A ray of sunlight streamed in through the window and shined directly on Seth’s face. He groaned and turned away from the light, blinking his eyes open.
His head felt a bit heavy, and grogginess clouded his mind for a moment, then everything came back to him: his drinking contest with Agmundr, telling Gloria she was pretty, and… His stomach dropped, her wrist and his revelation. He had told Gloria everything – who he really was and why he was here in the Fjord Plains.
Irrational panic spiraled through Seth, and he sat up quickly, darting his eyes around the room for danger. But there was nothing; The room was just as they had left it and on the bed was a mound of frizzy red hair that slowly rose and fell with soft breaths.
Seth tried to calm himself. Everything was fine. He was fine.
Gloria’s breathing shifted. Seth watched Gloria as she sat up and stretched. She yawned, then froze. She glanced back at Seth, eyes wide.
The air was thick with tension. Seth swallowed and tried to smile. “Good morning,” Seth said clearing his throat.
Gloria tried to smile back. “Good morning,” she answered tightly.
Seth and Gloria broke eye contact and the room fell silent again. Seth scrambled for something to say.
“Are you ready to go to the temple today?” He finally managed to come up with.
Gloria latched on to the somewhat safe topic. “Yes,” she nodded. “I’m ready to get some answers, are you?”
Seth stood and began to pick up the blankets. “I’ll admit, I’m nervous.” He wrapped up the blankets and piled them on the bed.
Meanwhile, Gloria grabbed a hairbrush from her bag and began to tame her hair. “Everything will be alright,” she gave Seth a gentle smile. “Today’s going to be a good day. I can feel it.”
Seth and Gloria packed up their belongings and went downstairs to eat a quick breakfast. The dining area was nearly empty and quiet compared to the business from the night before. When they stood to leave, Seth heard a familiar voice from a distant table laugh and call out to them. “How was last night’s show boy?”
Seth’s chest prickled. Agmundr! Seth’s head whipped in the direction of the voice and shot him a dark glare. The hulking man merely laughed. “That good, eh?” Seth had half a mind to storm over and-
Gloria gripped Seth’s arm and muttered to him, “Ignore him.”
Seth continued to stare daggers at Agmundr and followed Gloria out the door. All the while, Agmundr laughed and continued to holler after them until they were out of sight. Seth gave another growl, then turned his attention to other matters.
The streets of Westfjord bustled with the morning’s business. It was nothing compared to Autumnport, Seth mused. But busier than Northhorn. Seth took a few steps away from Lovers’ Respite when he stopped and realized that he had no idea where he was going.
Seth sheepishly looked back at Gloria who was already talking to someone on the street, they pointed in a direction. “Thank you very much,” Gloria smiled before coming up next to Seth.
“Were you asking for directions?” He asked, blushing with embarrassment.
Gloria laughed, there was a little nervous edge to it. “Yes, I had a feeling when you froze.”
“Am I going the right way?”
Gloria nodded. “For the most part, we should turn down this street though,” she pointed. “I was told it’ll be faster.”
As Seth and Gloria walked through town, Seth felt a sense of unease in the townsfolk. Snippets of conversations floated past him.
“Is this winter some kind of judgment?” He heard one person ask.
“Whatever it is, it’s not natural that’s for sure.” Someone answered.
“The brothers are fasting and praying. As soon as they know, they’ll tell us.” Another voice said.
Seth put his head down and pressed on. He hoped that these brothers would be able to give him the answer that he sought.
Seth followed Gloria and soon, they stood in front of the temple. It was a simple design compared to the temple Seth used to pass by in Autumnport. But still had a measure of beauty to it. The temple was made of the same weathered stone and wood as the rest of the town. It had a few tall windows to let in the sunlight. In the front were four steps that led up to the double doors.
Gloria looked at him. “Are you ready?” she asked.
Seth took a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” he answered and began to ascend the steps.
Seth opened one of the double doors and held it open for Gloria, then the two stepped inside to a tall sanctuary. By the altar, Seth saw at least a dozen brothers praying, chanting, and burning incense.
One of the brothers noticed them enter and tapped the shoulder of a boy in a white habit. The boy rose and hurried through the sanctuary to meet Seth and Gloria.
The boy had ash blond hair and looked to be no more than fifteen. He smiled at them, his grey eyes twinkling. “Good morning!” He said. “Welcome to the House of Crim. I am Novice Elias; how might we serve you today?”
Seth looked around the room. “We need to speak to an abbot or something about a delicate matter. It’s urgent.”
Elias beamed. “Of course! Father Verdas is around here somewhere. I should warn you though,” he said. “With current events, he may urge you to postpone your wedding.”
Seth’s face flushed as he and Gloria stammered over each other. “We’re not here to get married!” They cried in unison.
