Public Temple

DAWNY
Nikela stood attentively just inside the door. It was only the second time she had stood guard duty since completing her Ceremony. She was relishing the opportunity to use her illusions and kept changing what Trickster, her fox companion, looked like to everyone else. She made him a mouse, a cat, a wolf, an old book, a mouse again. He irritably flicked his ears at the girl now and again, but for the most part, was asleep curled into a near perfect fluffy circle on the floor by her feet.

NIITARI
Jaehazerys walked up the steps, one at a time like some old person, though it was obvious in his face that he was no more than twenty-five. He stopped and looked up, craning his neck back to see the top of the temple. With one brief turn to glance over his shoulder, he addressed the doors again and entered in, pressing on the heavy wood. The doors parted with a small creak as they worried their hinges. He stepped inside and shut the door, making a start when he saw the girl standing there. She had to be a priestess, judging by her attire. "Oh, I do apologize. I did not know you were standing there, else I would have knocked."

DAWNY
Nikela gave the man a curious look. "This is a public temple, you may come and go as you please. I am here to make sure that all is well." She bowed her head like she had been taught. "Is there anything you might require my assistance with?"

NIITARI
"Perhaps," he said lowly. "Could I trouble you for a drink of water perhaps? I've been walking for a long, long time, and I fear I have farther to go." He did not like the prospect and it showed, but such was the life of a wanderer as he.

DAWNY
"Of course." Nikela bowed once more. "Wait here please." She left Trickster to watch the traveler, and disappeared through an almost hidden door behind the statue of Destiva. She returned moment later carrying and skin of water, which she offered to Jaehazerys. "Sir, if you need a place to rest, the Temple of Faer is much better equiped to the needs of travelers than are we."

NIITARI
"Yes, I am well aware of the Temple of Faer, and there are aware of me enough to not desire me in their temple. I will not dream of imposing on you either," he returned, accepting the skin with hands wrapped in dirty bandages. He pulled the stopper out and took a long drink from the mouthpiece. "Mmm, very good, thank you," he said, feeling his parched throat relieved. "Might I ask for a seat as well, Priestess?"

DAWNY
Nikela was rather unsure how to respond to his comment. She jumped gladly as his request for a seat. "Of course. These are for the use of the public" she motioned to the benches.


NIITARI
He walked to a bench and fell into it, nearly ready to melt all over the wood, such was his weariness. He pulled the hood of his cloak back, revealing softly tousled black hair and brilliant blue eyes, previously concealed by the hood's shadow. He took another sip from the skin, then set it aside. "I hope I am not keeping you from any duties," he remarked, rubbing his hands together slowly. The bandages wrinkled at the motion, but he seemed to not care. When they moved, one could see some dried blood underneath. The bandages were necessary rather than some adornment. He seemed adorned enough with the lapis lazul stones that hung from silver hooks in his ears and a matching stone from a chain around his neck. They seemed to shine with the blue of his eyes.

DAWNY
"These are my duties, sir." Nikela bowed her head again. "I am too attend to the temple and its visitors." She wished that she wasn't on guard duty. She was curious, but asking any questions would be considered impertinent and the older priests would yell at her. If she hadn't been on guard duty, she could have disguised herself as anyone and asked all the questions she wanted.

NIITARI
The temple seemed rather empty despite this time of day, and he wondered vaguely what it was she all had to attend to. Wondered, but would never pursue it. It was rather obvious to himself through experiences that he was not suited to be a priest of any sort. Bard suited him fine. He dipped his hand into the folds of his massive cloak and pulled out a handful of coppers. "For you, or your coffers, whichever is preferable, if I could merely bother you further to perhaps spend the night here."

DAWNY
Nikela held her hand out to accept the coins and gave the traveler a strange look. "I cannot offer you a room, only the head priest can do that, but you are of course welcome to spend the night here." She motioned to the room they were in. "I can offer you some blankets and a pillow."

NIITARI
"Not necessary," he said, shaking his hand dismissivley. "These benches and my heavy cloak shall suit me fine enough. These days, even the forest floor is as soft as a hay mattress." He paused. "Perhaps I could also offer you entertainment for your kindness. It is the most I can do as my savings are few and needed for supplies and sustenance."

DAWNY
Nikela knew she should say no but sitting in silence for the last few ours of her shift would be dead boring as well as awkward, so she nodded. "If you want to."

NIITARI
He pulled his mandolin from his back strap, having been tucked under his cloak to protect it. He seemed all the leaner now that the bulge under his cloak was no more. He pressed against the strings and began to play some slow, solemn chords, and he sang in a gentle, strong voice a very old sounding song:

"Our fire burned long for the world
Under moon bloodstained by sand
And vengeance most desired
Spoken of thus as to a friend
Drew near to yon from farther away
Where gallivanting off, the rider this day
Returned with steel in his eyes and broken fangs
Slain by the wolf, returned by the moon
Soul once lost, trampled in the gloom
A nightmare shied, a banshee cried
And all was lost in the ruins of gold
Forthcoming a warrior of no noble heart
Yet to be spurned by hatred love lost
Yet ruthless and cunning his children he sent
To hell’s great maw to be rent again
Glory they cried of the warrior, then
They assailed his walls and slaughtered his friends
And all faded from the minds of those
Who dared to tread where knights last rode."

His song ended after some time, and with it his voice and melancholy music. He looked at her with slightly narrowed eyes, and a gentle smile played across his lips. "I hope that wasn't too sad for you."

