by Robin Roseau
I turned and paused again. Everyone was watching me, most of them with smiles. I returned the smiles and then stepped forward, circling the room, circling the new altar. Our order didn’t have a specific ceremony to follow when consecrating a temple. There were customs followed in Alteara when a family dedicated a shrine to our Prestainamatta, but they were informal and varied. I had read accounts of what happened in other countries, but I hadn’t liked anything I read.
And so I had worked with the priestesses closest to me, and we had devised a simple ceremony.
I circled the room. I circled the bare altar, three times in total, and while I did so, I spoke simply. “Prestainamatta, we dedicate this beautiful place to you. We hope you will feel welcome.” I said that once, each time I passed, and then I came to a stop at the stone, the altar between me and the sea, and so from where I stood, I could look out at the people, and beyond them, the sea.
The plan was for me to invoke the spell Yahamala had given me, and afterwards, we would speak of her words. The Goddess had her own plan.
I lifted my arms and called, “Prestainamatta, be welcome in this place, dedicated to you.” And then I reached inside myself, found the magic she had given me, and I pulled it forth.
There was a gasp, a collective gasp from all in witness, barely noticed by me. The reason wasn’t clear to me at the time, but I would learn later I had begun to glow as the magic poured forth, and I wouldn’t stop glowing until it was complete.
But I felt the magic pouring from me, surrounding me, and then connecting to the stone of the altar. And from that point forth, it was the Goddess in control, and I was nothing but her High Priestess.
My hands lowered, and I leaned forward, pressing against the altar, and then my hands came to a stop over the center of the altar. “Prestainamatta!” I called out. “The Goddess of My Heart. Prestainamatta! Prestainamatta! Prestainamatta!” And then my hands moved, and the magic flowed. Underneath my hands, letters formed in the stone, deeply etched by divine hand.
Prestainamatta.
“It is beautiful, Yallameenara,” she said to me. “It is perfect.”
And then...
I waited, still caught by the spell, my hands held over the altar.
Waiting.
Waiting for what would happen next.
Time passed. Oh, it couldn’t have been that long. Heartbeats perhaps, or perhaps longer. On this, I didn’t ask.
But then Larien took Terél’s hand, and together they stepped forward. Thrice they circled the altar before stepping into place beside me. I felt my link with them flare, flare brightly, and there was another gasp, as they began to glow alongside me. And then the magic took them. Together, they lifted their hands, holding them over the altar, holding hands, with one free each. And so it was as if three hands moved, not four.
“Love!” they said together, then again, then one final time.
And the magic poured into the stone of the altar, etching the words.
That hadn’t been the plan. They were each to say their own words. But I was lost to the magic, lost in homage to the Goddess.
Vérundia and Hastiá clasped hands and circled, coming to a stop to my right. The link flared, and they raised their hands into place.
“Serenity!”
And the words flowed from their hands to etch the stone.
Mandi and Nissi stepped forward, each holding the hand of a princess, her mother. I wouldn’t realize until later it was Nissi who held Juleena’s hand, and Mandi who held Alta’s. They circled before Mandi and Alta stopped to the left, Nissi and Juleena to the right.
“A Gift Given!”
“A Gift Received!”
And the five -- as Alta carried a child -- were pulled into the spell. And I heard Yahamala’s laughter.
Lamarta collected her mother’s hand. Mellara and Lamarta circled and came to a stop.
“Trust!”
Mellara began to cry as the magic drew her in. She wasn’t the only one, and I would find remnants of my own tears, later, once the magic released me.
Tyreen and Gressa stepped forward, and they drew all the other acolytes with them. There wasn’t room for all nearest the altar, but they formed a chain, leading away, with Tyreen and Gressa at the fore. They stepped into place and lifted their hands.
“Joy!”
And the magic drew all of them into its embrace.
Queen Ralalta and Hallámierté were the final pair, circling before coming to a stop across from me, their backs to the sea.
“Change!”
The word dug into the stone. Ralalta and Hallámierté were gathered into the spell.
The magic still held me. Of their own, my hands moved, closer to me, and I spoke the word.
“Ralisht!” Life.
The final word bore into stone, the altar forever changed by the magic of the Goddess.
But it wasn’t done. I felt more magic pouring from me, magic I didn’t even know was there. From the audience there was yet another gasp as a wavering image appeared hovering in the air immediately over the altar, immediately over the central word.
“Prestainamatta,” I whispered.
I could see through her; she wasn’t there, not entirely, anyway. But she turned a slow circle, hovering in the air, looking everyone.
“It is beautiful, Yallameenara,” she said. “It is perfect. Thank you.”
And then she turned one more slow circle, blowing kisses to a few and holding her hands over her heart to others. She turned another half circle facing the sea, and waited a moment.
No one spoke a word.
Finally she turned back to me. “I will hear you in this place, and I will come when I can. Thank you, Yallameenara. I love you so much.”
