Maker of Fire

The events here happened immediately after part 2, installment 70, the evening after Emily, Usruldes, and Kayseo visited the Vault of Galt at the Fated Shrine.

Kayseo, at Six Brewers' Row, Year Imstay 19, the 9th rot. of Planting Season

Troyeepay heard the door knocker, leapt off his chair and went running for the door. Everyone in the drawing room smiled. Lately the boy had taken on the job of answering the door before anyone else could stop him. He said he was practicing his etiquette and it was a serious job. I thought it was cute.

We all sat up and paid attention when Troyeepay recited the words to a formal obeisance and a melodious woman's voice drifted down the hall. "And also with you, son of the house. Please rise."

Troyeepay was the perfect gentleman. "May I escort you to where my parents are? They will certainly want to greet you."

"I thank you," said the voice. "And how should I address you, young man?"

"I am Troyeepay Kas'syo haup Gunndit, Holy Ones. If you would follow me, please?"

Irhessa was already standing. When we saw that the three women included the Holy Fassex in the lead in her formal black and purple robes, we all stood.

"May the blessings of the eleven gods be upon you, Holy Ones," Oyyuth made a kneeling obeisance as the head of the house. The rest of us followed suit except for Emily who was not completely recovered from the benediction this morning. She was sitting in a corner chair playing soft plucked music on her divine, oblivious to everything around her.

"And upon you and all your house, Presiding Craftmaster Oyyuth Kas'syo," High Priestess Fassex replied with a smile. "Please rise."

"May I offer you a chair," Oyyuth got to her feet, "and something to drink?" Two pitchers from the brewery next door were already out on the sideboard. "We do have more than just beer or ale."

"Some of that dark ale would be wonderful, craftmaster," the Holy Fassex appraised the pitchers and all the beer mugs already out with an anticipatory look. "We don't often get ale up in Yant."

"And for you, Holy One?" Oyyuth asked High Priestess Kamagishi.

"The same please, craftmaster."

"And for you...oh my," Oyyuth broke out into a pleasantly surprised expression. "Twevyar, your aunt requires a hug right now!"

"Yes, Aunt Oyyuth," the two embraced. Twevyar was already more than a head taller than her aunt.

"I'm next," Irhessa captured his niece in a hug before anyone else could move.

As the room devolved into individual conversations, Fassex approached, which unnerved me, to be honest.

"Might I join you, Priestess Kayseo?" Fassex had a nice smile and a friendly manner, which was at odds with her fierce reputation. "Sister Lisaykos has nothing but good things to say about you," she said as she sat next to me on the couch. "Congratulations on becoming the Heir of Pinisla. General Bobbo is a good man. You can learn a lot from him."

"My father of the land has been very helpful," I replied, working to hide my nerves. "He is a kind man though he has me studying the tax records. I'm not sure but I believe reading tax records may be a form of torture."

Fassex laughed, "I'm happy to hear he is already training you in the management of land. My own father sent all of his children out with the tax collectors as part of our training."

"Father says that I'll be doing that next year."

"He's on top of this for someone who wasn't raised as a lord land holder. Has he mentioned marriage for you yet? I would caution you if he asks you to marry him."

"No, he hasn't done that," I reply truthfully. "In fact, when we spoke of marriage, he gave me several reasons why that practice was not a good idea." I saw that Fassex was favorably impressed by that. "Personally, I think he's sweet on Captain Tyoep of the Aybhas Garrison. He keeps finding excuses to visit with her."

"I had heard a rumor about that," Fassex pondered. "To be truthful, I always thought that he was one of those men who preferred other men, though I've never seen any evidence of that."

"People always say that about those who don't get married at the usual time; but sometimes people just don't find anyone to be with," I pointed out. "Not everyone has a storybook ending with it comes to love and finding a partner."

"Good point."

"He told me he was once in love and she died in an accident. He keeps a portrait of her in his study at his house just down the street. I think he loves her still."

"I did not know that about him."

"I think few people do, Holy One. He was just a warrior attendant of Erhonsay at the time and not important enough for people to notice. As far as marriage for me, he's already received several offers. He wants me to take my time and investigate each suitor thoroughly, though I believe he favors one of sons of Lord Fusso haup Ark'kos."

"That's a good family," Fassex considered. "You could do a lot worse."

"I'm in no rush and I have yet to serve my two year duty at a chapel shrine. That takes precedence over marriage for the time being."

"Well, let me talk about why I came this evening before we stray too far in conversation," the High Priestess was suddenly somber. "I wanted to thank you on behalf of the Shrine of Landa for your part in finding and respecting the remains of High Priestess of Yasknapa. This means something to us that we can bring her home. Her resting place among her sisters has always been left open for her.

"The Holy Kamagishi told me about the soul vision after Emily and Irhessa burned her letter. Please, can you tell me how she appeared? Was she truly at peace?"

"Her hair was long, down past her knees. Her eyes were purple. Her face was not young but not yet elderly. Her expression was neutral. She said: 'The Heavens thank thee for this travail and thou hast my heart's gratitude, Emily, maker of metal and fire.' Then she gave the benediction and faded away, to be replaced by a small gathering of purple sparks that rose through the ceiling and disappeared. It was a remarkable moment of a remarkable morning."

"What did the benediction look like?"

"Well, she kissed her fingers and blew on her fingers towards the Blessed Emily. At first, there was nothing and then a small glowing mist traveled toward the Great One. It scattered and dissipated after it hit her right in the face."

"Was that when her eyes changed?"

"No, that happened while she was talking to Galt."

"Fascinating," the Holy Fassex was thoughtful. "There hasn't been a benediction of the blessed dead or an appearance of Galt for several centuries, so our records tell us. That he chose to appear in his aspect of a cat is interesting."

"I think it was much less frightening than his aspect of the small quiet voice in the dark that appears after a tornado and earthquake," I pointed out. "Being in the presence of a god left me quite afraid. So much power radiated out of him that it was difficult to breathe. I do not want to think about what might have happened if we encountered him in his other aspect."

"Excellent thought," she sat thinking for a moment. "You're the Blessed Emily's healer. Is it safe to approach her right now?"

"I see no harm in it but she is still strange," I remarked. "It's like she is home inside but nothing going on around her has any relevance or importance. Playing the divine is actually a change. That started after dinner, not that she ate any of hers. Nor did she eat at the mid repast. I hope she is herself tomorrow since she's too thin to skip any more meals. Feel free to speak with her, Holy One."

Fassex got up and knelt before Emily. "Hello, Great One. I suspect you will remember this tomorrow. I want to thank you for what you did today for High Priestess of Yasknapa. It means a lot to our shrine that we can bring her home to rest." Fassex put her palms together against her forehead in a formal bow of thanks to Emily, which was both startling and gratifying to see.