tree, cold and wet, her robe heavy with moisture and hugging a pack of supplies on her lap. My female does not fully understand the weather on this planet, nor the topography. She tried to bravely walk out on her own to the nearest monastery down route, not realizing the distance was too great.
I should be angry at her for risking her safety in this way, but my heart swells with pride at her valiant gesture.
I lift her gently in my arms and carry her back home to Westmore. She doesn’t resist and instead snuggles into my bare chest. The rain stops and the evening is pleasant, at least there is this one blessing. Soon, I grow impatient at our slow progress and I kneel down so I can have her on my shoulders. She climbs onto my back, tightens both arms around my neck and grips her legs around my sides. I reach down and lift her legs, helping her to maintain her hold. And then I race back through the night.
We arrive home and I bang open the front door to the Sanctuary and kneel on the stone pavers. My chest heaves as Lorelei carefully climbs down and stands on shaky feet. She grabs onto my arms for support. Her shroud falls from her beautiful face and moonglow illuminates her magnificent human hair. I cannot believe how fond I’ve grown of these strange follicles that grow on top of her head.
Adrenaline races through my body. I am not exhausted. I am instead charged with a raging lust that cannot be denied. My shaft instantly thickens in my loincloth, ready to be set free and breed my female.
“You should’ve dropped me off at the next monastery,” she chides. “I shouldn’t be here. I’m not good for you.”
Not good for me? How can she not see that she is myeverything? I pull her against my chest and open my mouth to tell her what is in my heart and all that has happened.
