0 comments/ 2852 views/ 0 favorites The Balance Ch. 10-12 By: Glaze72 Hello. Here are the next chapters in Ariana and Abiron's Story. As promised, this story is branching out and taking some unexpected turns. Feedback and/or votes are always appreciated. Chapter 10 The next several weeks were among the happiest of their lives. Their lives fell into a predictable and pleasurable routine. They worshiped in the morning, followed by whatever small chores the short hours of fall and winter left to them. The hours of late afternoon and evening were filled with lovemaking. As the Deity had predicted, Abiron grew into a prodigious lover, ever eager to explore a new opportunity for carnal knowledge. Ariana's hearty lust knew no bounds, as she wallowed in the hedonism which she had unnaturally denied to herself so long. She exulted in the thrill of introducing her son and husband to new delights. Unbeknownst to them, each were in the prime of their sexual prowess, Abiron driven by the need to sire a child, Ariana in the full summer of her years. It was a chill evening in early winter when the messenger came. Abiron was weary, having just topped Ariana, with her hearty participation, when he heard the pounding at the doors of the temple. "Who, in the name of the Deity, could this be, at this time, in this weather?" The season had turned for good, and a cold rain, promising to turn to snow at nightfall, had been soaking the surrounding area for hours. Abiron levered himself to his feet, and looked in despair at his clothing. When the desires of the body had overtaken them, he and his wife had been preparing the evening meal. A casual squeeze of his wife's buttocks had turned into a full-fledged romp on the floor of the kitchen, and his breeches and tunic were soiled by flour, dust, and other, less mentionable stains. "Quickly, my husband," smiled Ariana, still lolling on the floor of the kitchen. "It must not be said that the temple of the Deity was less than courteous with its visitors." "If you care so much for the honor of the temple," grumbled Abiron, unhappy at leaving his spot, warmed by both the kitchen fire and his wife's body, "You can go and answer the door yourself." He quickly put on his clothes, hoping that their sad state would go unnoticed, and went to the front door of the temple. He opened it to see a novice of the Deity shivering in the rain. Her cloak was spattered with mud, and water from the soaked hem drizzled on the stone steps. "My lady! Please, come in," Abiron opened the door wide to allow her entry. When she passed, he saw a horse, looking quite as miserable as the novice, standing near the steps leading to the temple. "Wait here a moment. I will notify the High Priestess of your arrival," Abiron walked quickly to the kitchen, and was relieved to see Ariana dressing. "What news, my husband?" "A novice, soaked to the skin, on a horse that looks like it has been ridden long and hard. I am going to stable it, and if you could get the girl into some dry clothes, that would be a blessing." "Of course. Send her in here and I'll sit her down and get her warm, dry, and fed. When you are done with the horse, meet us here, and we will see what drove this girl to come all this way in such foul weather." Abiron went back to the front door. The novice had removed her cloak and hood. She was smaller than Ariana, her body slim and well-proportioned. Her clothing seemed drier underneath, but she was still shivering with cold. She had shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes, and her pleasant-featured face was showing her obvious weariness. "May I ask your name, my lady?" "I am Adelpha, my lord. You are the High Priest, are you not?" "I am, but call me Abiron. My lady wife and I do not stand on ceremony. With only two of us here, our titles are somewhat superfluous. I will take you to Lady Ariana. She will care for you, I will care for your poor beast, and when I return you can tell us what brings you here tonight." Abiron left Adelpha with Ariana and went into the courtyard. The rain was changing to snow, and by the time he had led the horse to the stables, he was drenched and freezing. His estimation of Adelpha, already high, rose several notches. She was obviously very dedicated in order to ride as long and hard as she obviously had. He wondered what could possibly driven her to ride so swiftly to the temple. His curiosity tempted him to slack on the care of the horse, but he stamped on his desire to learn the news, and did his job as well as he could. After some time, the tack and saddle had been removed, the horse had been dried down, and bedding had been laid. The horse had been fed and watered and Abiron sprinted back through the snow and mud back to the temple. Changing into clean clothes, he went back to the kitchen. There he found Ariana and Adelpha. The latter was dressed in one of Ariana's robes and had a mug of hot tea in her hands. Abiron looked at Ariana. Beneath the placid surface, he could see that she was tense. Obviously, some of the news had already been told, and it was not good. "What news, my lady wife?" "As I feared. But it is not my tale to tell. Adelpha, would you please tell the High Priest what you have already told me?" "Yes, my