DAWNY
It was a moment before Nikela realized that he had stopped singing and asked her a question. "Oh, no." She shook her head. "Did you write that song yourself?"

NIITARI
"No," he replied, "I learned it in Valaire. I am pleased you liked it. Few do. They prefer other songs with brighter endings and tunes." He rested the mandolin in his lap, leaning his right arm over its side. "Any songs you prefer?"

DAWNY
Nikela nodded. "It's beautiful." she thought in silence for a few moments before answering the bard. "Do you know The Last Ride of Lady Alleta?" she asked.

NIITARI
"Hmm," he thought for a moment. "I have heard several versions of the song, mostly dependant upon what the region thought of such a lady. I myself know two of the versions by heart." He turned the little keys on the end of the mandolin to adjust the sound, then started to play a curiously haunting melody while he sang in a low voice:

"Ride now Aletta
To storm shaken hall
Here now your forces will follow
Ride now Aletta
Hear the battle call
Of triumph, glory, and sorrow
For now Aletta
Your glory has won
Uncountable feats of prowess
See there Aletta
Bodies of your foes
Buried in tombs of darkness
Fight now Aletta
The silver of swords
Dances in your eyes like the stars
Rend them Aletta
Smite terrible foes
Watch them fall as the dying stars
Ride now Aletta
From storm shaken hall
Victorious forces follow
Last ride Aletta
Sing the battle call
Of triumph, glory, and sorrow."

He finished the last few chords and looked up at Nikela. "Not nearly as dark as the first, but rather melancholy in my mind at least. Perhaps you would like something a bit more... uplifting. Unless these moods conveyed suit you."

DAWNY
Nikela smiled. "Something happier might be nice. Otherwise, I may fall asleep with these soft songs."

NIITARI
"Hmm, let me think a moment..." he said, looking up as he attempted to recall a happier song, or at least a happier one he thought she may appreciate. His eyes brightened as he quickly tuned his mandolin once more. He played the first bar, and it was much lighter and gayer than the one before.

"Summer’s gone, the fae’ve awayed
To the sea and the South where the sun lives long
Under sway of willow trees and dancing cats
They toast and boast with song
They raise their goblets to the Lord of Wine
And drink and feast till dawn
And the Queen of Flowers with bells in her hair
Will dance the whole night on
A maiden fair doth catch the eye
Of a noble youth from the fae
They play in the shade till the sun rises
And off they must away
He cut her flowers and she let free her hair
She twirled her dress and laughed to the sky
He smiled as all the world was bright
For the maiden fair had caught his eye
And the winters passed and the fae returned
To the north where the summer had come
The maiden would await the youth’s return
Where they’d dance once more in the sun."

He played a few more bars of the tune before he finished his song. His own spirits seemed lifted for it, and he looked at her expectantly.

DAWNY
Nikela smiled. "I'm not sure I've heard that song before. It was pretty. Thank you."

NIITARI
He smiled then, pleased to have pleased. "I have many songs, for I am indeed a bard, though mayhaps you guessed as much sooner. A collector of songs and tales is what I am. But I offer these services readily to you for your hospitality."

DAWNY
Nikela bowed her head. "I am glad that I and the temple of Destiva was able to provide for you, though I apologize, we do not have much." Like the priest of Reave, the priests of Destiva provided, not relying on the sacrifices and gifts that the other temples received in greater abundance, but as a result, the priests of Destiva rarely shared their materials, I stead directing those in need to the temples of Celina and Lesto.

NIITARI
"I know you find it rather strange that I come here for assisstance and not elsewhere," he guessed at her thoughts. He did not explain or care to explain either.

DAWNY
Nikela nodded. "Yes." After this strange man was gone, she would ask the older priests about him, perhaps they would know why he acted so strange.

NIITARI
He knew she would, but he did not warn against it lest he only encourage her by doing so. Reverse psychology was a terrible thing. Hopefully the priests would not know that much about him. Doubtful anyone would really. He had changed his name and lived presumed dead. It was always better that way, except the priests of that other temple. One had nearly guessed the secret and kicked him out for it.

DAWNY
Nikela stepped back against the wall, her hands tucked behind her. "Is there anything else you require, sir?"

NIITARI
"Not that comes to mind, no," he replied. At least nothing you would or really can fulfill. Yes, he was a man of a great many needs, many of them rather ridiculous, such as the need to have all memory and history of his past deeds as a child erased. It would make life much easier for him. But it would never happen, would it? In the meantime, he was rather in the mood to merely settle down and sleep the rest of the evening away before setting off again.

DAWNY
"I will be here, sir, if you require anything." Nikela leaned back, casting an illusion over herself. She nudged Trickster with her toe and the fox stretched and sat up for the first time and sat at attention at her feet.

NIITARI
He bowed his head in her direction, then settled down on the pew and fell rather quickly into a deep sleep.

DAWY
Nikela glanced about the temple one last time and then sank to the floor and sat with her back against the wall. It was informal, but she doubted anyone else would visit until morning and if they did, Trickster would let her know.

NIITARI
In the early morning, Jaehazerys woke and stretched, rubbing the back of his neck and blinking in the dawn light that filtered in through the windows. Quietly, he drank some water and set a few coins on the bench where he had slept for one of the priests or priestesses to pick up later. Then he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head and set out again from the temple.

DAWNY
Trickster woke Nikela when their visitor stirred and left. She jogged to the door to watch him, but caught only a glance of him before the guest disappeared. Nikela waited at the door for a moment and then returned to the temple to clean up after her guest.