And then she didn’t fade, but she sank. She sank into the stone altar, and as she did, her light spread throughout the stone, coming to rest in the words, the central word and the eight surrounding it.
And the words began to glow, each in its own color, the colors of the gems in the Heart of The Heart. The words glowed, each its own color.
The central word was unique, of course, and it also glowed, but it took the color of each of the other words, holding the turquoise of life for perhaps a minute before becoming the ruby of love or the quartz pink of serenity. There was no set order, and there was no set duration, but the colors slowly shifted from one to another.
And then the magic slowly released us. We each slumped onto the altar, panting a moment before straightening.
And that was when I brushed away the tears.
Here and there, women were hugging. Others were looking to me. Larien and Terél shifted, each setting a hand on my arm. And then Vérundia and Hastiá mirrored them on my other side.
I looked around, and I saw in each pair of eyes what I was sure had to be mirrored in my own.
Awe.
“Did everyone see her?” I asked, my voice barely even a whisper.
“Yes,” Ralalta answered for all of them. “Yes.”
“It glows, Mama,” Mandi said, brushing her fingers over the stone. “A gift given!”
“So it does, Darling,” I replied, looking down at the altar. I brushed my fingers over the nearest words, reaching to the center and to either side.
I stayed like that for a moment before withdrawing my hands. I turned to Larien and Terél and opened my arms. They came to me, together. We hugged and exchanged kisses, intimate kisses, one for each of them and one between the two of them. Then they released me, and I turned around, offering the same greeting to Vérundia and Hastiá. From them I circled the altar, hugging and kissing each, my daughters receiving motherly kisses, Ralalta and Hallámierté a kiss from a daughter, and the younger acolytes receiving theirs on their cheeks.
I intended the same for Gressa and Tyreen, but Gressa surprised me, offering a kiss of adults, and Tyreen followed her example.
After I kissed her, Mellara held me tightly. “I am with child,” she whispered to me.
&nbs
p; “I know,” I replied. “Do you regret taking in Féla’s nieces?”
“No. But we need to talk.”
“Today?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” I agreed before slipping from her.
After that, I worked the room, moving more quickly than I had, but I hugged everyone and kissed more than a few. Then I moved to the open doors. The crowd had begun talking, but as they noticed me watching them, they grew quiet, looking up at me.
“Well,” I said. “We weren’t expecting that. I’m a little undone.”
At that, Ralalta stepped to my side, sliding an arm around me. “Do you need a break?” she asked quietly.
“No,” I replied. “But I don’t know what to say to them.” I turned to her. “Do you?”
“I could think of something,” she said with a smile. “Collect yourself, and step forward when you’re ready.”
I nodded to her and stepped back. I didn’t watch where I was going, but I found myself surrounded by my household, my wives, our daughters, and those closest to me. They all hugged or touched me while I watched the queen.
“No one was expecting that,” said Ralalta. “You can each decide for yourselves what it means, but if you ask me, you can guess what I might answer.”
She spoke for a minute or so, and then I gave a few quick cheek kisses before stepping forward. Ralalta must have been listening, because she turned as I drew near and finished what she was saying.
I walked into her arms, and we hugged tightly.
Then I stepped past her, and I began singing one of the songs of the autumnal equinox. I moved down the steps and finished the first verse alone. As I began the chorus, those behind me joined in.
I sang the song as I walked through the people. And as I walked, and as I sang, I collected hands, and I pulled them closer to the temple, closer where they could better hear. And I saw my other priestesses doing the same, drawing the people closer, ushering them forward.
And then I walked back up the steps into the temple, still singing, but others remained behind.
I returned to the temple, and I held the celebration. Larien and Terél offered translations.
And I felt our Prestainamatta the entire time.
* * * *
My eyes searched. I hadn’t seen Ralalta for an hour. I wondered if she had returned to the palace. I didn’t see her, but I saw Juleena talking to Keelara, and so I moved that way. Keelara saw me approaching and gestured, and so they were both ready for my arrival. “Your mother?” I asked Juleena.
“Did you need her?” my wife asked. “Gwenla provided chairs for those who needed them.” She gestured. “They’re about where the center of your garden will be.”
“Oh,” I said, concerned. “Did we keep her overlong?”
“Do you think you could have sent her home?” Juleena asked with a laugh.
“Everyone had so many questions.”
“I kept answering the same ones over and over,” she replied.
I smiled, understanding. So had I. We both glanced over to see some of our lingering visitors clustered around the altar, some of them fingering the letters engraved into the stone. Larien and Terél were with them, and Mandi, too. As I watched, Larien looked up and caught me watching her. She returned my smile then turned her attention back to our guests.
“The altar is beautiful,” Juleena said.
“I had no idea,” I admitted. “None at all.”
“Do you suppose it’s going to glow all the time, or only during a celebration?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “But if I had to guess, I think I’d guess all the time. Please don’t spread that guess around.”
