Brynja was thrilled.
She was the High Priestess, an occupation she'd aspired to for many, many years. The excitement rose in her chest like a burning star, rang in her ears like the clap of thunder. It was the single most amazing day of her life, when Njal ousted Aesir, and Brynja felt as if she could simply weep. Surely there could be nothing more incredible than this moment.
It seemed as if she were doubly blessed, then, when she was summoned by a Reaver who called at her from the mouth of her den - a gift, he'd said, from her uncle and the Thrallbreaker Kjar. A seer.
Three hours had passed since then. The thrall laid curled up deep within her spacious den. He hadn't risen since arriving there, though he would twitch now and again, or moan a soft word, a sob. Brynja watched him attentively. He belonged to her, and in using his powers as her own, she would never falter in her new, powerful position within the pride.
She'd already named him. He would be known as Gruvan, and treated well. Very well - Brynja would not allow him to want for anything. All that he desired, he would have. He was her pet, her toy, her belonging - and Brynja had always taken very good care of her things.
The rust-colored lioness perked slightly when his eyes opened. He startled, voice broken and raspy.
"Zeit? Where is Zeit? Zeit?!"
Brynja tilted her head to the side. Zeit?
"You are amongst the Stormborn. A slave. You are mine now."
"I was traveling with a lioness - Mzeituni. Where is she?"
"You outlanders have the oddest names. I have fixed this for you - you are Gruvan from this day forth - and … I have not seen a lioness. It was only you."
He looked shocked. Pained, desperate.
"There was another lion? Can .. he was a brown male, all brown, and I fear he.. he hurt her. She is.. she is special to me, I --"
"Ah. Kjar." Brynja gave him a cool, level look. "I will do my best to find news of her. But first, Gruvan. First, you must tell me of your powers."
Carnelian - no, Gruvan, he had to remember - had seen the moments leading up to this point. He had seen moments after this, as well - and he knew this had been the place he'd sought on his travels. Tay would be here. Tay had to be here.
"I can see conflict," Gruvan uttered wearily. "It is difficult to tell, at times, whether this conflict is past, future, present. It is my curse."
Brynja laughed, a rich sound.
"This is your blessing, Gruvan, for it has brought you to me. I am Brynja, High Priestess of the Stormborn. And now, Gruvan… now you are mine. You will have all the richest meals, the sweetest berries, the freshest mint - you will want for nothing. Nothing. You are already very special to me, Gruvan. You need only ask for whatever it is your heart desires, and I shall have it delivered - within reason. Do you wish for this Zeit? I shall have her brought to you. Do you wish for a different female? So be it."
She paused, lowered her voice.
"Should you favor a male, it will be done - though it is a delicate matter, and should be handled with the utmost discretion."
Gruvan was silent for a long moment.
"I do not want her. I.. I do not deserve her. All I ask is that she is well-looked after. That is all I ask. I … she screamed in agony as I was led away, and…"
He looked like he might be sick.
Brynja shook her head. Kjar was a ruthless lion, distasteful on the best of days, utterly revolting on the worst.
"I will give her to a newly wed pair. They are gentle - she will not be touched again by a male unless she wishes it, of that you have my promise."
Ulrika and Halvar would do right by the thrall. Neither had a cruel bone in their body, and it was said amongst those in the pride that they were attempting to start a family. As a first-time mother, it was likely that Ulrika would need the help.
Gruvan let out a soft noise, a sound of relief, a sound of utter sadness. What more could be done?
"I have a sister here." He cleared his throat roughly. "Back home we would call her Tay. I do not know - is it customary for new members of the pride to be given new names? If this is so, then she likely has a new name."
Gods. Brynja's ears fell back.
"I do not know. I will have a thrall ask around for your sister Tay."
Brynja lifted a brow as if to ask anything else? Gruvan shook his head.
"Very good. This is my den, and you shall have your own smaller den nearby. You are never to stray far from my sight unless you have my permission, and when I am in public you are to follow me at a distance. You will call me High Priestess, and this is the only way you will address me. If you have a vision, I am to know of it immediately, Gruvan. These are the rules you must abide by. As I have said, you are priceless to me. Priceless, and irreplacable."
Brynja cleared her throat.
"Now," she went on, "I will have a thrall take you to your new living quarters. You will be provided a meal, fresh water, mint or berries - whatever you like. Tomorrow we will make our presence known around the pride. You have found your way here during a shift in power - and where once I was a mere Priestess, this day I am High Priestess. It is a good day, Gruvan. It is a very good day for the both of us."
Making her way to the mouth of the den, she exchanged a few words with a thrall that hovered nearby. She turned over her shoulder with a briefly uttered, "Can you walk?"
Gruvan rose to his feet slowly, stumbling forward. He let his actions answer for himself.
"Until tomorrow, then, Gruvan."
"Until tomorrow, High Priestess."
wc: 1057
