The Arch Priestess watched her a moment and then stepped behind her and put a gentle hand on her chest and the other on her back. “Breathe in, Emlyn. Breathe in.”

  Emlyn concentrated on the hands resting on her body and forced herself to expand her lungs enough to push against them.

  “Good. Now let the air out slowly. Slowly. There, very good. Now, again. Breathe in.”

  They repeated the process several times. Emlyn listened to Sábria’s calming voice, and eventually, the heavy weight lifted enough for her to breathe normally again.

  Sábria patted her on the back and removed her hands. “Better.”

  The only way Emlyn could answer without breaking down was by again pushing her tongue against the roof of her mouth and nodding.

  The Priestess returned to the front of her desk and leaned against it. That seemed to be where she preferred to stand during an interview. She turned her head in the general direction of the Commander, and the woman left the room. That was the second time, Emlyn noted, that the two had communicated without using words, and she guessed they’d worked together many, many turns to develop that type of understanding.

  Emlyn hoped the Priestess didn’t intend to prolong her “welcoming” speech. All she wanted to do now was find a bed, crawl under the covers, and cry like the pitiful, mewling infant her inner self had become the instant the door had clicked shut behind the only person she’d ever truly loved.

  Two

  Sábria crossed her arms and studied the young warrior who was barely holding her emotions in check. She’d visited Kibrun once many turns earlier and had come away disgusted with the traditions of the Kibrunian Temple of the Gods. Granted, Sábria’s order and theirs worshipped entirely different deities, and while she’d expected there to be differences, she’d been appalled by the abject cruelty she’d witnessed there.

  It was no wonder this woman panicked every time she committed an offense against Kibrunian rules and regulations during their interview. Between losing her beloved and being thrown into a completely new social, religious, and military environment, Emlyn’s emotions had to be roiling nearly out of control. “We need to discuss some of the differences between your experiences in Kibrun and what you’ll find here.”

  The barely hidden look of resignation on Emlyn’s face told her exactly what she thought about that. Emlyn was at the end of her rope and had been hoping for a quick welcome and release. Sábria mentally shrugged since she needed to go over some concepts to make sure Emlyn had time to change her mind before Tomisa left port. “First. I know the discipline within your military is harsh. Well, let’s call it what it is. It’s brutal and, at times, barbaric. Here, within the Temple Guardians, we’re also hands-on when it comes to discipline. The difference is we never break bones, cut off body parts, or leave lasting scars on a warrior’s body.” She waited a beat. “Or on their soul.”

  Emlyn nodded her understanding, so Sábria continued, “There will undoubtedly be times when you’ll be whipped with one of these….” She picked up a leather crop from her desk. It was about the same size as her finger and nearly as long as her forearm. “But unlike what is administered to warriors in Kibrun, you’ll never be disciplined to the point of breaking skin or whipping so hard you bleed. If you’re expecting punishment similar to what I witnessed in the Temple of the Gods in Kibrun, you can rest easy.”

  When Emlyn’s shoulders relaxed, Sábria knew her concerns had been spot on. It must be terrifying not knowing the rules of the game in this Temple and expecting to be beaten or disfigured or even killed for committing an infraction.

  Emlyn shifted to ease the ache in her tight shoulders, “May I ask a question, Arch Priestess?”

  “Of course.”

  “What are the infractions that will earn a beating?”

  “Good question. The severity of the punishment is dependent upon the infraction. Disobeying an order will get you a few stripes. Willful disobedience during a critical incident will end in ten or more stripes at the discretion of the person administering the punishment. If a warrior in training does something without thinking while they’re on patrol in the city, they might receive a slap across the back of their head to get the trainee’s undivided attention.” She smiled at Emlyn’s rolled eyes and emphatic nod. Apparently, she’d had to administer that punishment several times herself. “I’m sure you’ll fill in the blanks as you learn our ways.”

  Sábria waited to see whether Emlyn had any more questions. When none came, she continued, “The Second facet of service you need to understand and acknowledge is that joining the Daughters of Elyon is a lifetime commitment. Are you aware of that?”

