Devotions and thoughts [Timothee]

[Thereza de Soigneux]

As my time in the City grew shorter and the time to depart to Camlach approached I decided to take a trip to the Temple of Shemhazai within the City itself. I was familiar with the larger temple within Siovale but on arriving at the smaller, newer one here I could sense the same sort of quiet, calm contemplation and that was a comfort. There wasn't much chance that there would be Temples of this sort anywhere that I would be traveling, much as had been the case in Akkad, and while I wasn't deeply concerned about it stopping by before I left seemed like the right thing to do.

I'd worn my simple grey dress with its hidden slit on the side tied shut, my sword at my side as usual and my pendant of Shemhazai around my neck. The tattoo I'd gotten had mostly healed and the process of devotions was one I was quite familiar with. After a half hour or so I was done, and I stepped out onto the street feeling calm and composed. Any questions I'd had about my decisions had been answered by introspection and I smiled to myself as I walked toward the main street once more.

[Timothee de Morhban]

I visited the Temple of Kusheth , one of many times I had done so, seekign guidance. There was the war, which I would surely play part in, whether big or small of course depended on where I was needed, and how I could best be used. Something was unsettled within me about it, though, a discordance, and I knew that that would not help in the heat of battle, to have my mind elsewhere. Then there was that impudent child I had met, still tarrying on my mind, something I would need ot address before I left to join the war efforts. I had gone, asking questions, but of course, such information was not helpful. Afterall, how many dark haired, blue-eyed women would enter the Temple, when Kusheth itself was full of them. But at least I felt easier about the war, which left this one last thing on my mind, though I tried to push it away and let some sort of peace enter me. I was a little... obsessive, to say the least, over tasks. If one proved difficult, then I became more and more involved in it until it was finished and I could be satisfied.

I had burned my incense though, not seeking the lashing for the confessions of sins, and left the temple with quick steps, but a still heavy mind.

[Thereza de Soigneux]

As I walked by the Temple of Kusheth I glanced toward it, cocking my head slightly and stopping for a moment to take it in. I'd never been to Kusheth but I'd passed this place from time to time and it still puzzled me slightly. I was familiar with Shemhazai, whose realm was knowledge, learning and thought, but Kushiel was pain, punishment and absolution. My rational mind said that just as I saw some of Shemhazai in everything, there must be a bit of every other Companion in some state of it as well, but Kushiel was harder for me to see except in reference to itself. Royal was a quarter Shahrizai and that gave him some of that blood, and I saw it through his intensity and the even-handed way he had- perhaps that was the point. In order to be just you had to be able to punish where it was due.

Features as composed as ever and feeling a bit more at ease with the answer I'd found I started walking again, but I'd been lost in my thoughts far longer than I would have expected and nearly ended up taking that first step right into another person. My reflexes were somewhat instinctive though and I shifted to the side to avoid the collision, my gown moving around my legs as I did so and my eyes naturally going to the person I'd nearly run into. "My apologies, my lord," I replied in a calm tone, brown eyes taking in his features. There was something familiar about them, though not so much that I could easily place it.