They both nodded to me. I turned to Keelara. “Lieutenant, what did you think?”
“I’m not sure what to think,” she said. “But I think...” She trailed off and offered a distant look before refocusing her gaze back to me. “I don’t know what to call you anymore.”
“You’ve called me Yalla for years.”
“And you just used my title.”
“I guess I did,” I admitted. “Call me what you want, Keelara.”
“Yalla, I think it is time I began learning more about your goddess.”
“Is that a passing thought, or more serious?”
“I think more serious,” she said. “But I do not believe my schedule would allow for serious study. And I know you are busy as well.”
“High Priestess,” Juleena injected, “I believe Lieutenant Keelara may not be the only person to show new interest. And as word spreads, interest is going to come from outside the castle and even outside Marport.”
The implications were nearly overwhelming. I looked back and forth between them, finally making at least one decision. “Keelara, I pray to our Prestainamatta every morning. It is not a fixed scheduled but is the first thing I do each morning. You would be welcome to join me. You are also welcome to invite me or the other priestesses to all the conversations you would like. Any of us would be more than pleased to talk to you about Yahamala.”
“I don’t want to intrude on your personal time,” Keelara replied.
“If you’re talking about my morning prayers, you would not be intruding. And you must know I would find time for you.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“I am going to think about the other things that were said,” I added.
“I have two related requests,” Keelara said. “High Priestess, might I suggest that you share somewhat widely your schedule of celebrations? Do you hold formal worship each week? I have heard other gods ask this of their followers.”
“I pray on an informal schedule,” I replied. “But I see where you are going. How widely are you suggesting?”
“Widely enough I would know when I could join you,” she replied.
I nodded. “Is there somewhere in the guardhouse to post a schedule, somewhere you would easily see?”
“Yes.”
“It might take me a little time, but I will make sure something is posted. What was your other request?”
She turned to my wife. “Princess Juleena, I should pass this request through my captain, but I formally request to be included in the honor guard the next time it travels to Alteara.” She turned back to me. “By your permission as well, High Priestess.”
“I’d love if you came, Lieutenant,” I said. “But I do not wish to get into the middle of decisions like this, if I can avoid it.”
“Of course,” she replied. “I didn’t want to impose myself.”
“It wouldn’t be an imposition,” I said, but I decided it was thoughtful of her to consider my feelings. I paused. “Keelara, if you only expect to go once, then I don’t want you to make that decision until you have spent some time learning about her.”
“What are you thinking, Yalla?” Juleena asked.
“I am thinking she should understand the words and be able to answer the question you know our Prestainamatta will ask her.”
Juleena snickered. “Now I understand. Keelara, you have my support, but you’re right. This should go through your captain. I’d rather not interfere unless it’s necessary.”
Keelara looked back and forth between Juleena and me for a moment then settled her gaze on me. “What if I’d like to go more than once?”
“You would be welcome,” I said immediately. “But there are implications if you do not hold her in your heart, and other implications if you do. I do not want to be specific.”
“I know the other guards remain in the valley,” she said.
“And I cannot make promises, but that could change for those who invite her into their heart,” I replied.
“Lieutenant,” Juleena said, “Unless you ask for a transfer to the High Priestess Guard, I do not think you should expect to travel for each trip, but I would support you going as often as fits your other responsibilities.”
Keelara nodded. “I’m going to talk to my captain.”
“Tell her I approve,
” Juleena said, “but that we recognize you have diverse duties.”
“I will,” Keelara said. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“I’m going to check on Mother,” I said.
Spreading the Word
“Well, Yalla,” said Ralalta later that evening. “You requested this little meeting.”
Around the room, there were snorts. Little meeting indeed. Present in the queen’s chambers was the Queen, Lady Malta, both my wives, my maid-spies, and excepting the acolytes, all my priestesses present in Marport. Well, and Gressa and Tyreen, who I had begun thinking of as my scribe-priestesses. There was barely enough seating for everyone, some scrunched onto the sofa, but I had intentionally taken a chair alone when we’d all sat.
I set my tea aside and said, “I’ll get to it. This afternoon, Juleena and Keelara said some interesting things. Keelara asked for an education, and Juleena suggested interest was going to grow, and there was an implication it could come suddenly. I want to discuss that, and if we decide she is right, how are we going to respond to it.” I turned to look at the queen. “I can’t imagine this conversation without your involvement.”
She nodded. “Of course, Yalla. Normally I would sit back and let this discussion proceed before commenting, but I’m going to shortcut it this time. Juleena is right. There is interest, and it’s going to grow dramatically. I consider that a given, so the only thing to discuss is if anyone thinks I’m wrong.”
There were more snorts. Ralalta was never wrong.
“Well then,” she said after a moment. “So we do not need to discuss if there is interest, or if it will grow. Do we need to discuss the amount of interest?”
No one said anything to that, so after a moment of looking around, she turned her gaze to me. “Interest and devotion are not the same.”