Elias blinked in confusion. “You’re not? But that’s what all the couples say when they come here.”
“Listen, kid,” Seth said trying to keep his composure. “It’s very important that I speak with Father Verdas.”
Elias was taken a little aback but bowed slightly. “Yes sir, I will be back with Father Verdas.” Then he turned and walked down a hall.
Seth cleared his throat and glanced at Gloria, her face as pink as his own. Seth tried to laugh it off. “What is it with people thinking that we’re a couple?” he asked bashfully. “Pretty ridiculous huh?”
Gloria looked hurt. She looked down at the floor and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I suppose so,” she answered quietly. Guilt struck Seth. What happened? What did he say? But before he could ask, Elias returned.
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“Father Verdas will speak with you now,” Elias said. “He asked me to escort you to the scriptorium.” Elias pointed towards the hall.
Seth sighed; Gloria would have to wait. “Thank you,” Seth said, turning back to Elias. Then he and Gloria followed Elias down the hall.
Their footsteps echoed in the hall. Each step felt like a hammer in Seth’s chest, and he could feel the ice woman perking up in interest; her sly smile slowly spread across her face. Would Father Verdas know who she was? Seth wondered. Would his scars give him some answers? Could he reverse this?
Elias opened the door to a large room and let Seth and Gloria in. On the far wall were six large windows. By each window was a desk with parchment, ink, and quills. In the center of the room was a large desk covered with stacks of paper.
An older man with graying hair around the sides of his head sat at the desk pouring over a large leather-bound tome. Without looking up, the man spoke. “Bring over a few chairs for them, Elias.”
“Yes sir!” Elias answered and quickly dragged over a few chairs and placed them in front of the center desk. Seth and Gloria stepped forward and sat down while Elias hovered nearby.
Father Verdas looked up from the tome. He looked from Gloria to Seth, then up at Elias. He frowned and shook his head. “Elias,” he sighed, “please give our guests some privacy.”
Seth glanced over his shoulder back at Elias. The boy’s face fell in disappointment. “Yes Father Verdas,” then he bowed and left the room.
Father Verdas shook his head. “Forgive him,” he said. “Elias is a curious young boy, always daydreaming about being somewhere other than here.” Then Father Verdas folded his hands together. “Elias tells me this isn’t a request for marriage, so I am curious what other matter a young man and a young woman could have that requires an audience with an abbot.”
Seth’s mouth went dry, and he looked at Gloria. She nodded and mouthed. “Show him.”
Seth took a deep breath. “Well father,” he said and pulled off one of the bandages around his arm. The scar beneath shone a brilliant blue. “I was wondering if you could tell me the meaning behind these scars?”
Father Verdas’ eyes grew wide. His chair clattered to the floor as he leaped to his feet. “It’s you…” He pointed, his eyes bugging out in fury. “You’re the reason this land has been cursed!” He shouted. “The blood of every man, woman, and child who starves or freezes to death will be on your head!”
Seth was taken aback. “I don’t understand,” he cried. “W-what do you mean?”
“You have marked by her!” Father Verdas accused.
Seth stood, but Father Verdas took a step back. “Please, Father!” Seth cried. “I don’t understand! Marked by who?”
Father Verdas made a holy sign over himself. “You foolish boy! These scars are the mark of The Lady of The Mountain!”
Seth heard Gloria gasp and he looked at her; she stared back at him, her face a blend of fear and horror. Seth’s heart sank when he noticed Gloria shrink away from him. “I’ve heard stories about her…” Gloria whispered. “I thought she was a myth.”
“She’s not a myth.” Father Verdas said. “She is very much real.”
“I didn’t know,” Seth said, desperately looking into Gloria’s eyes. “You have to believe me,” he cried. “I didn’t know! I was afraid to die!”
Despite the distance, Seth could feel The Lady chuckling within him. She smiled and leaned her chin on her hands. She was enjoying this.
Seth shook his head, then looked back up at Father Verdas and took another step toward the desk. He placed his hand on it. “Who is she?” Seth pleaded. “Who is The Lady of The Mountain? Please! I must know!”
Father Verdas pointed to the door behind Seth. “You must leave. Now! Before you desecrate this holy place with your cursed filth!”
“But-” Seth pushed.
“Now!” Father Verdas bellowed. “Do not tempt me to spill your blood here!” Then Father Verdas muttered a prayer, and a holy light surrounded him. The bright white-blue light blinded Seth and he stumbled back a few steps from the desk.
Father Verdas looked to Gloria. “My daughter, you have not yet been tainted by her foul magic, I urge you to leave this man to his fate and flee the darkness that surrounds him.”
Seth’s eyes darted from Father Verdas to Gloria. She wouldn’t leave now, would she? Hopelessness began to consume him. It would be ironic, just when he wanted her to stay. He gripped the back of his chair and looked away.
