“Mother’s blessings upon you, Mother Priest,” Sir Vonda said, bowing her head lightly. She offered her hands in the same way she had offered the other acolyte, who quickly retreated out of the room.
“Sister Vonda,” the older woman replied, also wearing a set of robes which covered her from head to toe, save for her face. Her wrinkles swam across her face, though her skin remained taut even after all these decades. Her eyes were light grey, just like her lips, though Adam wasn’t sure if it was the natural colour of her lips, or if she was wearing something over them, since the grey was so perfectly applied.
Once the pair had greeted one another, the older priest’s eyes gently floated over towards the young man, whose head was covered with a scarf, bound in the way of some of the Aswadians.
“Many blessings upon you, Mother Priest,” Adam greeted, bowing his head lightly as Vonda had done before him. He kept his hands at his side awkwardly, unsure if he was meant to offer them, his eyes falling to Vonda for support for a moment.
“Many blessings upon you, Brother,” the young woman replied, deciding against using his name. Her eyes fell down to the amulet across Adam’s chest, which was forged from obsidian, with the Iyr’s symbol of the God of Death engraved within its face.
“Adam, this is Mother Priest, who watches over the main temple in Red Oak. Mother Priest, this is Adam, a member of Fate’s Golden. He is the Priest of Death I spoke with you of previously.”
“It is a pleasure to finally meet you,” the priest stated, holding out a hand, waiting for Adam to offer his. Adam held out a hand towards the older woman, who took them like a nobleman would before they were to kiss a maiden’s hand, but she merely held it, her eyes warm as she stared at the young man.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Mother Priest,” Adam replied, doing his best not to sound so awkwardly stiff. “I hope you have heard wonderful things about me.”
“Death, too, is a way of life,” the priest replied, rubbing her wrinkled thumb along the back of his knuckles gently.
“Right,” Adam replied. He hoped Vonda didn’t speak about how cringe he could be. His cheeks flushed slightly at realising what Vonda knew about him. ‘I should really stop pretending to be an idiot. I should probably stop being an actual idiot first, at least.’
“We were allowed to return to the Iyr in the previous year thanks to Adam’s relationship with the Iyr, though they were finally opened once more,” Vonda said. “We completed our task in the outbreak.”
“It is a shame so much death is brought onto the land during the time of dawnval, but Lady Gale’s wrath has yet to subside, even after all these centuries,” the priest replied, calling out a prayer to the Good Mother. She let out a gentle sigh as she let go of Adam’s hand.
Vonda only smiled politely towards the older woman, who brought her hand behind her back, while motioning for the pair to sit at the nearby table, the table and seats made of red oak, while she stepped aside to prepare the tea.
“I intend to give up my noble titles,” Vonda said as Mother Priest poured her some tea, before she did the same for Adam, who sat awkwardly to one side.
“A difficult decision,” Mother Priest replied, her eyes falling onto the young Vonda. She had gathered a few insights from speaking with the young woman over the past few years, understanding that the woman did not like her family. She had not pried deeper, allowing the woman to open up to her in time, if she chose to.
“Once I give up my noble titles, I intend to continue adventuring, and I believe I should take the title of one of the Forty Nine Rays.”
“It is a grand calling to become one of the Forty Nine Rays,” the older priest said, smiling warmly towards the young woman. “Adventuring provides much experience.”
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“I believe the Good Mother has been sending me insights towards Fourth Gate spells,” Vonda admitted.
“…” Mother Priest remained silent for a moment, bringing her tea up to her lips. “Are you certain?”
“When the Mother’s healings provide warmth for others, she provides me warmth too.”
Mother Priest was fairly certain Vonda wouldn’t lie to her, but it was hard to believe the young woman had been provided such insights by the Good Mother, considering she was still so young. The woman was twenty one years old, like the half elf beside her, and yet the pair knew Third Gate spells already, and not just that, but the young woman believed she was close to understanding Fourth Gate spells.
