[Open] Star of love

[Shona Tertignan]

The temple smelled of earth, and it reminded me of the home from which I'd been expelled so early on in my life. It was a bit stinging, to think of it, but it was heartwarming, too. When I stood in the temple, my feet bare to the earth like the priests of Elua, I felt connected. There was a vine growing along the walls. There were many windows, too. It was damp, but in the heat of D'Angeline summer, it was welcome freshness.

Quietly I knelt onto the bare ground of the chapel, my robes meshing with the place around. I shivered a little and closed my eyes, giving thanks for the year of learning I'd finished, and yet more thanks for my accession to priesthood, to the glorious, beautiful peace I found in this place. I prayed, too, for all the smallfolk of Camlach who would see their livelihoods trampled and delayed by war, that Gentle Anael give them heart, and that crops and cattle withstand the blow of the incoming bloodshed.

I had not marched – that was not my place, I didn't think. My place was in the city, praying for those who needed it. There would be times of need, like there were times of plenty. The temple would provide and share what it could, I knew, and hands would be needed for that task. Quietly still I prayed, for strength, patience and focus in the times to come.

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I had been sent on an errand to fetch some seeds from Anael's temple for use in the gardens at Kushiel's temple. I hadn't any idea why I couldn't just go to market to fetch them, mayhap the ones from Anael's temple had an aura of sanctity that helped them grow faster...or somesuch thing...I didn't think I would ever understand the ways of my elders.

I was surprised at how homely the temple was compared to Kushiel's temple. The smell of fresh earth was an unexpected delight, and I found myself wishing I could just kneel down and start digging in it like a carefree child.

I had a feeling that such a gesture wouldn't be appreciated by Anael's priests and priestesses, though, apart from being a sacrilege. If Master Auberon had been here, he would have chided me, saying that I had more self control than a spoiled child.

I was about to call out for assistance when I came upon a woman in brown robes. A priestess, I assumed. She seemed to be praying, and I knew better than to interrupt anyone while they were praying. Will I be like her someday? I wondered. Well, my robes would be black rather than brown, but she seemed so...tranquil...I wondered if such things came with long service to one's god or goddess or if it was someone that was a part of one's nature.

[Shona Tertignan]

In the quietness of the earth, I could feel the presence of another being. There was fidgeting, even, as if the other person in the temple was eager for something. I smiled, and was reminded of myself, not so long ago. I finished my business with the angel, blocking out any exterior stimulation for a time, until I felt assured that all that had to be said on both side had been said. Confident in my dues and my faith, I stood then, and turned around, still hooded as tradition demanded.

On bare feet, still, I walked to her – an acolyte at the temple of Kushiel, I could tell, but blond like summer, and young, and full of life. An odd, interesting combination, I mused. “You were waiting,” I said to her after I'd inclined my head patiently. “Do you need any assistance?” I was already amused by her countenance – she seemed as if she might bounce off the walls, and in another life, I'd have pegged her for a child of House Orchis.

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

She stood and addressed me, and although I had been fine when entering the temple, I felt suddenly nervous around her. "I'm just looking for some seeds," I explained. "But if you still have praying to do, I'm sure I could find someone else to help me--not that you wouldn't be able to help me of course, but it would be very rude of me to impose upon your time." I glanced at the effigy of Anael. Unlike the effigy of Lord Kushiel, which seemed stern and foreboding on the best of days, Anael's expression was one of tranquility. I wanted to comment on this, but what came from my mouth was far from what I suspect anyone would consider proper:

"He's very handsome, don't you think?" I asked, colouring instantly as soon as the words left my mouth. "I mean, of course he is, he's a god, they're supposed to be...um...aesthetically appealing, right?"

[Shona Tertignan]

I couldn't laugh too loud in the temple, but it wasn't a dour place either, and so I allowed myself to grin, to chuckle, even. I turned to look at Anael, and nodded. “He is beautiful,” I agreed. “As angels are, beautiful and terrifying, and soothing, too.”

I gave her a small smile. “Come. Let me help you find your seeds. What is your name, pray tell?” I'd almost called her sweetling – and scolded myself for it.

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

"Adelaide," I replied. "Adelaide no Nicodeme," some preferred to remain anonymous, but my papa always said that we should never be made to feel ashamed of our service to Lord Kushiel.

