AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But Peyron looked over at Talin. "I thought you weren't ringed, but I did notice the band."
"Oh, we're ringed," Talin assured him. "The temple tried to force us to follow the rules, but our god had other ideas."
"And Zeal just... talks to you?" Peyron asked.
Talin took that as his cue to roll out of the bed, giving Peyron the chance to see that dark metal band around the base of his dick. I shifted over, making room for anyone else who wanted to find clothes. Ela took the chance, sliding past both myself and Peyron just to head straight for Talin. The men kissed quickly, then began sorting through the piles of clothes our guardians had made for us.
"Zeal appears," I said, turning to answer Peyron's question since no one else would. "He's real. He's tangible to those of us who believe, but that's the thing. The power of the gods is based in faith. The more belief a room holds, the more power they have."
"Huh?" That clearly didn't make sense to Peyron.
"I can see them because of my ancestry," I explained. "So, put me alone in a room with a god - or goddess - and they have power. But add in one non-believer, and that becomes negligible. When I first began to see Zeal, he could touch me when we were alone, but he couldn't manipulate the world around us with anyone else around. Now, he walks the halls and half the temple - give or take - can see him."
"How do I see Savi?" Peyron asked.
"You just have to believe in her," I promised. "No doubts. Not about her, at any rate. Know that she is real, and while she's weak, she's trying to reach you. She needs you, Pey. She chose you, out of all her priests, because she believes in you, so doesn't she deserve the same?"
"How will I know?" he asked. "I think she's real, Nari. There's too much proof and too many reasons to know she's been in this world. The symbol on my arm is just one of many. I believe in her, but I have yet to see her."
"Then pray more," I told him. "Not fanciful ones. Pray to her. Pray like you would to a friend. Our gods are people, and they care about us more than I expected. And Savi's beautiful. She's a little shorter than me. Her skin is this beautiful shade that reminds me of wet sand on a summer beach after a heavy storm. Golden, but dark. Her hair is a myriad of tiny spirals ranging through the shades of most sweets. Caramel is the most common. Her lips look like they should be kissed. Her eyes, however, are the best part."
"How so?"
"They're almost iridescent," I explained. "All of them seem to have the same eyes. Clearly, it's a family trait, since they're siblings. They're made up of tiny motes of color. Each one is the shade of a normal person's eyes, but combined, it makes a mosaic that shifts and changes based on their mood. Sometimes, they're pale. Sometimes darker. Greys, blues, greens, browns, and even the less common colors. I've seen white, lavender, and yellow in Zeal's at times. I didn't get to stare at Savi long enough to check hers, but I'm sure they'll be the same."
"And when I do see her?" he asked. "What then? How much good is one initiate priest to her?"
The answer came from Wraythe. "More than you know. One priest can talk. His words can inspire others to wonder. When they talk about him - even if that's calling him insane - it makes the rest think. The rumors spread. People wonder if she's real, and that brings them one step closer to believing she's back."
"It's how they live," I told him. "On the day of my Choosing, I was the only one who could always see Zeal. Now, priests smile at him as we walk through the halls. He trains with us, leads one of my classes, and has enough power to help again."
"All because of her," Ela said. "Oh, and I know it's not easy to believe. She'd talk to nothing, and I'd wonder if she was losing her mind. I kept trying to figure out who was playing a joke on her, trying to get even for the lace on her body."
"But I don't have that much lace," Peyron reminded him.
"Zeal talked about that," I said. "It seems that when they're so weak, they can't just alter your lace. Zeal can with us, but without an immersion, Savi can't. Also, not all the gods want to have a priest like us. They don't want another Path to manage. That's why they like the idea of the symbol. It marks you as their Chosen without changing the entire way their temple works."
"Like Zeal did," he breathed, nodding to show he understood. "Well, I'm happy with my Path. My instructors said I belonged in Word, but I wanted Protection."
"Savi thought about putting you in Word," I admitted. "She told me that when we were outside. She gave you Protection because you're so good at it. See? She believes in you."
"And when I can see her, she'll help me convince others," he decided. "I'm going to figure this out, Nari. Don't get me wrong, tonight? Well, I guess it's technically last night since it's morning now. But that was my own fantasy. I also wanted to know about this, though. I wanted the chance to ask you how to bring our gods back, since you're doing it."
"We are," I corrected, "and you probably won't be able to do it alone either."
He reached up to trace the line of my face. "No, but I happen to have five priests right here to help me. I'm not opposed to using some from Perception, but why not listen when the experts offer advice, right?"
I caught his hand, bringing it to my lips to kiss. "Just know that your High Priest might not like it."
"My High Priestess has told me to do whatever our goddess needs," he promised. Then his head twitched. "Wait. You mean the High Priest of Temptation isn't ok with this?"
"Not at all," Talin grumbled as he set a stack of clothes down beside Peyron. "Kinen wants to kick Nari out of the temple. He doesn't yet know about the rest of us."
"Shit," Peyron breathed. "So he doesn't see Zeal. He must think of you as a contender for his position, right?"
I just nodded. "Yeah, except that I got this Path because I didn't want Word. I had no interest in management and leading ceremonies. I don't want to talk to crowds of people, and that kind of fame is not exciting to me. I want to make changes, but I want to do it the hands-on way."
"Like with me," he realized. "How do I help you?"