Lady," Adelpha looked down, and then at Ariana and Abiron. "The king summons the both of you to court. The Christian priests have sent an embassy to our land, seeking permission for their religion to be taught, for places of worship to be built and maintained, and for religious communities to be established. The king would have the high priest and priestess of the Deity to be on hand before permission is given or refused, so that their counsel may be ready to hand." Ariana's voice was like a whipcrack, "And by what right does the king summon us? Are we recalcitrant children, who are brought heels-dragging from a hiding place to be punished?" Adelpha flinched, but looked Ariana in the eye. Abiron admired her bravery to face head-on a high priestess who was obviously incandescent with rage. "The king summons you without discourtesy. He asks that ancient pledges be kept, that your wisdom be taken into account, and that you have the opportunity to confront those who are arrayed against us," she paused, and then went on. "My lady, I think the king wise in this. Here, in this house, you may be unaware of the forces arrayed against him. Pressure is mounting from many fronts. King Benedicte is not strong enough, either in his own court or in the world outside, to issue a flat refusal against the Christians." Ariana nodded once, sharply. "My apologies, Adelpha. My anger was not against the king, but to those who forced us to such a pass. Tell us, what of the embassy the Christians have sent? Who do we have to contend with?" Adelpha took a long swallow of her tea, and sighed in pleasure. "They are four, my lady. The first, the leader, is a man of some years. He has been in the service of their Christ for many years. He is a diplomat of many years and holds some standing in their hierarchy. He is called Bishop Lambert. "The second I have no liking for. He is an ill-favored sort and speaks harshly. He is called Father Ulf." Ariana smiled faintly. "An old ploy. They show us the stick. Where is the carrot?" Adelpha bowed her head in respect. "Even so, my lady. There are two more. They are strong in their faith. It shines from them, even as from you and my lord the high priest. If permission is granted for the Christians to stay, it is said these two will form the beginnings of their church in our land. They are young and pious. Brother Paul and Sister Angela are their names." Ariana looked up sharply, "Sister Angela? The Christians send a woman with their embassy?" "Yes, my lady." Ariana frowned. "This is odd. Women count for little in their world. What could be behind this?" "My lady, if I may? I think they may seek to sway the prince. My Lord Alan is of a marriageable age, and his blood runs hot, if tales be true. They could be trying to swing him to their side with the beauty of their ambasadress." "Really? They are more clever than I thought. Is she comely?" Adelpha shrugged. "Who can tell? Her face and voice are certainly appealing. But her body? I cannot say. They guard her so firmly that if she emerges to bathe I would be surprised." "And Brother Paul? Do they play the same trick with the queen and the ladies of the court?" Adelpha shrugged again, even less concerned than before, "Perhaps. My eye is not for male flesh. He is presentable enough, I suppose," She blinked, ignoring Abiron's slack-jawed look of surprise, and went on, "My lady, my lord, do I have your permission to retire? It has been a long ride in beastly weather, and I long for a soft bed and a night's respite." "Of course. My apologies. We are lacking in hospitality. Abiron will show you to a chamber. It will not be fancy, but I think it will suit your needs." "As long as it has a fire and a bed, my needs will be well met." "Adelpha, if we are not here when you wake, do not take it amiss. Follow us back as swiftly as you may. We will travel hard and swift, and we may have to leave you here." "I understand, my lady. I would think less of you if you did not." At Ariana's nod, Abiron led Adelpha to one of the guest chambers. He sighed in relief when he saw that it was clean and dry wood was already laid in the grate. He had not looked forward to bringing in wood that had been soaked to the pith by the rain and snow outside. Lighting the tinder from a taper he had brought with him, he wished Adelpha a good night and returned to the kitchen. He found all in a state of turmoil. Ariana had saddlebags and satchels open on the long stone counter, and was throwing all manner of foodstuffs into them. Her eyes were wild and she was clearly only just containing the fury that had shown itself only moments before. He could clearly see that trying to contain her at this moment would be just as effective as trying to harness an earthquake. Silently he went to her side and assisted her in packing cheese, bread, dried fruit and vegetables, and the rest of the supplies she had brought out of the pantry. "Milk?" he asked, breaking the silence. "It would either freeze or spoil. Here is a skin of wine, though," She ignored the face that he made. "If you don't like it, you can drink water. What condition are the horses in?" "If you are speaking about the poor beast that Adelpha brought in, he won't be ready to ride for at least