"I was given a list, if that helps," I said, fishing it from out of the folds of my robes and offering it to her. "I don't recognize all the plants, though. I imagine they're plants only the temple can provide, else someone could probably obtain them from market."

[Shona Tertignan]

I nodded, reaching for the list and surveying it closely. “Indeed,” I replied. I gave her a smile, I thought she was cute and lively, and that the temple of Kushiel, which I always saw as a somber place, must be illuminated by her presence.

“My name is Shona Tertignan, call me Shona, little sister, and come. We'll go to the cellars, and see what can be found for you, hmm?”

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I tried not to let my elation show on my face when she called me 'sister'. No one at my home temple called me that, although I commonly heard it among the fully ordained priests and priestesses.

"Lead the way, Shona," I said, cheeks heating a little at the unfamiliarity of addressing someone by just their given name, without anything attached to it.

[Shona Tertignan]

I extended my hand to her, still smiling quietly. I always felt very much at peace after prayer – the more I prayed and the calmer I was, the less I did, the more my excitement with life grew. It was a wonder, I mused, that I'd not exploded, back in my time at Bryony.

“Come, then,” I said, and I walked slowly with her. “I don't think I've ever bad the pleasure of visiting Lord Kushiel's temple,” I said conversationally as we walked. “Have you been there for long?”

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

"All my life," I answered. "Well, I spent ten years at the temple in Kusheth. The senior clergy thought a...change of scenery...was in order." I shrugged. "Sometimes I wonder if they were just tired of tolerating my clumsiness." I could not resist looking around at our surroundings as we walked. I hadn't even been here for a quarter of an hour and already this temple felt like home, even though I knew that was impossible.

"It's so peaceful here," I remarked. "I haven't been to many of the other temples, but they all seem peaceful, in their own way, even Kushiel's temple, as solemn as it is. I know it's not a feeling most would associate with Kushiel's temple, but it's different when you actually live there."

[Shona Tertignan]

“I believe you,” I said after a moment, and turned to smile at her. “All angels have their own brand of peace, and each one of us finds one to speak to, certainly.” I opened the door to the cellar and flicked a match, lit the torch. “Though to be candid, little sister, I would imagine you at home here as well. You strike me as one of Anael's, too.” As I was, if distantly – the stream always goes into the ocean, no matter how long its winding detours.

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I looked down at my feet. "I...I don't know if I am," I said finally. "The priests told me my mother abandoned me soon after my birth, I would have died if they hadn't found me. I think I must be, though, because only Anael's scions smell of apples when embarrassed."

I looked up at her, something having just occurred to me: "Do you think I might have had a very different life...if my parents..." I frowned. It seemed inappropriate to think of anyone but Master Auberon as my father.

"Why would someone abandon a helpless infant like that!" I cried, stamping my foot like a petulant child. "It's just...just..." I felt the tears come to my eyes and I automatically went to wipe them away with the sleeve of my robe.

[Shona Tertignan]

I blinked at the girl, a bit taken aback at first, but quickly I decided her state was my own doing, since I'd mentioned lineage. Gently I reached to offer her a comforting embrace, as I'd received before from others.

“Hush,” I said gently, “the angels know better of our fates than we do, and yours is yet to unfold. It will be well, sweetling, somehow.” I smiled a little, my lips twitched. “My mother sent me to be fostered in the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers when I was eight,” I added after some debate. “Though she might have made better choices, I believe to this day that she acted in love, and surely, so did yours.”

It was a bit of a lie – the sorts of white little lies full of hope I'd learned to tell in my service. It was only a twist from the bluffs I'd learned at Bryony, and one that was less wry, more gentle.

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I shook my head but didn't argue with her. It wasn't wise to argue with priestesses, no matter which god they served. I could not see how my mother and father had loved me by abandoning me.

I withdrew from her embrace, except for Lady Elise and Papa, no one ever openly expressed affection towards me--where such actions could be seen, at least, but although it was unfamiliar, it was not unwelcome.

"Are you...going to have any trouble finding the seeds I need?" I asked, seeking to turn the conversation towards something that was less distressing. "I'd imagine the temple keeps many such seeds in its cellars, yes?"

