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ButLa’ver’naseemed to have an answer that didn’t involve climbing.
“Wehave sky-lifters of course.Followme,” she said.
Thepriestess led them a little way around the trunk where there were long, narrow wooden platforms which had ropes on either end.La’ver’natapped her goat men’s heads and they knelt smoothly as one in front of one of the platforms, enabling her to step directly onto the narrow length of wood.Thenthey removed the goddess seat harness and one of them tucked it away in a bag which he slung over his shoulder.Takingtheir positions on either side of the priestess, each of them seized a rope and began to pull, which caused the narrow rectangular platform to begin rising up the side of the tree trunk.
“Hurryand come up,”La’ver’nacalled down toCelia. “Andmind you two—don’tlet your goddess’s feet touch the ground,” she added, givingFierceandHolda stern look.
“Idon’t think we’re up to that kneeling trick—we’d need to practice before we can do it without dumpingCeliaon the ground,”Holdsaid uncertainly.
“Here—I’vegot her.”Keepingone arm around her thigh,Fiercereached up with his other hand and caughtCeliaby the waist.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, as he swung her down into his arms and then placed her feet on the nearest wooden platform.
“Areyou all right, my lady?”Holdasked, coming to stand on her right.
“I’mfine—I’mjust not used to riding around on people’s shoulders, that’s all,”Celiasaid.
“Well, it looks like you’re going to have togetused to it since your dainty feet can’t touch the ground as long as we’re here,goddess,”Fiercesaid, smirking at her.
Celiasmiled back tentatively.Itseemed they were going to forget about the fight they’d had earlier and just go back to normal—which honestly, was a relief.Shehated arguing with theDarkTwinand much preferred getting along with him—even if hedidget her temper up sometimes.
“Ihope you don’t mind thatItoldLa’ver’nawe would join them and, er, become part of the “Sisterhood,” she said in a low voice as the twins each grabbed a rope and began to pull.Theplatform rose with surprising smoothness, so that even though it was narrow, she didn’t feel in any danger of falling.
“Nota problem, my lady.Itseems to be working out well so far.Andit’s not like we had much of a choice if we wanted to get the ship fixed,”Holdremarked.Celiacouldn’t help admiring the way his biceps bulged and his back muscles worked as he pulled the rope.
“I’mwaiting to see what exactly they want us to do beforeIdecide howIfeel about it,”Fierceremarked. “ButIagree that we didn’t have much choice in the matter.”Healso looked amazing pulling on the rope,Celiadecided.Shecoulddefinitelyget used to watching this display every time they went up and down the massiveMotherTree.
Thenshe felt guilty—she shouldn’t be enjoying the sight of the two huge, muscularKindredwhen she was engaged toPeter.Butshe tried to put her fiancé out of her mind—it wasn’t like she could get back to him any time soon.
“Well,Icouldn’t think of anything else to do andIdidn’t want her to just leave us stranded,” she murmured. “I’msorry you guys ended up being my, uh, worshippers though.”
“Wedon’t mind,”Holdsaid and gave her a smile. “Didn’tItell you that weKindredbelieve that every woman has a divine spark in her—a little part of theGoddessthat is worthy to be worshipped and cherished?Ibelieve these people may have many of the same beliefs.”
“Possibly.”Fierceshot the platform with the unicorn priestess and her two goat men a guarded look. “ThoughIhave a feeling there’s more to their beliefs than just worshipping women.”
“Iguess we’ll find out,”Holdsaid with a shrug that did amazing things to his shoulder muscles. “Ohlook—here we are atFirstBranch.Iwonder how we get off without the platform falling back down?”
“Look—there’s a place to tie off the ropes.See?”Fiercesaid.Indeed, there were two wooden poles with hooks attached to them where the ropes could be wound to temporarily stabilize the platform so they could all step off.
Celiawondered apprehensively if she was going to have to ride on their shoulders again.Shehadn’t minded it down on the ground, but they were fifty feet up in the air now and the pathway that wound around the trunk of the tree was rather narrow.
However, when she looked over, she saw thatLa’ver’naand her two goat men were all walking.
“Good—Isee you navigated the sky-lifter very well,” the priestess said as she came up to them. “Whenyou reach the branch which is your destination and disembark, please send the lifter back down to the bottom of theMotherTree’strunk so that others may use it,” she added, speaking toHoldandFierce.
“Ofcourse,Priestess,”Holdsaid, nodding his head respectfully.Fiercenodded as well and the two of them set about untwisting the ropes from the hooks and lowering the narrow wooden platform back down to the forest floor.
“Sowe’re allowed to walk here instead of being carried?”Celiaasked while they waited for the guys to finish.
“Yes, for here our feet are not touching the earth—they are touching theMotherTree, which is blessed by theGoddessof theShiningHeart.Itis good and right to walk along her beautiful branches and feel her life flowing through you,”La’ver’naanswered. “Doyou feel it?”
“Well, actually…yes,Ido.”Celianodded, looking down at her feet.Shefelt a soft thrumming coming up from the soles of the soft black flatsKathad sent her to wear along with the outfits she’d provided.
“Youwill feel it even more when you remove your shoes and are properly dressed in the silk of the holy spiders,” the priestess told her. “Infact, mayIask you to remove them now?TheMotherTreeshould be experienced barefoot in order for her power to flow through you properly.”
“Oh, of course,”Celiasaid, though she was wondering if she had heard the unicorn woman correctly—holy spiders?
Sheslipped off her shoes and picked them up.Tuckingthem under one arm, she took several steps barefoot and was surprised to find that the papery white bark of the tree was smooth and warm under her feet.Italmost felt alive—like she was standing on a living creature.