  “Yes, Arch Priestess.”

  “Are you willing to commit to that now? Because there are aspects to our order that may never leave this Temple. If your intention is to stay just long enough for Tomisa to sail away, freeing you to leave our service without her knowing, I suggest you leave now and not make a commitment because the punishment for leaving after knowing what our life entails behind the Temple walls is quite severe.”

  Emlyn had been staring at the painting behind Sábria, and when her gaze flicked down and held hers for a moment, Sábria tried to gauge the thought process behind those brooding brown eyes. When the woman immediately turned her attention back to the painting, Sábria decided it was time for a correction. “In the Empire, a subordinate looks their superiors in the eyes. They don’t stare at a point above their heads.” The fierce blush rising into Emlyn’s face surprised her. Sábria hadn’t realized how deeply ingrained averting one’s eyes was to the Kibrunian military and religious orders. “That disturbs you?”

  “I’ll do as you ask, Arch Priestess.

  Sábria crossed her arms. “Emlyn. As I mentioned earlier, when I ask you a question, I expect a direct, honest answer. Not prevarication.”

  Emlyn swallowed. “Prev…I’m sorry, I don’t know that word.”

  “Prevarication. It can mean an out-and-out lie, or it can have more subtle meanings dependent upon the context. For example, evading the truth with a response that doesn’t quite answer the question. So, I’ll ask you again. Looking me in the eye bothers you. Why?”

  Emlyn nervously crossed her arms but quickly dropped them back to her sides when she realized what she’d done. A blush suffused her cheeks, and she balled her hands into fists before murmuring, “Forgive me.”

  “Emlyn, look at me, please.”

  When she did, Sábria allowed her to see the affection she felt for this very lost young warrior. “You’re nervous and probably a bit afraid. I understand that and would never punish you for accidentally crossing your arms during an interview.” Sábria chuckled, “Now, would you please answer my question, so I don’t have to ask a third time?”

  “Well…My Lady…” Emlyn let out a tight breath, “…the eyes are the gateway to our soul. They reveal our innermost thoughts. We’re taught in the military not to look our Commanders in the eyes because it would be wrong for us to see into their souls.”

  And, thought Sábria, it would be frightening in an environment such as is found in the Kibrunian military to have a Commander see into your soul. You poor child. She thought she might accomplish more with this woman if they were both more comfortable. There were two overstuffed wing chairs at the other end of the room, so she indicated them by holding out her upturned palm. “Come over here.”

  Emlyn followed her to the chairs, but when the older woman indicated she should sit, another look of panic flitted across her features. “My Lady. I…no.” She backed away from the chairs, shocked that an Arch Priestess would even suggest such a thing.

  Sábria rubbed her eyes with her fingertips and decided to prop herself on the arm of one of the chairs instead of insisting Emlyn sit. It was time to get into who she was and what her role would be in Emlyn’s life. “After hearing the few things I’ve told you, do you willingly commit to a lifetime of service with the Daughters of Elyon?”

  “Yes, Arch Priestess. When I was on the ship, I admit I considered doing exactly what you described. But that would be a betrayal of both Tomisa and her father, the King. Also, I’ve never gone back on an oath or a promise, and I don’t intend to begin my new life by doing so now. I swear to you, on my honor, I will remain within your service for the remainder of my life.”

  If her words hadn’t convinced Sábria, the fact that Emlyn met and held her gaze while she spoke them told her that the woman meant every word. “Then, let me tell you about me and my role here in the Temple. Being the Arch Priestess of the Daughters of Elyon isn’t simply a ceremonial role, as is the role of Arch Priestess in the Temple of Kibrun. Here, the person who will one day become Arch Priestess is chosen and marked by the Goddess at an early age.”

  She held out her hand, which had a light blue skin discoloration resembling a ring around her right index finger.