[Shona Tertignan]

I let the young acolyte go, not pressing unwanted contact or conversation, and serenely turned to the cellar, which the wall-mounted torch I'd lit previously filled with warmly dim lighting that flickered on the terracotta walls.

“Of course,” I replied. “There are systems in place to keep track, here,” I said, and going to a small shelf, I took a scroll, and showed it to her, opening it and holding it for her observation. “Can you see the indications?”

Stock was stored in alphabetical order, but the lanes of it were listed nonetheless on the scrolls, along with quantities, so that we might know before even seeking them out, if the desired crop was available or not.

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I examined the scroll, fascinated. I suspected we also kept such tallies at Kushiel's temple, but such things were not the concern of acolytes, evidently.

"Do you have scribes to keep track of everything or do the priests and priestesses do that sort of work?" I asked. "It seems like such a big job for one temple..."

[Shona Tertignan]

“Acolytes perform most scribing,” I replied, smiling a little, “though there would always be another to come about and re-count.” I was a bit proud – such things were my specialty, in my time as a Bryony adept, and the proficiency I'd acquired was well put to use at the temple.

“There is even one Brother who occasionally performs spot checks, and counts. I do feel that we are well organized. But here – have you found what you seek?”

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I examined the list again, comparing it with the list that Lady Elise had given me. "This one, this one, and...this one..." I said, pointing to the notations on the temple's list. "I think those are the right plants, but I don't know what the seeds look like." I looked up at her. "Oh, my lady said to tell you that one of the temple's messengers would be along with payment. She didn't want to risk my tripping and losing the coin. You can come back to the temple with me, if you need reassurance."

I knew I was probably expected back as soon as I had the seeds, but I wanted to learn more about this temple and its ways.

"What do you...offer to Anael?" I asked suddenly. "I thought I saw an illustration of a priest offering him grain, but what do you offer in the winter months, then?"

[Shona Tertignan]

“Patience,” I replied, smiling, “and penance, sometimes, for those who handled their crops poorly. It is of course of a different sort than the penance one such as you would know – it is learning from one's mistake, and planning for the later years.”

“Here, let me see,” I added, and I reached for the list to note the locations of the desired seeds. “Come,” I said, as I started to wade through the stacks and barrels.

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I couldn't contain my smile when she told me that one of the offerings was 'patience'. "My papa says that too, sometimes, although I suspect he means the patience needed to deal with his adoptive daughter than the patience needed to wait for a crop to ripen."

I followed her into the storage area and stood gazing at the in awed silence at the barrels contained within. "There must be thousands of seeds in here!" I exclaimed, moving to examine one of the containers. I wondered how long it would take them to move them all, then guessed that they probably didn't receive requests for portions that were as large as a whole barrel very often, if at all.

[Shona Tertignan]

I was beginning to wish I could see this young and lively acolyte with her 'papa', as she called him – a dour priest of Kushiel with this sprightly girl, that must have been quite the show indeed. I resolved to accompany her back to the temple of Kushiel, for my own entertainment.

“There must be,” I replied, and smiling, for the game of it, I looked at the tally, and gave her the exact number, per our records. It was an old habit, kept from Bryony. “Come,” I said eventually. “Let us get your errand, hm?”

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

My eyes widened as she gave me the exact number. "If I had not seen these stores with my own eyes, I would have probably laughed and called you a liar." I felt into the folds of my robes and withdrew the leather pouches that Lady Elise had given me for this errand. "I think I have enough pouches to take each kind separately..." I said. "Assuming they aren't expecting me to bring back one of these barrels..."

[Shona Tertignan]

“Let me see?” I reached for her order, looked at the quantity, “Oh, yes, you will be fine,” I replied. “Come, let us prepare these pouches.”

I led her then, through the alleys, and pointed out the first stop, explained the measurements, and how she could help herself.

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I gazed into the barrel that held the seeds. Elua, there are so many! I wondered how many plants could be grown with the contents of this one barrel.

I consulted Lady Elise's list again and carefully measured the required amount, pouring the seeds into the first pouch. "I wonder what she intends to use all these seeds for?" I mused. "It seems like an awful lot for just the temple gardens, I suppose if they don't all sprout, it saves a return trip to the temple..." I knotted the cord and slid the pouch into the folds of my robes. "Which other seeds do I need?"