a day. Our two geldings are in good shape. We have exercised them enough to be ready for a long ride." "Good. I didn't think that Adelpha would be ready to ride tomorrow, in any case. I would rather not feel guilty about leaving her behind. Make sure you have sufficient clean clothes for at least a fortnight. Pack both work-a-day clothes and your finery. We are going to court." Abiron's lips twitched. "Yes, mother. Have you any other advice for me?" "Yes," Ariana raked her hands through her hair, and stood, at once achingly vulnerable and furious to her core. "We are going to be fighting for the very soul of our land. Keep your wits about you. Open your heart to the Deity. Think! I have served this land since my birth, and I am not going to let it fall into heathenism without a fight!" Much later, in the small hours of the night, they finally retired to their own room. The supplies and clothing had been made ready, and they were going to leave before dawn. In their bed, Abiron drew his wife and mother close. Her arms came hard around his neck and she pressed her body close against his own. "Abiron?" "Yes, Ariana?" "I'm scared. Will you hold me, please?" He help her, cradling her close against his body, as she wept hot tears of fear into his shoulder. Slowly she sank into a restless sleep. He stayed awake, thinking long and hard about the time ahead of them. Chapter 11 They were up before dawn, and by first light they had their horses saddled and were on the road. According to Ariana, they were eight days' ride from the capital, but she hoped to cut the time by riding hard and swift. Abiron had never been there, and Ariana not since before his birth. They pushed the horses as hard as they dared, not risking foundering them, but making as swift time as could be accomplished given the season. They ate in the saddle at noon, and twice camped in the open, when nightfall saw them out of reach of any village or town. Near midday of the sixth day from the temple, they saw the towers of the capital before them. They passed through the gates, the gold necklaces of the Deity granting them safe passage. They rode up even to the gates of the palace, and gave their horses over to the guard, and were shown a suite of rooms within the palace. When the servant had guided them left, Ariana looked around approvingly. "Very nice. It seems the king has anticipated our coming and is giving us the honor that we are due. This puts some of worries at ease. If he had shunted us away to an out-of-the way section of the palace, I would have been concerned. But it appears that the wolves of Christ have not leashed his will as of yet." Abiron frowned. Ariana's overt antipathy toward the Christians worried him. He put those concerns aside for the time being and admired the suite. It was, as Ariana said, very pleasant. There was a bedroom, a sitting room with a comfortable set of chairs and couches, a small dining area, and a separate room for bathing. He and Ariana were busy putting the clothes they had brought from the temple in the wardrobes when there was a knock at the door. Opening it, Abiron found himself face to face with a man a few years older than himself. The newcomer was slightly smaller than he, with a thin, wiry build. He had dark hair and clever blue eyes. "May I help you?" Abiron asked. "Perhaps. Do I have the honor of addressing High Priest Abiron?" "You do." Abiron's lips twitched in a smile. "That is well. You have the honor of addressing Prince Alan." The stranger smiled, "May I enter?" "My lord Alan, of course. Please come in," Abiron stood aside to make room for the prince. Prince Alan entered the room, and his eyes widened as he saw Ariana for the first time. He bowed deeply. "My lady High Priestess, be welcome here. My father asks me to send his deepest regards." "Then why is your father not here himself?" Ariana's voice was pleasant and courteous, but there was an edge to her words. Abiron remembered her anger at the summons, and hoped she would be able to control her temper. He would not wish to be on the receiving end of her wrath. "If my lady and my lord priests would care to join me, I will explain. Have you had your mid-day meal yet?" As they shook their heads, Alan smiled, "Well then, let us eat and I will attempt to be useful, as my father asks." A short time later, they were dining on turkey, bread, turnips, and peas, and Prince Alan was explaining the situation. "My lady, my lord, please know that my family and I hold you in the highest respect and regard. However, our situation may be more precarious than you may think. There are powerful forces at court that wish to yoke their wagons to the growing power of this new religion. They see our neighbors shifting away from their ancient gods and godesses and embracing the new power in Rome, and they wonder why we do not as well. There is an element of fear as well. Some speculate on our fate if these neighbors, whom we have always been able to deal with piecemeal, made alliance with each other due to their new-found common religion. "And what do they ask that is so terrible? A few of their order, free to wander our lands, preach their religion, establish a church or two? What harm could that possibly do? That is what