  Emlyn stared at the mark, trying to decide whether it was a tattoo or a blemish on the skin. “Pardon, My Lady, but when you say marked by the Goddess, do you mean the previous Arch Priestess chose you and tattooed your skin?”

  Sábria moved closer and continued to hold out her hand. “No, Emlyn. This is part of me. I wasn’t born with it, but neither was it applied artificially to my skin. It appeared on my twenty-second nameday.”

  Hearing that, Emlyn felt as though her heart would beat a hole in her chest. She dropped to her knees and then onto her face. This woman was marked by the Goddess herself. What right did she have to stand in her presence?”

  While the woman’s face was plastered to the tile floor, Sábria rubbed her eyes with all ten fingers. She stifled the sigh that always emerged whenever she received this reaction to the ring. She moved back and once again hiked one leg up onto the arm of her chair and crossed her arms. “Emlyn, at times, we prostrate ourselves before the Goddess. You will never prostrate yourself before me.”

  When Emlyn remained on the ground, Sábria spoke with more pique than she intended. “Get…up.”

  The young warrior immediately obeyed.

  “I am not holy. I’m simply a warrior who was chosen by the Goddess to do her work. So, if you continue to look like you’re going to pass out because you’re in my presence, I’ll have to wrestle with you so I can knock some sense into that prim and proper Kibrunian brain of yours.”

  Her smile had a touch of wicked humor in it, and Emlyn answered the gesture with the first tiny smile she’d given that day. “Yes, My Lady.”

  “Good. Now, the point I was trying to make is this. As soon as the mark appeared, I was put into a strict and stringent training regimen that has continued for the last twenty-seven turns and will continue until I pass into the arms of the Goddess. My role is to see to the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of my warriors, and my training encompasses all three of those aspects of a person’s life.”

  Sábria waited a moment to allow Emlyn the time she needed to understand what she was saying. “I’m trained to read people better than you can imagine. I think the Goddess enhances the abilities of her chosen because, at times, my perception startles even me.” She needed Emlyn to relax and decided humor might be the way to do just that. For the second time, a hint of amusement shone from Emlyn’s eyes, and Sábria knew she’d chosen the correct way in.

  “Any woman, from the lowest trainee to the Commander herself, may come to me for counseling. For the most part, people look to other warriors or to their Guardian Prime, Subcommander, or Commander for emotional support. But if the need is great enough, they look to me. My training, and therefore my knowledge and understanding of the human psyche, is vast. Often, I’ll simply sit and hold a warrior, and at times, I’ll bring them into my bed to provide comfort throughout the night.”

  Emlyn gasped and took an involuntary step back.

  Sábria chuckled at the anticipated response. “At this point, I need to explain some aspects of our lives here that will probably make you uncomfortable. It’s also one of the practices that you are forbidden to discuss with anyone outside the Temple.” She caught and held Emlyn’s gaze, “And that includes Tomisa. There’s still time to back out of your commitment, Emlyn, but if I continue, there’s no backing out. Do you want me to continue?”

  Emlyn straightened to attention. “I have already given you my word, My Lady. I will never back away from that.”

  Sábria moved from the arm of the chair to the seat. “I need to sit comfortably, and I’d like you to do the same.” She indicated the other wingback chair with an open palm. “Please, sit down.”

  When Emlyn continued to stand at rigid attention, Sábria hardened her voice just a bit. “When I give an order, Emlyn, I expect it to be obeyed.”

  Sitting in the presence of the Arch Priestess was the equivalent of sitting in the presence of Kibrun’s King Melnor. Something he’d never permit. But she was in the Cibían Empire now and would have to adapt to their strange ways. “Yes, My Lady.” She reluctantly lowered herself onto the chair, staying on the edge so as not to look too relaxed or comfortable.

  Chuckling, Sábria pointed at her stiff posture. “I’d order you to relax, but….” She shrugged and was rewarded with a half-smile that Emlyn tried to hide by dipping her chin. “So, back to my training and my place in your life. I have extensive training in and am a practitioner of the Kiprian Arts. Are you familiar with the term?”

