I thought about dancing out of the room. I rose, stepping into the dress, clasping the chain around my neck. With the chain came the Goddess’s wisdom: if they pursued me here, they will only continue to pursue me. If I leave, I give truth to the boy’s lies.
The man held out metal clasps, “Your hands.”
“I will go, chains are unnecessary.”
The man smiled, unkindly, “I insist.”
These were not chains wrought to hold a Priestess of Mauta, I consoled myself and held out my hands.
The shackles were heavy, but I carried heavier burdens.
People stared as we walked out. All those eyes. I was tired of stares. At one time they bowed in my presence, not watched like I was some exotic animal.
The soldiers arrived on horses. For a moment I wondered if I would be made to walk, dragged behind while the men rode. But the man in charge held out a hand after he mounted. I was scooped into the saddle in front of him.
“What is your name?” The man’s voice took a gentle turn as he clicked his tongue and the horse started to trot.
I looked at him, after a moment he met my gaze. He was handsome, fit for his age, though his brown hair started to go gray around the edges.
The scrutiny must have embarrassed him as color stained his cheeks.
“I know the young lord is not gentle, but you were better off cooperating.”
“No, I wasn’t,” I answered.
“Where are you from?”
The question made me break for a moment and picture home. My stomach knotted and my heart squeezed. “Nowhere I can return to.”
Sympathy clouded his eyes. “Then you aren’t exactly going anywhere, better get used to our rules.”
“I cannot break my vows, I hope your Lady understands.”
“Vows?”
“I will explain to the Lady.”
“I hope so,” he shook his head, “Because I certainly do not understand.”
We rode through the city towards a thin tower at the center. I had to crane my neck to see the needle top, a light shone from the top. Instead of a gate, a wide courtyard separated the tower from the rest of the city. Guards patrolled the perimeter as well as had posts throughout.
The building started with a long set of stairs before one could reach the doors.
“Welcome to The Lighthouse,” the man stopped at the base of the staircase and stablehands ran to take his reins. He grabbed my waist to pull me down in a quick swing.
The stairs ended in an archway a giant wouldn’t have to bend down to enter. They walked into a white hall. People littered here. I recognized the boy from the harbor. He peeled away from the group he was talking to, sneering.
Again, I bore the stares. I truly was far from home.
We passed into a smaller room, also all white marble with columns both decorative and structural but more furnished. A chair sat on a pedestal against one wall, unoccupied. No, the Lady sat at a table in an ordinary chair. Across from her sat a man about my age of twenty-three. They smiled as they talked.
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“Ah, Robert, good man has caught her,” the man turned smiling as his eyes roved over me.
“Your Highness was too kind to send his own men for my little errand,” Lady Allison laughed.
He waved her off, “The least I could do for putting up with me these last two weeks.”
“Come let’s look at this fearsome woman that nearly killed my guards,” the Lady turned her full attention to me. I was surprised to see she was young, barely thirty. A blonde, blue-eyed beauty.
She looked me up and down, “Why, you’re young and so pretty, where are you from?”
“The Islands of Roki, Lady. I believe I am here because of your son. I would like to tell you my side.”
“Roki? You’re far from home, why are you here?” The Lady put her chin in her palm, all fascination.
But the question brought painful memories: “Heresy! You are Priestess no longer. I excommunicate you from your vows. Now be gone.” I winced.
“I suppose you would not be here without secrets,” the Lady nodded to herself.
“You attacked the young lord, you wish to explain,” the man beside her said.
“The boy came up to me thinking my profession that of a prostitute. I informed him I was not--”
“My son, looking for prostitutes?”
“Then what is your profession?” The Lady and man spoke at once.
“Yes, Lady and I am a Priestess of Mauta, my lord.”
“What priestess wears no clothes?” the Lady cried out.
“The dress of your country is not like the dress of the Islands, this is nothing out of the ordinary where I’m from.” I berated myself for the half-truth, but explaining would be long and fruitless.
“Well, you’re in civilized country now, you should dress appropriately.” The Lady snapped her fingers and a maid rushed to her. “Bring the girl one of my simple dresses.” The maid bowed and ran out.
“I am grateful but no thank you.” I tried.
“You would go around making men beli--”
“How did you best two guards twice your size?” The man interrupted her.
I fidgeted, “I danced, my lord.”
“Danced?” They spoke in unison, exchanging glances.
Silence filled the room.
Goddess, please let this be over soon.
“How?” The man shook his head. “How does that work?”
“So you are a whore, you seduced them.”
“Seduction won’t stop a man’s breathing till fainting.” The man rose, taller than me by half a head, he was handsome with hair the color of beach sand and eyes the color of oceans. “Can you show me?”
I frowned, “You are not my partner, I have no need to dance with you.”
He looked confused, “Why not?”
I fidgeted. The dance was not an attraction to be watched for entertainment but they would not understand.
“Do you need to feel threatened to ‘dance with me’?”
I allowed myself to smile, “You are no threat to Mauta’s chosen.”
The man froze, then laughed, blue eyes sparkling. “I think you just insulted me.”
“Your Highness, we should just throw her in the dungeon.”
“Oh please, Allison, your boy attacked her and you know it. If you want to flog her, fine, but otherwise let her go.”
The maid arrived with the dress, a light blue gown that would cut off all circulation, as constraining as any chains.
“Ah, some proper clothes. Come, she’ll take you to a private room and help you dress.”
“No, thank you, Lady.” Maybe it was my horrified expression but the man waved the maid away.
“Later, Allison, first what do you want to do with her?”
She looked me up and down one more time, “Oh fine, just leave my city and no harm shall come to you.”
The weight of my sentence rang in her words. Banished. Again.
“By tomorrow morning. And take the dress.” The maid folded it. I dropped it in my knapsack, making it bulge.
I walked out hearing the Lady’s incredulous voice, “She didn’t even bow, the barbarian.”
Her son watched me walk through the hall and out the door before yelling, “Mother!”
I stopped by the inn only long enough to settle my debts. The innkeeper stared in surprise and curiosity. Again, I endured the stares.
The rest of the morning was spent gathering supplies, hoping I would find some other way to provide for myself. I had lived in the temple most of my life; I didn’t know a trade or have a skill other than worship of the Goddess.
The sun blazed high above my head by the time I stood at the north gate. It appeared the crowd set to enter the city was thicker than the one exiting. No one noticed me slipping out.
The dirt road stretched ahead of me as far as I could see. Green grass lined both sides of it and farm houses were visible in the distance. Already the air smelled fresher.
As the city walls fell away behind me, I removed my cloak. On the Islands, the ocean was never far so it came as a surprise that the wind blew without a will so far from the water. The air grew thick and humid. Sweat pooled at my back, dripping from my forehead.
Yet I kept walking. The road felt never ending; sometimes the horizon felt like a mirage. I paused only for a short meal and stretch. My legs grew numb and still I kept walking.
By nightfall, I hadn’t gotten past the farms. Not risking the stares again, I decided to forego asking for lodging and made camp in the grass.
Morning broke over the horizon and once again I woke to soldiers surrounding me.