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"I was scared of the Paths," I admitted. "So many of them had things I didn't think I could do. Like the Path of the Word? The thought of standing before people makes my guts clench. With Protection, it's the rings."
"And what held you back from the Path of the Body?" she asked.
I glanced away. "Well, that's somewhat embarrassing. See, I had a friend in my school years who was asexual. We were all told about women who experience pain during sex because of their anatomy. I think those things combined in my head somehow, and because we weren't allowed to have sex, I convinced myself that if I chose the Path of the Body, I would be one or the other."
"And now you no longer have that fear?" the woman asked.
I let my giddiness over the night before show on my face. "No, Priestess. It seems the right partner can change everything."
"That is good to hear. Priestess Nariana, I am Priestess Yana, and I am here to document your marks. Where would you be most comfortable doing this?"
Amerlee stepped up. "The bedroom. There is a lot of lace on her body, and it would be easiest for her to lay while you make note of it all. Nari? If you'll show us the way?"
"You can stay out here with the guardian, Priestess Saval."
"Don't think so," Talin said.
Yana's head whipped around to glare at him. "Excuseme?"
"That is my ward. You want her to disrobe at your command. My place is to watch over her. I will be in the room, Priestess Yana. I will not interrupt, but I will uphold my duty."
She looked him over again, and then smiled. "Then I hope you are ready for a long vigil."
"I am."
Chapter 54
Nariana
Talin stood at the side of the room like a statue the whole time. He may have shifted, I couldn't see, but it couldn't have been much. I ended up laying on my stomach for nearly two hours, and then on my back for three. Priestess Yana drew out every single line on my skin, tracing them onto a pre-made outline of a woman's body. The whole time, she talked.
She asked me how I felt about being a Priestess of the Body, and if I thought that was my primary calling. Then, she asked if I had intentions to go into the Path of the Word when I was mature, and seemed shocked when I said Action was honestly more appealing to me. That led to questions of why, so I explained - honestly - how I found the research aspect of Word so interesting, but little else, yet the idea of helping people felt right.
Saval pointed out how I'd been only a moderate student, yet a well-mannered one. Then she shifted the conversation to my guys, and how they'd been a part of my life for so long, and my main motivation. Yana asked how I felt about them being matched together instead of to me, and I made it clear that had been expected. The marks on my body, however, none of us had seen coming.
Next, she did a test of solvents on my skin. Namely, on the collar across my chest. She used three different things, and the last one burned. Still, my marks didn't move. Her hands felt for any scarring or scabbing from tattoos, but she eventually admitted that my marks looked genuine. Finally, Yana asked how I felt about my faith.
"I believe that the Temple of Temptation is needed," I explained to her. "Everyone has base desires. We all have moments of darkness. Our temple prevents those from becoming dangerous to the patrons or those around them. I think this is why Zeal is needed."
"But do youbelieve?" she asked. "Or, in other words, how do you explain the marks on your body?"
"I do believe," I assured her. "I had the most intense vision in my Choosing, and the only way I can explain it is to believe. But when it comes to the marks? I think the tears amplify our own... desires? Maybe that's not the right word. But, like Eladehl - my partner - has always known he would be a Priest of the Body. His guardian, Wraythe, never doubted he would not only follow the Path of Protection, but also be Eladehl's guardian. Talin, though? His marks look more like the ones I saw in my internship with Intuition."
Yana turned to look at him. "Did that surprise you?"
"A lot, Priestess. I declared for the Path of the Word in my fourth year. During my leave of absence, which made my Choosing delayed, I changed my mind to the Path of the Body. I ended up with the Path of Protection."
"Yeah," I said, "but didn't you only want Word because you'd been told you should? I mean, it's not like you have the drive to become a responsible leader."
The corner of his lip tensed as he refused to smile. "I still thought it was where I belonged."
"But did youfeelit was?" I asked. "You said yourself that you changed your mind. Means you must've known you didn't fit there."
"Uh..." He finally broke his stillness to scrub at his face. "I guess I did want to protect. I thought I should go with the Path of the Word because that would secure my family's position - and they made sure I knew exactly how important that was. Not because they believe, but because it makes them more powerful among their peers. I wanted the Path of the Body because I saw the strain between my brother and his wife, between my mother and her children, and I thought that access to someone who could care would ease that. So, yeah. I suppose my ulterior motive was always to take care of people."
"You mention your family as if you're still involved with them," Yana said, her tone carefully neutral.
"I am," Talin assured her. "Sorry, I assumed you would've been told. You see, I am Baron Ranndor's tithe. The seventh child of his line. My brother, the new baron, is currently working on his second child, but his seventh will also be surrendered to our god, Zeal. I am the tie between the High Priest and his primary patron, the Ranndor house. My family wanted me to become the High Priest when he retires or passes away."
