All Evita could think was how Andreah had the look of a jesters son.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9He6iVYLu
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPt6NblRDd
"Oh Evita, It would be good of you to at least attempt to show interest in something other than your own needs," Andreah said.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNLO96Ptnu
Her voice masked by the Qabaran Prince as he made his declarations of war and conquest before an auditorium of soldiers, clergymen, and priestesses. He was handsome with a short beard and wavy black hair, his voice was deep and booming, with an authority that made Evita's skin tingle.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ttuNOtFzV
"What have I done now?"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k77GAjnJ3
Evita had retained her respectful silence for the entirety of the summit as the prince bellowed with passion and vitality, speaking of sieges, soldiers and ships, of tactics and supply lines. Evita had done her best to follow his words, but many things were beyond her understanding.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIVQBabLlZ
"Even now with you dyer boy's life in danger, Evita, you gaze to other men with want."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GRvRHlZWb
Ignore her, she wants a reaction.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4i8t3osVP
She sat at the highest row of the staggered bleachers in the tan-white room, to the right of the Blessed Mother, A seat above and to the right of the snake, Andreah. Evita looked over to the Mother, she sat unmoving still as a statue in her long white dress with blue accents and embroidery sewed together with a cloak and vale.She had remained beautiful despite age; smooth pale skin that was almost without a wrinkle. Her tawny-black hair was braided and pinned behind her head in a spiral; a large blue flower in the center of the braid. Admiration and disdain always seemed to come together with Evita laid eyes upon her.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTciuHyqmi
I am meant to become her. I have to become her it's my duty. I can't become her not with Andreah slithering about. I don't even want to become her. I just want to leave this place. The thought no longer brought sadness like it did when she was younger. Now all she felt towards it was anger, anger towards Andreah for trapping her, Anger towards the Mother for forcing her into this position but most of all she felt a longing for freedom. She shoved her emotion to the back of her mind and returned to her duty.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVn18tZxQ8
The foreign prince stood at the lowest part of the rectangular room, still making his proclamations in the center where all could hear his voice. Fifty Aran guard stood stoic in black armor and formation on the opposite end of the room, contrasting the prince's soldiers, attired in brown leather and bronze scaled armor over purple-red tunics and lacking any formation.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8J9rhDscq
The prince paused and looked up to the Blessed Mother. "These islands will serve as a naval outpost during the invasion. My brothers are working on the elimination of the ship maker of Poniatov, the lavender queen, and the fat sultan. I will take the city of Polis myself. We have a strategy that cannot be beaten."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSB9xixvOm
"And what if it is?" The Blessed Mother asked as she rose from her seat with a face of disappointment.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4Z9BmUf0H
The prince stammered in confusion. "W-what if what is?"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNScvjOlG5M
"This strategy, what if it's beaten? It seems as though it relies entirely on the cooperation of what are to you, strangers. Dahndaq has never been conquered and many have tried before you but you believe you can be the first? What if the 'fat sultan' rises up? What if the bull of Dahndaq outmaneuvers you?"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLrSC0WsFq
"The city can be taken from within and that is what I plan to do. Should the bull of Dahndaq become an issue we may call upon you, Blessed Mother, to enlist your Aran guard in our conquest, with the combined force of my soldiers, elephants, ships and your guard we will bring-"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINFxaxB5GC
She raised her hand to silence him. "The guard's duty is to The Mother and isles first and her successor second. Should our enemies decide to march on this land or should our support for your cause forebode violence, then and only then would I consider deploying my guard."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1hDPO8M9E
The prince's tone shifted from confidence to agitation, "Mother...I meant no disrespect but surely you have enough to spare and still hold this fort."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM5oFDGJpm
The Mother's voice rang out in response, louder than the prince had been speaking. "Of course I do, it would take but eighty of my guard could hold this temple, four hundred to hold the entire island and I have over eight times that amount. Should a counter-invasion take place on the shores of the Aran Isles, my goal would not be simply to hold this temple or the fort encasing it but beat our attackers back. You may not fear the bull of Dandaq, the fat sultan, the Titans of Jhyr, or the influence of their lavender queen, but here, prince, we do."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1A9iQ2l1d
"Worry not, Mother, the bull can be tamed, the sultan has many sons each with their own ambitions and a Titan is little more than a slave, or a sell-sword we even have a few Titans of our own."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSBiw1PG8x
"Such confidence," the Mother scoffed, "Though it is sinful and unbecoming I envy that in you young prince, may it take you far."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxp2Uo3oUy
"All Thacia shall bear witness to exactly how far it will take me."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbf7TC1pXq
"It's settled then, best wishes on your journey," The Mother said and curtsied.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqkrhBNDAR
"Likewise...we set sail for Arans eye at first light." The prince said as he exited the room, his soldiers following close behind.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDVxZbEWoc
The room slowly emptied of clergymen, priestesses, and foreign soldiers.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd16ExoO69R
Evita watched impatiently as Andreah spoke in a hushed tone to the Mother.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt63eQXvdr3
What are you telling her bitch? Just let me be.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9lXoppVnb
"Evita," the Mother called, waving her over.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY52BAf5Ey
An angry flame began to consume her mind as she walked to meet them.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YCzRqRRCY
"Yes, Mother?"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCum6FIAkm
"Andreah tells me of your difficulty; your lack of interest in your duty, show vanity and worst of all you speak of witchcraft and strange gods. So I wish to hear your side, speak true child."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMCTTfU3w6
Evita shot a quick glance at Andreah. "In truth, Mother, you've tasked me with a burden I'm unworthy and unwilling to fulfill. I have no desire to take your place as Blessed Mother. But I wish it to be known I never spoke of witchcraft or anything of the sort."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWI9w1h17x
"See to it that I get no further reports of this talk of dark arts. Evita the reason I chose you, is because you don't want it. All your sisters are so desperate for my attentions. They envy your power and lust for mine. You lust for something else, freedom I suppose, but you cannot have it just as I couldn't nor the Mother before me. You have a duty, Evita, to your sisters, to your country and to you god Aran, praise upon him. You must find peace and happiness here where you belong and where you shall stay."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHlcBx4Zgh
"Mother I have prayed and asked Aran I have asked Overah and the other gods and never once have I felt their hands guiding me to your seat."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTobJ58NyK
"The gods have work for you here for many a year to come. Disobedience to the church and to your god is a guaranteed eternity in hellfire. Do not disobey."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowMi0S5v0k
"I do not wish to Mother but I speak truth, the gods have given me no sign, no purpose here I-"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzvlrIubr7
"I have just told you the gods purpose for you do not question me or the gods again. You are the successor and you will make peace with this. Tonight the cane shall teach you the humility you lost."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluHWp74gRb
Evita hung her head to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. "Yes, Mother."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6s3bNzCD8
Evita looked to the roof of her room and clenched her teeth. The cain burned white-hot as it struck her buttocks but as she focused on it each strike seemed to hurt less.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGPJC3rPVA
After Andreah had finished with her eight overzealous lashes she smirked. "Evita you must try harder, that boy isn't going to save himself. Do you even understand what it means to be flayed?"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TnO1sM5TB
"Get. Out."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplC5IwhSxZ
"Excuse me? You've forgotten yourself. I know you're a whore, I know you fucked that boy, I have proof and now if you don't beg forgiveness-"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6567mXLoy
"LEAVE! OR SO HELP ME I WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN!"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2ZM3zPdnc
Andreah took a step back in fear, "Ha you forget yourself, we shall see how this plays out for you tomorrow!"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTszuiOAhA
Evita grabbed the fire poker from the brazier and began to walk towards Andreah. Andreah, eyes wide, ran from the room and slammed the door shut. "Just wait Evita, you'll wish you hadn't done that."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEuFdOD51h
Alone in the dark, all Evita could think about was the Mother, Andreah and her growing hate.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMqr5tgSxA
I'd see this temple burnt to the ground before I let her become the Mother. She will be the Blessed Mother of char and cinder before I serve her.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIazeVGayY
The moon rose high in the sky and the night sung loudly. Evita sat out atop her balcony watching gentle waves rock the warships a calm breeze flowing across her white nightgown.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuw69yMEOf
The night peace was interrupted by four gentle knocks on her door. Evita rose cautiously.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3xrWh0S6M
"Who's there?"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrcHGZjfXa
Her question was answered by the sound of four more knocks at her door. Evita opened her door a crack and peered out into the dark hall. Her eyes met a familiar white mask.
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRRFrqwGYw
"Hello priestess, shall we begin?"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ06pYqcYg5
"Begin what? How did you get past the guard!?"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTHF3vy5ko
"Keep your voice low my lady, we wouldn't want to wake the temple."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSrZoGq7aD
"What do you want?"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiJ6P4F789
"I want to place you as Blessed Mother and remove the current...problem you have with your fellow priestess."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLeNa1U6wX
"I don't want to be-"
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1TF5WeTwQ
"I know, after you fulfill our end of the bargain you can simply resign and your successor will become the Mother."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xfjd9SQiR
"And how would we go about doing this? What you've proposed."
272Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOSjCFfycC
"You leave that to me, my lady."
ns 15.158.61.19da2
