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 Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 7:55 pm
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She'd left and the Clans had been in one kind of turmoil, and she'd returned only to find them recovering from another sort.
Exile had been kind to her. It had smoothed the ragged edges of her temper, taught her patience and the benefits of slow-burning rage. But it had separated her too long from her own kind, and she felt a bit like a feral animal being made to sit up straight at a dinner table. She'd returned to feel out the shapes of meditation done with others rather than alone, and the presence of priestesses had been of variable help.
The guidance she wanted now was of a more practical sort, rather than the spiritual variety, but it still felt right to seek out a priestess, and a bit of inquiry had led her here, to the vast and echoing libraries. She moved light-footed among the scrolls and volumes, back straight and steps confident, certain that she would be delivered by the hands of fate into the presence of that which she sought.
And she was. She paused, comparing the figure in front of her to the descriptions she had received, to half-remembered glimpses, and she lifted her voice just to the edge of respectable.
"Priestess? Pardon my intrusion." |
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Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2014 8:27 pm
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The priestess in question carried the appearance of a living shadow. All darkness and grace, ethereal with ashen skin and silver hair, she was utterly unique amongst the clans, and quite easily identified. And it wouldn't be the first time she had been sought out by her fellow horsemen, survivors or new arrivals, now would it be the last. She had a responsibility to her role as priestess, but more than that, her title as Elder. A beacon of wisdom and guidance.
Though she had her own growing library, it was not at all uncommon to find the mare surrounded by what little worthwhile texts they still retained. An academic at heart, when not otherwise occupied by duties or personal affairs, this was her design. If it was crucial to their past, or culture, than it was precious knowledge, and it needed to be retained.
She was tucked away in a window seat within the woefully barren library when the guardian found her. Silver hair was down in shimmering curls that framed dark cheeks and tumbled over narrow shoulders. Her attire was simple, ruffles and layers in a flattering cut that accented a petite figure with gentle curves. Bare feet were tucked up beside her, peeking from the ruffled layers that hemmed her skirts.
At the voice her head lifted, though mismatched eyes remained on the page she'd been reading a handful of seconds longer, following the sentence to it's end before her attention rose completely.
There was a brief flicker of recognition, vague and unclear. The mare before her was familiar, as if she'd seen her face before in passing, but there was no name to place with it. Smiling, she lifted a spare scrap of paper and tucked it between the pages she'd been looking over, then shut the book and set it aside. "How can I help you?" Her voice was soft, warm and welcoming.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2014 5:15 pm
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Small hands folded in her lap as the guardian gave her low bow. It was incredibly formal, something the priestess had not received since the fall of their island home. It was met with a dip of mismatched eyes, her had lowering in a slight bow of her own before the pale mare proceeded with introductions.
"Kallistrate, I remember your face. It's good to have you among us again." Or so she assumed, with no prior knowledge of how or why the other mare was in exile all these long years. Her head tilted, thoughtful, as she listened, and at the end she gave a nod. "It still surprises me how many of our wandering brothers and sisters find their way to this place. It is certainly not the home they had left behind, nor remotely close in location, but still, they come."
Palms smoothed along her thighs, and she shifted to rest feet upon the ground again, back straightening. "If it's guidance you're looking for, then I would be happy to provide it." Once again those small hands folded, the picture of grace. "Where would you like to start?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 12:53 am
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"I have received regular word on the situation among our kind, but only in generalities. I was hoping that you might educate me as to the current politics between Clans, and also, perhaps, as a priestess, inform me as to where I might be useful until I am once again chosen to work." Another pause, again not so much a hesitation as a careful verbal punctuation. "There are others that would send me here or there, on that assignment or this, or suggest I turn my sword to this target or that, but my loyalty and trust are with the priestesses, as they have always been." |
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 7:28 pm
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A thoughtful expression softened delicate features, and the priestess nodded, hands making a second a pass over covered thighs as she organized her thoughts. An easier task now, with the murmur of voices reduced to nothing more than a low buzz. There was, of course, the occasional flare, but on a whole Nergui had gotten a handle on the Insanity that had plagued her. With the help of her guardian.
"In the tower there is peace and cooperation. We are no longer merely the Lost Clans, as we had been upon the fall of our home, but are once again the Four Clans. We have regained out individuality, and our separate cultures, but remain as one." Again, that soft smile, pride in the mares voice as she spoke of what they had accomplished. "We are like the phoenix that nearly destroyed us, reborn from the ashes." Hard won, and not without suffering, or course.
"Death is gone. Charon is dead." Her voice was empty as she said it, devoid of any loss or regret. "Medea has lead us from the darkness, given us purpose again, and she is our queen."
A pause, as she considered the other mare's second request, then a pleased curl of lips. "It is a priestess' order you are seeking to follow?" Now, wasn't that just a tempt bit of power. Dark lips pursed.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 3:58 pm
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For just a moment the priestess regarded the guardian thoughtfully, then a pleased smile flickered into being along full lips. "Good." Mindless obedience had very nearly caused their fall a second time. It had been rebellion that had set them free, found them a home, and let them flourish. "Direction it shall be then."
Leaning forward, an elbow came to rest on one knee, and she cradled her chin in an upturned hand. "There are many tasks that need doing, General labor around the tower, but I don't think that's cup of tea." There were many horsemen now, instead of the few that had sought refuge in the reserve beside the school. Builders and craftsman as well as the soldiers. "You're a warrior, and your skill is better utilized in battle."
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