Post by Adelaide nó Nicodeme on May 2, 2010 14:34:53 GMT -5
Timeline: First Week of Autumn, a few days after Adelaide's 11th birthday
I stared in horror at the mess before me. The scent of mastic and spikenard incense perfumed the air. The powdered resins were scattered before the effigy of Kushiel, or, more accurately, on the floor before the effigy of Kushiel. The god stared down at me, and I could have sworn his expression was accusatory.
Master Auberon is going to murder me.
I hastily picked up a broom and began to sweep up the mess I had made. Thankfully, it was early morning, and few penitents arose at dawn to come and make their confession. It was one of the few times the temple was plunged into absolute silence. I did not mind the silence, it was the constant sensation that there were eyes on me that frightened me. I didn’t believe the tales that some of the other acolytes told, that the effigy breathed and blinked its eyes, though some had sworn that it was the truth, that they had seen it with their own eyes. I could think up a better story.
I had almost succeeded in gathering all the incense in a neat pile when I was discovered. It is nigh impossible to wander about the temple grounds without being observed by someone, although that did not stop us acolytes from violating curfew whenever we pleased. I seldom did, I was giving enough floggings and slaps with the switch as it was without all the effort that sneaking out required. It was hardly my fault that the ancient priests had neglected to make their texts even the slightest bit interesting.
“Adelaide, what are you doing?”
I looked up, my eyes meeting Lady Angelique’s green eyes, her features covered by the bronze mask of Kushiel. One gradually learns to tell one cleric from another, when you have lived your entire life among them, even though to outsiders they probably all seemed alike. I tried to smile up at her, although I suspect the expression seemed a little forced. It is difficult to meet the gaze of one of Kushiel’s Servants, even if you are an acolyte.
“I was…just cleaning this mess up, Lady,” I said, swishing the broom from side to side for emphasis. “I tripped on my way in, so I thought—"
She held up a hand and I quieted, and I did not even protest as the broom was yanked from my grasp and she began sweeping the incense herself.
“This temple is full of madmen,” she muttered, “sending Adelaide to fetch the incense…” I almost laughed, but then she looked up at me, and said sharply. “Well, go on! You have other tasks to accomplish today.”
I paused for a brief moment before nodding. Usually, Lady Angelique would have assigned some punishment by now, or was she beginning to accept my blunders as something that was commonplace?
“Five lashes,” she called after me as I made my exit.
No, she definitely was not.
I stared in horror at the mess before me. The scent of mastic and spikenard incense perfumed the air. The powdered resins were scattered before the effigy of Kushiel, or, more accurately, on the floor before the effigy of Kushiel. The god stared down at me, and I could have sworn his expression was accusatory.
Master Auberon is going to murder me.
I hastily picked up a broom and began to sweep up the mess I had made. Thankfully, it was early morning, and few penitents arose at dawn to come and make their confession. It was one of the few times the temple was plunged into absolute silence. I did not mind the silence, it was the constant sensation that there were eyes on me that frightened me. I didn’t believe the tales that some of the other acolytes told, that the effigy breathed and blinked its eyes, though some had sworn that it was the truth, that they had seen it with their own eyes. I could think up a better story.
I had almost succeeded in gathering all the incense in a neat pile when I was discovered. It is nigh impossible to wander about the temple grounds without being observed by someone, although that did not stop us acolytes from violating curfew whenever we pleased. I seldom did, I was giving enough floggings and slaps with the switch as it was without all the effort that sneaking out required. It was hardly my fault that the ancient priests had neglected to make their texts even the slightest bit interesting.
“Adelaide, what are you doing?”
I looked up, my eyes meeting Lady Angelique’s green eyes, her features covered by the bronze mask of Kushiel. One gradually learns to tell one cleric from another, when you have lived your entire life among them, even though to outsiders they probably all seemed alike. I tried to smile up at her, although I suspect the expression seemed a little forced. It is difficult to meet the gaze of one of Kushiel’s Servants, even if you are an acolyte.
“I was…just cleaning this mess up, Lady,” I said, swishing the broom from side to side for emphasis. “I tripped on my way in, so I thought—"
She held up a hand and I quieted, and I did not even protest as the broom was yanked from my grasp and she began sweeping the incense herself.
“This temple is full of madmen,” she muttered, “sending Adelaide to fetch the incense…” I almost laughed, but then she looked up at me, and said sharply. “Well, go on! You have other tasks to accomplish today.”
I paused for a brief moment before nodding. Usually, Lady Angelique would have assigned some punishment by now, or was she beginning to accept my blunders as something that was commonplace?
“Five lashes,” she called after me as I made my exit.
No, she definitely was not.