  “No, My Lady.”

  “Those who practice the Kiprian Arts believe sensual pleasure is not something that should be hidden away. We believe the Goddess gave us the ability to heal, soothe and comfort through the stimulation of the sensual areas of our body.”

  Through turns of giving this lecture to new warriors, Sábria had learned that it was better to get the whole concept out in the open and then ask for questions afterward. “I mentioned earlier that in my role as Priestess, I care for your emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. One of the tools I might use to comfort a warrior who is grieving over a death and hasn’t slept in days is sexual stimulation because often, the body is able to relax after reaching a state of heightened arousal.”

  She watched Emlyn carefully but didn’t see any warning signs of revulsion or fear. Good. “Everyone is free to comfort a fellow Blade in whatever way they see fit, including sexual pleasure. But at times, a warrior will come to me for comfort, or I’ll go to a warrior if I see a problem developing.” She cocked her head to the side. “Any questions so far?”

  “Just two, My Lady. Do I have to allow the…sexual act? And if you believe the act shouldn’t be hidden behind closed doors, why is it a secret that can’t be shared outside the Temple?”

  “Excellent questions. Very good.”

  Two red crescents formed on Emlyn’s cheeks at the praise.

  “To answer the first, I presume you’re aware that the mission of the Blades is to either protect the empire’s women from violence or to avenge the violence or their death should we become aware of the problem too late to make a difference.” At Emlyn’s nod, she continued, “Then I presume you already know the answer to your first question. We always ask for the warrior’s consent. Well, let me amend that. We ask for consent to gift the person with sensual pleasure. We don’t ask for consent to administer physical punishment, which will never have anything remotely to do with sex.”

  Sábria rose and poured two glasses of juice from a decanter on a side table.

  Emlyn immediately rose as well. “I can get that for you, Arch Priestess.”

  Handing one glass to Emlyn, Sábria took the other and returned to her seat. When Emlyn sat as well, Sábria settled back into her chair and sipped the juice. “As to your second question, the majority of the populace has the mentality of twelve-turn adolescents. Can you imagine the ribald comments that would come if people were aware of that aspect of our lives here? In order to maintain the respect necessary to perform our duties, we must remain silent about certain things. Our open, relaxed stance on sexuality being one of them.”

  Emlyn took a sip of the juice and was surprised by the tangy sensations running across her tongue. She’d never tasted it before, but she definitely liked it. She glanced up at Sábria as she formed her next question. “Are there couples here, inside the Temple?”

  “Yes, but not with men. Women form bonds with other women, but that doesn’t preclude either person from ministering to a fellow warrior should the need arise. Often, a couple will invite a third woman into their bed if that person is lonely or suffering in some way. For example, hypothetically speaking, when Tomisa married, there would have been no reason for you to leave Dreyutha because there isn’t the taboo against sensually comforting a third person outside of the marriage bond.”

  Sábria could tell that Emlyn was a bit overwhelmed, and when the bell for the midday meal sounded, she rose and took the empty glass from her hands. “There’s much more to learn, and so much more I will offer you as your Arch Priestess. But for now, Commander Shirin is waiting for you in the outer reception area. She’ll get you to the proper people who will help you settle into life here at the Temple.” Setting the glasses on the side table, Sábria turned and held her arms at her sides. “Normally, at this point, I’d offer you a hug, but I sense that would make you uncomfortable, yes?”

  “Yes, My Lady.”

  “Then,” she placed a hand on Emlyn’s back and directed her to the door, “I’ll be seeing you soon to continue with your orientation. Welcome to our family, Guardian Emlyn, and well met.”

  Three

  Being summoned to the Temple’s back gate near the deadnight bell wasn’t something that happened to Sábria anymore. When she was younger, it happened on a regular basis. People brought battered and misused women to the gate every few days, and it was the duty of the younger warriors guarding the gates, which she’d been at one time, to bring them inside and assess their needs. But for one of those guards to request the presence of the Arch Priestess was not only unusual, it was unheard of.