[Shona Tertignan]

“These and those,” I replied, pointing to the correct barrels. “I don't know what my Sister of Kushiel has in mind,” I said thoughtfully, “though I would not be loath to ask, if you like. I should walk you back to the temple after this, regardless, and pay a visit.”

I smiled a bit, then winked. “I'm rather curious to meet this papa of yours, Adelaide.”

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I went to pour the correct amount of seeds into the pouches. "You...want to meet him?" I wasn't used to introducing anyone to Master Auberon. Everyone at the temple already knew who he was, and I still wasn't sure how he would react to Remy, if that stupid boy ever saw sense, of course...

...But Shona was female, and a priestess, and that was an entirely different matter. Besides, I thought. It's not as if I'm here without his permission...

Not like Orchis House, or Naamah's Temple, but that was because I was on an errand and during a day of rest, respectively.

I tied the pouches and slipped them in with the first one. "I suppose someone will have to pay you, anyways. I don't think Papa has been very busy today, so as long as we don't have too many...um...visitors...I can introduce you."

[Shona Tertignan]

She seemed a bit disconcerted by my request, and my lips quirked up a little more in amusement.

“Well, that's very gracious of you,” I replied mock decorously. “I shall make sure to be on my best behavior, rest assured.”

I liked her – she was sweet, and cute, and there was something delightfully pure and young about her.

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I blushed, bowing my head to examine my sandals. "He's not...he wouldn't hurt anyone, he's just very....protective...of me." I hadn't the slightest idea why I felt the need to explain that to her, but I couldn't take back what I had said.

"I suppose you'll just have to judge for yourself when you meet him!" I chirped, taking her hand. "The temple's not that far! We can enjoy the nice weather on the way."

**

The walk to Kushiel's temple was short and uneventful. I left Shona in the receiving area and went to fetch Master Auberon, who was, as I had suspected, hard at work poring over important temple documents...or documents, at least, I had no idea if they were important.

"Papa? I finished my errand at Anael's temple, the priestess is here to collect the payment for the seeds," I explained. "She said that she would like to meet you..."

Papa had raised his head in response to my greeting, and now he gazed upon me fondly. "Ah, Adelaide, what horrible tales have you been spinning about me in my absence?"

I blushed. "Nothing too horrible--I mean--I barely spoke of you at all!"

Master Auberon laughed, a rich, deep sound. "Fret not, daughter, let us see if the tales match up with the man, although you really should have gone to Elise with the matter of payment..."

"Shona said she wanted to see you," I replied, already moving ahead of him towards the reception area. I wondered what she would think of the pair of us--a dark-skinned man half-Sabaen who was often compared to an oak tree and a skinny pale-skinned wholly D'Angeline girl.

When I returned to her, I took a deep breath. "Shona, I'd like you to meet my Papa, Auberon de Nicodeme."

"Greetings, Sister," I had not expected that Papa would arrive soon after me, although I knew that he had long strides. "I trust my daughter has conducted herself decorously on her errand?"

[Shona Tertignan]

I did my best not to wink at Adelaide, though it was hard not to feel like smiling.

“She has been exemplary,” I replied, smiling with as much decorum as I could muster, then inclining my head and offering the kiss of greeting, as was warranted. I found myself admiring the tall priest with much appreciation. In another life, I'd have wanted to seduce him – he was... impressive.

“Though I must confess, if you will forgive my curiosity, I am rather curious about the intended use for so many seeds, brother.”

[Adelaide nó Nicodeme]

I wrinkled my nose as Papa bent to return the kiss of greeting. He wasn't one to return the gesture, usually, but perhaps he had decided to make an exception for Shona.

"I am glad to hear it," he replied, smiling earnestly. "As for the seeds, I was under the impression that Elise--one of our senior priestesses--intended that they be used in the garden, although the measurements that she set to paper did seem a little...excessive..."

He stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I expect that they will be used in lieu of crop failure, or perhaps for individual pots," he shrugged. "Who knows what will strike Elise's fancy before days end? In any case, you are owed payment..." he passed her a pouch, and I heard the chink of coin. "I hope that will suffice."

"Lady Elise isn't crazy," I added. "She's just...forceful..."