If she was not a member of the Order of Life’s Rose, perhaps there could have been some doubt, but the explosive rise of these youngsters was beginning to make waves in some circles. Had Vonda not informed her of the rise of Fate’s Golden, she personally wouldn’t have even given the group a second thought, but it appeared to be the case that this group was blessed by the Divine.
Mother Priest’s eyes fell towards Adam’s amulet for a moment, blinking as she did, keeping her eyes shut in thought. The young woman had also said something nearly unbelievable, that the young man had personally been chosen by the God of Death. There was the news the Champion of Order has been killed recently, near the land of the Iyrmen, though she was certain the young man had little to do with it. Still, wasn’t it a sign? The Lord of Order’s Champion had been killed, and here were two figures who seemingly were defying Order, their explosive growth so…
“The Good Mother has blessed you,” Mother Priest finally said, reaching out for the young priest’s hand, Vonda offering them to her. “If she favours you, then it is a blessing for the entire land.”
Adam sipped his tea silently, trying to not appear as though he was there, but he nodded all the same. He inhaled as if to speak, but quickly swallowed his breath, returning back to his tea. ‘Did I really just shut myself up before saying something stupid? I’m already learning!’
“I will pray for you, Sister Vonda,” Mother Priest said, placing a hand on the young woman’s head, mumbling words in another language, before blowing over Vonda’s head.
‘I will continue with Fate’s Golden for some time, and then…’ Vonda felt something warm wash over her, though her body could only pretend to be relaxed.
“What of you, Brother Adam?” Mother Priest asked. “What are your intentions for the year?”
“Me?” Adam asked, surprised she had suddenly called for him. “Well, uh…” Adam blinked. “I want to help out my friends with their tasks. I’d like to adventure a little, wait for the fort to be complete, and then bring everyone over to the business, and bring back lots of gifts for my children.”
“You have children?” Mother Priest asked. She had heard he was a father, but didn’t hear more about that fact.
“I have six adorable children,” Adam replied. “A set of triplets, twins, and a newborn baby who was only recently born, but I was forced away from since I need to be a proper father and work.”
“It must hurt to be away from your child when they were only just born.”
“It hurts my soul every day that I can’t see my adorable children, but I know the Iyr will take care of them well.”
“They are raised within the Iyr?”
“That’s right. I’m a Nephew of the Rot family, and even though that’s an awkward title, my brother and sister are Iyrmen, and my children are currently being raised by their grandmother, my Aunt, and their greatfather, my brother’s grandfather.”
Mother Priest did her best to keep up with the various different family terms Adam was using. “You are a Nephew of the Iyr, but also a brother to Iyrmen?”
“That’s right.”
“That is a curious position. I am certain your children will grow well within the Iyr.”
‘Oh? Quite some respect for the Iyrmen.’ Adam smiled towards Mother Priest. “I’m certain they’ll grow well, but…”
“…”
“How can I leave them alone without their father?” Adam asked. “I should stay with them all day every day so they can grow well. What am I to do?”
Mother Priest thought about what Adam had mentioned thus far. “What of their mother?”
“Well…”Adam cleared his throat. “The circumstances of the children’s births are such that they have no mother, and have never known such.”
“My condolences,” Mother Priest replied, wondering how none of his children have never known their mothers.
“Well, I mean, technically…” Adam thought back to his triplets. He had met them when they had been brought to the Iyr, and Entalia had been there too, though she had given up her rights. “Anyhow, that might be something I’ll work on this year. Of course, it is rather awkward, since my children are so… special.”
“All children are special.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Adam said, nodding his head. “I have so many adorable little… cousins, too.”
“Cousins?”
“My brother’s aunts and uncles, they have had children too.” Adam thought, wondering how awkward this was all becoming. “The children are so adorable, and I can’t help but wish to spoil them!”
Mother Priest stared at the young half elf, seeing the look on his face. Though it could have been that he was pretending to be a fool, how could someone pretend to be this foolish? ‘Is he that kind of father?’