It is, then, late at night when Xenofos returns to the Temple of Uleria. The doors are always open, like her arms, and various other crude comparisons which are often drawn. This does not mean they always stand open, because the rain can be terrible, but they are conceptually open.
In this case, all the doors are slightly ajar. Heler kisses the air gently.
Bisoncloak keeps Xenofos warm, the helmet rain off his eyes. In his left hand he holds his sword and swordbelt in a bundle, with his right hand he opens the doors and steps in.
He comes as he is used to, through the doors of laymembers, this time the one for communal meals.
There is a man waiting at the door who stands, and smiles. “Hello brother. Come tell us what you want.” He holds out a hand in greeting.
“Blessed night, brother. I did not feel sleepy so I returned here.” Xenofos takes the man’s arm in greeting. “I was thinking of meditating in Her presence.” Smiling he adds “and yet she is everywhere.”
“Which does not help us not to be lost on her presence,” he says with a smile. “Let me walk you there. I think you do not know all of our ways. I am Hendros.”
“I am Xenofos. Or Xefos when talking of matters of the plains.” The scribe answers. “Who knows all ways? But no, I don’t know all the ways of this house.”
“She knows, but in her great wisdom, she put in a lot of curtains. This one is marked Serenity, and behind it…” He pulls the curtain aside, and there is a passageway painted in pink and white, in a rustic fashion that somehow works well. “Most of them are well named, but the written language is Elasascript, which many who are literate do not know.”
Xenofos nods. “It certainly was not taught in the Library. At least not to me.”
“And this passage leads where, brother Hendros”
“It leads to Serenity. That is, our relaxation area. Please go first. Our laity friends do not come this way, for there are secrets that might hurt the uninitiated.”
Xenofos slips behind the curtains, carrying his helmet with his sword in his left hand.
Hendros follows behind.
There is a hint of flute music up ahead, and then Xenofos is in the large, well-appointed room into which he first emerged after waking. “To find Serenity is to find the centre of all things, and know that it is not a physical centre.”
“I should have brought my kithara” scribe muses, looking around. “And then, brother?”
“Stay a while, and talk. We are all her lovers, but if you have anyone you like here, they will be delighted to listen to your recent studies. If nobody else, then I shall.” Hendros gestures elegantly, taking in several seats and tables.
“I did converse with a priestess Arader when I came here – what I can’t remember how many days ago.” He looks at Hendros “…and there are some things I would ask her. But I am happy to talk with you brother Hendros.”
“Sit, relax. I’ll see to a few snacks and if the lady of love is at leisure, I can tell you.” Hendros busies himself with walking around the room, opening cupboards and making sure Xenofos can see what is on shelves. “All of what is here is free to you, but if we are getting close to the last of it, let someone senior know. I can do that if you don’t know who would be good.”
Xenofos sheds his cloak and piles the sword and helmet on top of it. He looks at the cloak with a thoughtful look as he folds it neatly. He pours a cup of water from a pitcher.
A couple of women drift in, holding hands. They flop down onto a pile of cushions, and one has a fit of the giggles, while the other tries to ignore it. Hendros puts a few small bites down by Xenofos, and a plate. “I’ll be one moment.”
Xenofos smiles to the women, nods and settles down.
It takes more than one moment, and Hendros does not return. Instead, Arader steps into the room, and makes for Xenofos. She kneels to take off his sandals. “How are you, brother?”
“Very much awake. Happy. Feeling like I am reaching far beyond my body. As if I did not return entirely. And yet more alive and more here than I have ever been.”
“You never truly left her, but now you have realised that. The Goddess is with you. Will you tell me of what you experienced?”
“I have been seeking her for a long time… albeit first with a different name…” Xenofos swirls water in his cup. “What I experienced… I was walking towards the top, the top I have been reaching for in my dreams lately. I think the mountain was the Spike, what I am certain of, it was not just a mountain. It was the mountain.”
Arader had a good face for listening. She does not urge food or drink onto Xenofos, even in the name of hospitality. She just looks like she wants to be there and hear this.
“I saw different paths upwards and tried to follow the light, but that became hard because there was no single point of light to follow, Light was omnipresent.” He sips water “I was walking a path, a lady clad in light another. When she offered me her hand I accepted it and her guidance.”
He chuckles quietly “Funny, I did not see it at the time, she was too bright, but when I am thinking of her now I see face of Aranda.”
He looks at his cup “I felt I was leaving my path, yet in weird way I was not abandoning it. But our ascension together surpassed the limitations of the path before and in a way limitations of human form.”
There is a little nod and a smile. Perhaps this is familiar.
Xenofos leans back and looks at the ceiling as if trying to see the top of the world. “I saw it all. I saw the Spike. I saw them gathered there, the Court all of them still alive. But She was not in the Ring. She was all around and presided over them all and then I understood why the Mastery rune, that is obvious and eternal even if it is often shrouded by the mystery of Infinity rune these days.”
“To say that she has this is both true and to many, troublesome.” Arader keeps her voice quiet and and thoughtful.
“It is so obvious. How can people not see it.” Xenofos does not sound worried by that, just full of wonder. “He asked me what I wanted. I was tempted to just stay there in her light and become just dust in her presence to reflect her radiance. But I remembered who I am, what I am and asked her if I could remember what I had seen when returning. I may have asked for more than a mortal can have and even for things I remember I can not have words. But I doubt I will ever forget her smile.”
“You are her smile and her hands in the world, and truly blessed,” Arader says.
His cheeks are wet from tears. “Unbeliavably so.”
“Very few see such a central mystery, you know?” Arader seems deeply moved as well.
“No sister, I have only vague idea what visions others have been granted. I remember being her before, when we were on Lightbringer’s quest with Varanis, but then she used another cloak to wrap everything.” He looks at Arader “Solace I got from her servants had already turned me towards her, but that experience made me convinced I need to pursue this path further.”
“Then I shall set myself upon your path, as well. You have seen with eyes of truth, and I shall follow with eyes of wonder.”
Xenofos takes her hand, and presses it. “A journey is made easier with company, your guidance is appreciated.”1(97 on int roll – he did not notice her talking of following his path )
- 1(97 on int roll – he did not notice her talking of following his path )