He heard Gloria take a breath. “Father, there must be a way to save him and the land.” She said.
“You defend him?” Father Verdas cried incredulously.
“You haven’t seen what I’ve seen!” Gloria said, her voice rising. She rose from her seat and glared at Father Verdas. “We come here begging for help and instead you stand there and pass judgment on us!”
“I pass judgment on him.” Father Verdas answered. “You have the opportunity to flee this wicked man and be clean.”
“I will never leave him!” Gloria cried. Seth looked up in surprise. He saw Gloria’s fists clenched tightly and her eyes glowing with rage. “He needs your help!” She cried with fury. “Not your high and mighty piety! Crim would be ashamed of you!”
Father Verdas’ face turned beet red. “Leave!” His voice boomed throughout the scriptorium.
The door clicked open, and a brother poked his head in. “Father?” He said. “Are you alright? We heard shouting.” Seth quickly wrapped his arm with William’s bandage; he hoped that no one saw.
Father Verdas pointed to Seth and Gloria. “Escort these two from the temple. They are forbidden to return.”
A few brothers stepped into the room and put their hands on Seth and Gloria’s shoulders, but Gloria shook off their hands. She puffed out her cheeks. “We don’t need your help,” she spat. “We were just leaving.” Then Gloria grabbed Seth’s arm. “Come on!”
In a daze, Seth followed Gloria out of the scriptorium. The hall was crowded with brothers all craning their necks to see what was going on. In the crowd, Seth caught a glimpse of Elias; his eyes glittered with excitement and determination.
Seth and Gloria stumbled out of the temple and into the street. Gloria turned back and shook her fist. Then she muttered a few choice words. “They’re supposed to help people!” she raged. “Not turn their backs on them!”
Seth looked around the street nervously. He worried that someone had heard and was forming a riot to kill him. Currently, the town seemed content to move about its day, but he did not want to test her patience. “I think we need to leave,” Seth said anxiously.
Gloria looked back at him, her face softening. “Where?”
Seth shot her a fearful look. “I don’t know,” he answered. “Just away from here.” He looked over his shoulder. “Let’s go back the way we came. At least there we know the land.” Seth finished, already heading back towards the western cliff face. Gloria trailed behind him.
As Seth pushed through the bustling crowd, more snippets of fearful and desperate conversations drifted to his ears:
“Val’s son got sick from the cold; the physician is doing his best.”
“My neighbor already lost his spring crop; he won’t have enough seed to recover next year if he can’t plant anything this summer.”
“Father is thinking about trying to head south, we can’t handle a second winter.”
Oh, Crim…Seth thought, what have I done? The weight of his foolish choice began to settle on his shoulders. Father Verdas is right! Panic began to rise. It’s all my fault! Everyone is going to die and it’s all my fault!
The Lady chuckled. Run Seth, run.
Seth picked up his pace and hurried through the crowd. There were cries of indignation and surprise as Seth shoved his way through.
“Seth! Wait up!” Gloria cried from behind him.
Seth panicked; He couldn’t wait. He had to run! He had to escape! He ran faster through the winding street.
“Seth!” Gloria called again, this time a bit further away.
It was too much! Too much for him to handle! His chest tightened and his breaths came in gasps.
His mind swirled. He could drop everything now, right? He had done his duty and made it to Westfjord. That’s as far as he said he’d go, wasn’t it? He had made no promises after Westfjord. He kept his word, he could go now. He could leave everything behind for someone else. Someone smarter. Someone stronger. Someone braver.
The Lady laughed, then cooed distantly. Didn’t I tell you that you would soon understand? I did this all for you, my child. Aren’t you grateful for what I’ve done? What you’ve done?
Make it stop! Seth cried in his mind. He gritted his teeth before he tripped and stumbled over into a snowdrift on the street. He looked up and a few townsfolk looked down at him in surprise. Their faces burned themselves into his mind. How long would it take before they starved or froze to death? How many lives was he really worth?
“Seth!” Seth’s eyes darted for the voice; he saw Gloria push her way through the crowd. “There you are!” She cried, panting for breath. She held out a mittened hand. “What are you doing running through the snow? You’re going to break your neck.” Seth took her hand, stood, and mumbled an apology.
Gloria tried to catch his eyes, but Seth couldn’t meet her gaze. Why was she still with him at this point anyway? Father Verdas was right. She should leave, then he wouldn’t continue to drag her down in his problems
“We’ll find a way,” she said softly. “There has to be.”
Seth didn’t answer; What could he say? He had messed up so much already.
Then Gloria took his arm. Seth didn’t care where he went now. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go.” Then she guided him back towards the cliff face trail.