those who favor the christians ask." Ariana snorted. "Before the the knife pierces the heart, the point must enter the flesh. I fear that these four are only the point. If four are allowed, fourteen may be granted admittance within a few months. Then forty. Then four hundred..." She sighed, "I will not go on. The thought depresses me. Prince Alan, what is the will of the king?" Prince Alan nodded. "You are wise, my lady. For now, he asks that you merely be here, be seen at court, make your presence known. For some, the christians are only a novelty, and they have no real attachment to them. He believes that with the Deity's assistance, you will be able to see into the hearts of those to whom the christians are only of passing interest, as opposed to those who would actively flout his will in this matter. Also, he believes that you and the lord high priest will be able to devise means with which to deal with the christians themselves, so that he may be able to deny their request without risking conflict with either our neighbors or the church itself. "I see hope in such an approach. There may be conflict within the ranks of the christians. The two younger ones, Brother Paul and Sister Angela, are as sweet-spoken a pair as I have ever seen, and Bishop Lambert is as courteous as the day is long, but Brother Ulf," here his mouth twisted with distaste, "dwells overmuch on the pain and torments that await those who do not accept his god. I am not sure how much the others like him. He nearly drove Lady Evaine into hysterics a few days ago, and I heard Bishop Lambert chastising him afterwards." "Dissension. Well, that is a start," stated Ariana. "Prince Alan, I thank you for your time. Please allow my lord high priest and myself time to consult before we make our first appearance in the court. Are there any festivities or parties planned for the near future?" "Indeed there are. Since it is winter, you have arrived at the height of the season. If this were summer, many of the nobles would be on their separate estates, but now you have the opportunity to see and be seen by many of the most influential houses in a short period of time. Once your presence becomes know, I would not be surprised to find that you have received invitations to several gatherings within the next few days." "Splendid. One last question, and then I will detain you no further. As you may, know, my lord high priest and I share a...unique relationship. How widely is this known among those at court?" Alan leaned back in his chair and fiddled with his wine glass. For the first time, he seemed discomposed. He raised his glass, and looked through it, as if searching for impurities in the wine. "A unique relationship. Well, that is one way to put it," he frowned, "I will speak honestly, Lady Ariana. I know of this relationship, and I am disturbed. How much of it is due to what I have been taught is unnatural, and how much is due to jealousy of your son the high priest on my part, I cannot say." Abiron frowned at Alan's choice of words. "How many know? My family in the royal house, to be sure. Some of those who deal on a regular basis with you and the high temple, for they have access to the historical records, and it would be hard to hide the fact that for many generations, the fathers and mothers of one generation of high priests or priestesses have been the sons and daughters of the previous generation. And those of the noble houses who take an interest in the history of our land will also know, or suspect. However," he said with a shrug, "those may not be many. It has been some time since the high temple took an direct interest in the affairs of our nation, and your reticence to leave your own sphere of influence may prove to be beneficial in this case." After Alan had left, Ariana spent some time thinking quietly in their bedroom. Abiron, with a lifetime of experience in his mother's moods, knew well enough to not interrupt her thought. He was, therefore, not terribly surprised when she called him in to join him. The Balance Ch. 10-12 "Abiron, I have been thinking," she said. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, and looking surprisingly vulnerable. "We are in a delicate situation. Prince Alan has told us that our relationship is not widely known. If it becomes known at the wrong time, it could turn opinion against us. You know that who we are and what we do is not accepted outside of our temple walls. "I think that our relationship should remain secret." Abiron rose from the chair where he had been sitting. He walked slowly to his wife and stood over her. "No," he said. "But Abiron..." "No," his voice was tense with passion. "Do you not see? This is what our enemies would want. They would seek to divide us, to make us ashamed of who and what we are. To make us hide what defines us and brings us joy. Then, when the time is right, they would reveal their knowledge, make us shrink from what they would call a filthy, shameful secret. Call us degenerates and our desires perverse, rather than the blessing of the Deity. Then their purpose would be fulfilled. You have told me that we are in conflict, my lady wife. Would you have us surrender the first battle to the enemy?" As he spoke these words, he