Xenofos lets his mind wander to visions he has had while at the same time observing the room, the young man, the sound of the flute, the smell of the flowers in the vase. He notices he is hungry and thirsty, he has no idea of how much time has passed.
Slowly he sits up, nods to the flautist in silent thanks and stands up. The man finishes his song, and with an elegant gesture offers a hand to help Xenofos rise. He says nothing. Xenofos accepts the given hand and looks at the small silver mirror on the other side of the room.
He seems tired yet glowing. Once he is steady, the flautist goes quietly for the door, humming on the way as a farewell. Xenofos looks around for his kilt and after donning it, walks to direction where he would expect the communal eating area to be. His room opens out into a relaxing and well appointed area, to one side of the Temple. The sound of convivial conversation comes along a corridor, and it makes sense it is that way. Quietly, with relaxed steps he heads that direction. Absentmindedly he wonders why he did not remember to put on his sandals.
There is indeed a meal, and a priestess stops flirting briefly to stand up and bring him to a table. Unlike the long communal tables of many other temples, this one has round and square tables, where people can sit and face each other. Xenofos nods quietly to people sitting at the table. The quiet talk, sound of dishes in the kitchen, aroma of food he feels tham all as if he had never experienced them before.
bleysrex: He is greeted, and the priestess who sits beside him asks what he wants, and all is good. There is a feeling of togetherness that he has always somehow missed before.
He sits down. His hands start to do sign of Earth over the meal as he has been taught since childhood. Instead his fingers trace a Fertility rune followed by Mastery.
“What day is it?”
“It is Freezeday, towards the evening,” she says peacefully. Everyone at this table is quietly calm, and seems happy. Talk elsewhere is louder, but it seems these people are mostly just enjoying themselves. “You have gone deep into the mysteries, and come out safely. We welcome you.”
The others smile, and nod, but make no demands.
Xenofos lets that sink in for a while. He nods. “I thank you for the opportunity to take this journey and your aid on guiding me to it.”
After a while he adds. “I have liege lady and comrades at Geo’s. I should get there and see they are safe and if my service there is needed.”
“All light is a journey. Would you like to anything before you go? We can have a message sent.” The lady is getting up, however. The offer is genuine, but she does not think it will be taken.
“Thank you. I have tarried for a while and see to my other duties too.”Xenofos smiles wistfully “I once thought that they would be a journey I can finish and thereafter retire to peace and quiet, but I don’t think that is the case.” He shakes his head “…and I would be worried if or when she disappears to their own journeys and I don’t know they are safe.”1(He mangled his pronouns because he got mixed up on who he was actually talking about midsentence.)
“No start, no end. Only a thread next to others, some embroidered.” She offers him a light kiss on the cheek. “Let us go see to you. Our friends will excuse us.”
Xenofos nods to rest of the people at the table and follows the priestess, expecting to get some final instruction and – possibly – find rest of his clothing.
She takes him back towards his room. “At this point, my dear, people find their own way. You are called to help others, and to stand by them. You best understand the mysteries you have seen.” His clothes are on the chair where the flautist was. “Service to your friends is service to the goddess, you know? As long as you bring them all towards love.”
“I would like to write down what I have seen and deposit those visions to the library. For those parts I am allowed to reveal to the profane?” Xenofos ties his sandals and dons his tunic. With some reluctance he adds on his armour and grabs his sword.
“The Goddess has no secrets from the world. As a man, use your judgement as to what the world may understand.” There is a knot of pink and white silk keeping the sword in its sheath. She does not offer to remove it.
“I have never understood those, big sister. Sartarites seem to think that adding a physical bond can make up for lack of trust.” He shrugs “Maybe it helps them build one.”
He does not remove the tie though.
“It makes a statement, too.” She smiles and offers an arm. “Will you be back soon? We miss you all when you are away.”
“I will come when I can. As often as I can. I miss the love of this house when I am away” he takes the offered arm. “But I don’t know when.”
“You will carry us with you.” She walks him to the doors, where she has to leave him.
2it is Waterday Eve by the time Xenofos gets backXenofos gives her a polite kiss over the hand, dons his helmet and walks to Geo’s. He does not seem bothered by the rain.
- 1(He mangled his pronouns because he got mixed up on who he was actually talking about midsentence.)
- 2it is Waterday Eve by the time Xenofos gets back
