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Chapter 45
Nariana
Since I'd committed to meeting Maela, I couldn't back out. Still, the next day, I wanted to. It was stupid, and I knew that, but my guts were twisting all over themselves. When I asked Ela what he'd be doing, he shrugged and said he might just make a trip over to Perception to see if Peyron was having any luck with his goddess.
Thus, I had no reason to stay home and too many to go. Maela had suggested dressing conservatively, but I was a priestess, not a lady. I decided to wear pants, heels, a billowy shirt and a corset. I thought about a coat, but while the trees were dropping leaves, I wouldn't be outside long enough to worry about the slight chill.
The look I'd picked was one of Amerlee's favorites, and it gave me a little extra courage to dress like her. Talin decided to keep it simple, choosing nice but casual black clothes. His sword stayed at home, but when we headed to the front of the temple to meet Maela, his dagger was on his belt. I was pretty sure there was another in his boot.
I didn't even make it down the stairs to the front entrance. The moment Maela saw us, she hurried over, caught Talin's other arm, then asked to see the rear exit that led to the grassy area behind the temple. With a woman on each side, my guardian turned around and led us back the way we'd just come. He looked a little too amused by this.
"Nervous?" Maela asked.
"Yes," Talin answered for me. "She's been a vibrating mess across my back since she woke up."
"So, you can actually feel her emotions?" Maela sounded honestly impressed.
Talin just wobbled his head from side to side in a vague gesture. "It's still getting stronger, but the general answer is yes. I can feel sensations that correlate to her emotions. It's like they're just under my skin, but it's not an unpleasant thing. It's also not quite as tangible as you'd expect. I just... kinda know?"
"Does it go both ways?" she asked, looking over at me.
"Not for everyone, but I'm also a guardian," I explained. "Zeal tied us all together, but it seems I feel them less than they feel me."
"Pretty sure that was intentional," Talin said. "It seems to be the way Zeal works."
Maela kept me talking about inconsequential things right up until we reached the back of the temple. The nave led off to the High Priest's office beyond, a glimpse visible when we turned for the priests' wing. Maela's eyes followed it, proving she remembered where we were.
"You just have to meet with him," I assured her, assuming that was what had her looking so intently. "There's no fancy ceremony."
"There is," she countered. "Men in power push at women from society, reminding us that we are their possessions. I'm a man's wife, bought fairly in their eyes. My place is to serve my husband, just like you serve a god. I can't imagine the High Priest will be any better."
"He might," Talin said. "Kinen was raised in the temple. He didn't grow up in society, and he's not born to nobility, Maela. We're raised that men and women are equal. Most of the common people in Calseth have no option but to act the same way. They aren't wealthy enough to have family members do nothing but arrange flowers all day."
"But he'll still try to put me in my place," Maela said. "It might be to remind me that I'm merely a citizen, not a priestess, but he'll still try. The problem is that I've been raised to lower my eyes, dip my head, and give in. It's a hard habit to unlearn, but I think I'm ready."
"If you're making a scene with your husband at breakfast," I said, "then I think you are."
"I hope you're right," Maela said softly, her voice sounding as worried as I felt right now.
Unfortunately, the walk to the Temple of Compassion was a short one. The gods and goddesses had placed their homes side by side in the middle of the capital. Each one was massive, almost a miniature city of their own. They still weren't that far apart, and Compassion was diagonally placed to Temptation. The massive buildings worked like a wall, blocking out the wind and making the grassy area between them a little more comfortable than it would be on the streets.
We entered the Temple of Compassion from the back, something usually reserved for priests who lived there. Once inside, Maela took over. She turned us toward the center, making it clear the layout was nearly identical to ours. At least the hallways and architecture were laid out the same way. The rooms might be different, but the public areas had clearly been designed together.
We didn't even make it to the nave before someone spotted us. "Lady Ranndor?" a woman asked.
Maela slowed. "Priestess, I've brought my brother-in-law and his ward to visit. Can you help me find certain priests? If not, maybe suggest someone who can help me find them?"
"Uh, Maela?" Talin asked, shooting her a look of confusion.
Which was when the woman turned her eyes on me and smiled. "You finally decided to come see us, Nariana?"
"Merci," I breathed.
"She's here?" Talin asked, looking right across the priestess before us.
Maela's head snapped back around and the expression on her face was pure bewilderment. "What?"
Merci just laughed gently. "He cannot see me, Maela. You can, because you believe. Nariana can because she was born with the ability. Talin is just a priest, although one impressive enough to make my brothers take notice."