drew closer and closer to Ariana. By the end, he was on his hands and knees, looming over his wife as she lay prone. He felt with joy the familiar heat in his groin, the first rush of blood to the head of his glans, so that it felt heavy and eager, making it surge toward fullness. "Besides, my lady, once I have had you, do you think I would ever willingly let you go? "You are mine. You are my wife and my mother, and I claim you for all time. No one will make me forsake you, or deny what we have found together," his mouth sought hers and he kissed her long and deep. If he had been surprised by his own passion, Ariana's response stunned him. Her arms snaked around his neck, pulling him down to her where she lay. Her mouth devoured his, hot and wet,. Her tongue demanded entrance to his mouth, and plunged in stroking along his teeth. He tried to make answer with his own, but was rewarded with a sharp nip of her teeth along his lower lip. This was a new side of Ariana. Relieved of the possible burden of re-enforced chastity, her lovemaking burned bright and fierce. Muttering dire threats against those who made clothes difficult to remove when necessary, she straddled Abiron, hands cupping his groin and stroking urgently while her other hand loosed the ties of her dress. That task done, she leaned down, presenting her breasts to his eager mouth. His hands rose and cupped her breasts, stoking her passion higher, but it was not wanted today. "More," she growled, for she found his gentle hands an annoyance. His mouth opened and he suckled her right nipple, finding it turgid, hot and aching with passion, but again, that was not what she wanted today. Moaning with frustration, she came upright again, and ground her core down onto the rough fabric of his breeches, savoring the feel of the hard length of him through the fabric. At the same time, her hands came up to her nipples. Finding them both erect, she pinched them between her fingers, showing Abiron what she wanted today. The bolt of shared pleasure and pain struck her center, and she moaned with desire and need. One hand still massaging her breast, the other found the ties of Abiron's breeches, rapidly undoing the barrier between her and his lovely cock. Once undone, she shoved the breeches down to his knees, freeing his manhood. She bent down to him, hands busy, freeing her of unnecessary clothing (and really, a giggling portion of her mind remarked, isn't all clothing unnecessary right now?). Taking her hint, his hands were rougher on her, his teeth scraping her nipples and his hands digging into her buttocks, nails lightly scoring her tender flesh. "Yes, my love. That's the way," she moaned. Finally, finally! The last flimsy piece of cotton was freed, and she was able to impale herself on his phallus. Slick with desire, she sank onto him with a groan that was half a wail, tears of love forming at the corners of her eyes. And stopped. Knees braced on either side of his hips, his manhood filling her, the proof of her desire slowly trickling lewdly down the inside of her thighs, she smiled down at him, taking in the wonder of his body and his eyes, still gentle for all the mock-fierceness of their lovemaking.. "I love you," she said. "You will never know how much I love you right now." She placed a finger over his lips when he tried to respond. Slowly, she gathered herself. She rose a little, sank a little. Rose a little more, sank a little swifter. Her hands came up, locking around Abiron's wrists. She lowered her mouth to his, demanding attention. Her breasts scraped against the sparse hair of his chest, adding delightful friction to the pleasure she already felt. Soon her hips were bucking wildly atop his, feeding her higher into an unstoppable loop of passion. Her orgasm came upon her, certain as the sunrise, unstoppable as a breaking wave. Her core clenched around Abiron's cock, and as she screamed her love into his mouth, she felt his body respond in the surest proof of his love for her, sending swift steams of seed into her womb. Chapter 12 A matter of some hours later, they had availed themselves of the bathtub and had used the bed for its intended purpose. They also got some sleep. Dressing in clothes appropriate for the palace, but conservative in tone, they walked through the halls of the palace, preparing themselves for the days to come. "Ariana, darling!" the words came from a corridor to the side. They turned to meet the source. A finely dressed woman walked quickly to meet them, a pair of guards trailing in her wake. She had Prince Alan's blue eyes and slender build, and her dark hair was threaded with silver. "Cassiopeia!" Ariana turned and embraced her with a cry of joy. "Wicked thing! Why didn't you write to tell me that you were finally returning to court?. Nothing but letters from you for years and here you show up unannounced and with this handsome lad on your arm. Is he...?" her voice trailed off. "Queen Cassiopeia, may I have the great pleasure to introduce you to High Priest Abiron. Abiron, this is the queen, the wife of our lord King Benedictos, and my very good friend. I knew her well when I was at previously at court, short though that time was." "Well met, my lady Queen." "And well met to you, my lord High Priest," she smiled "Now that we have these tedious formalities out of the way, call me Cassie. Cassiopeia if you insist on being formal. Ariana, you are just too bad. I've wondered when I would be seeing him, and you descend on us without a word of warning, leaving me completely unprepared." "If I had sent word, we would have outpaced it. You can put on the silly-queen act for the rest of the court, but I've known you since before you married Benedictos. You know why I am here." Cassiopeia sighed. "Indeed I do. Well. I would love to get you and your handsome lad alone for a quiet chat so we can plan our strategy, but duty calls. Come with me. Seeing you in my presence should give pause to the jackals who would like to tear our kingdom apart." Abiron was surprised by the change in Cassiopeia's voice. What had been a cheerful stream of prattle became hard as iron and as unforgiving. Obviously, Cassiopeia was an intelligent woman. One smart enough to put on a show for other members of the court, and wise enough to know when it would not do any good. Not to be surprising, he thought, reflecting back on Prince Alan's obvious intelligence. His estimates of the royal family rose a corresponding degree. Ariana and Cassiopeia walked slowly through the halls of the palace, talking quietly of inconsequential things. Abiron, trailing a few steps behind, saw the wisdom of this. To arrive at their destination hurried and flustered would make observers realize they were worried. Putting on a nonchalant pose gave the impression of calmness and strength, confidence in their position. They soon made their way to one of the lesser salons. It was a pleasantly appointed space, with frescoes on the walls. One showed the victory of the Battle of Pine Ridge, where Askelon had put down the last serious threat to his reign. Another showed a pastoral scene of rustic beauty, with the Deity in Their various guises assisting people in all the tasks that a kingdom required. It also had large windows, through which poured an abundance of winter sunlight. "And who can we expect to meet here?" asked Abiron. "Oh, this is a place to see and be seen. Anyone who thinks that they can advance their position will be here eventually. And some who can't, but can't bear to stay away." Her eyes swept the room, and her gaze hardened. "Some should not be here to begin with, and some should be removed from this palace by the scruff of their necks." Abiron followed her glare, and soon saw the cause of her irritation. A slender girl, no more than fourteen years old, but with the manner and bearing of one born and bred to high rank, faced off against a man many years her elder. He was tall, and dressed in the robe of one of the Christian monks. His cowl was thrown back, and his head thrust forward aggressively, reminding Abiron of nothing more than a vicious bird, a pose accentuated by his long nose and thin cheeks. "...and I say, sir, that your god, however mighty you may think him, does not compare to our Deity. What mighty deeds has he done lately? What miracles has he performed? Why should we bow and scrape before him, when our own Deity commands nothing more than love, and asks that we stand tall and proud before Them?" The young lady's voice was high and clear, and so like in tone that Abiron immediately took her for Cassiopeia's own daughter; or if not, one of her close kin. "Wretched girl! Do not mock your god, for he will smite thee, and his punishment..." "Will not fall upon me," the girl said calmly. "he is not my god. And what form could his punishment possibly take?" She paused for a moment while the monk sputtered, "Oh, I know," she said in a mocking tone that nearly drove Abiron into convulsions of mirth, "everlasting fire, am I right? Isn't that the torment you have devised for so many of our good lords and ladies at court? May I say, sir," and here her contempt was plain to see, "that your god is sadly lacking in originality. Fire and brimstone and torment unending have been a staple of all religions from the beginning of time. Tell me. What does he offer in trade? He asks for my worship, you demand that I submit to his rules. What is the reward? In secular terms," and here her eyes grew cunning, "what is in it for me?" "Forgiveness." "For what? Brother Ulf, I am a maid of only thirteen years. What terrible crimes do you think lie upon my soul?" Abiron and Ariana watched the debate with interest. If this was, indeed, the daughter of the queen, she took a dangerous chance. Her skill could serve to discredit the newcomers, who would be mocked for losing a religious debate to a mere girl. But if she failed, it could serve as an impetus to those who opposed the crown. A small crowd had gathered by this time, and as if sensing that this was her time to strike, the young lady spoke again. "I admit, sir, that when I was nine I once stole a tray of pastries from the kitchens. And when I was eleven, I snuck into my royal brother's rooms to watch him dally with a young lady of his acquaintance. However, that does not seem sufficient grounds for torment everlasting." "It is not only your own sins that will be punished." Ulf's voice was harsh with anger and loathing. Against what, Abiron wondered? Against the threat to his religion, or to the young girl that dared question him? "The sin of disobedience falls upon all of Adam's descendants, and will until the end of days. For that alone is sufficient for damnation eternal, unless you submit to our Lord, Lady Hannah" "Princess Hannah, if you please. And here we have an even greater mystery!" she cried to all those who had drawn near, the bit well and truly in her teeth by this time, and her eyes flashing in outrage. "A man may be condemned to everlasting torment, not for his crimes alone, but for those committed by an imaginary, yes, imaginary," she cried, her voice fierce with passion, "ancestor! In this land, Brother Ulf, we judge a man or woman by what he or she has done, not by what his mother or father or ninety-times fore-father may or may not have done." "Oh, well done, child," came a voice at Abiron's elbow. He looked, and saw Ariana beside him, her face alight with admiration. "She is yours, is she not, my lady queen?" she asked Cassiopeia. "May I have her, when she is of age?" "When you look upon her as a meal you would like to devour, I am not even sure in what way you purpose to have her," Cassiopeia replied wryly. "She is firm in her faith, it is true, but I am not sure she is for the temple, and my lord husband and I think she would be better suited as an advisor to Alan when his time comes. She has a mind like a blade, that can cut to the root of the issue in less time than it takes for a dozen counselors to even identify the problem. They will make a formidable team. At the treaty table, where the repercussions are greater than any that are felt on the battlefield, they will destroy their opposition, and leave their enemies wondering how it happened. "As to the other, feel free. It is an honor and a privilege when one of Ariana's line takes one of ours to his or her bed. But you may get more than you bargained for. She knows her mind, that one, and is not afraid to let all know it. It might be Princess Hannah who runs the Great Temple, rather than High Priestess Ariana." "You assume too much, Cassiopeia, and you misunderstand me," said Araina pleasantly. "It is not the skill of her tongue that interests me," she said with a wicked smile, "but rather the skill of her tongue." Abiron bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing, and even Cassiopeia smiled. As they discussed her future, Princess Hannah had continued the attack, "Our Deity is gracious, and she judges us as we are, not as our parents are, or our great-grandparents may have been. When I ask the Deity for her favor in cleaning a dirty smock or warming a tub or water, and that request is denied, I know the fault lies in myself, and not in what a long-dead ancestor may or may not have done." Upon saying this last, Hannah faltered, as if she thought she may have gone too far. And Ulf, sensing weakness, turned to the attack. "So, you are able to warm a tub of water, just by mumbling a few words?" He smiled viciously, "What else can you do?" Hannah looked around her, as if seeking escape. Her eyes were wide, "I can...I can find things that were lost. I can relieve pain if as person is hurt. I mean no ill by it, Brother Ulf." "Of course you mean no ill by it," Ulf sneered. "That is what all your kind say. Tell me, what else do you do, witch?" He glared at the surrounding peers. "You hear it from her own lips. By foul craft she is able to do things that no mortal can, and she brags of her ability before you. Cravens! If this were my land, she would be put do death for witchcraft! But you are all so corrupted by this, this Deity," and here his voice turned thick with disgust, "that you turn you eyes away." Abiron was beside himself with worry. Terrified lest the tide of the room turn against the princess entirely, he took a half step forward, only to be halted by an iron grip on his arm. He looked down to the face of Queen Cassiopeia. He tried to pull away from her, but her grip was unbreakable. "Wait." she said. He looked again at the tableau before him. On his right, was the small, slender form of the princess. Facing her, the tall, vulpine figure of Brother Ulf. Surrounding them, a circle of the great, the near-great, and those who only dreamed of being great. At first, Hannah seemed much the more fragile of the two. Her head was bowed as if in defeat and fear. Her hair, unbound, fell around her face, making her expression impossible to discern. Ulf loomed over her, preparing for what was to happen next. Would she fall to her knees in supplication? Would the gathered people turn on her, condemning her as Ulf so obviously wished? She looked up. She was laughing. "A witch! A witch!" she hooted, "May we burn her? Is this the forgiveness that your god offers? A girl finds a lost locket, or takes the pain away when an old man has the rheumatism, and you cast her to the wolves? Meanwhile, your Christ turns water into wine for a wedding (a worthy purpose, one must admit) and he is hailed as a miracle worker? "Who shall answer this riddle for me, O my people? What wisdom can we draw from such blatant hypocrisy? What does this god offer that our own does not?" In the crowd, a woman laughed, as unexpected and jarring as breaking glass. "Love."