Read Online The Paladin's Odyssey (The Windows of Heaven) by K.G. Powderly Jr. - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: K.G. Powderly Jr.
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she needs to be.”
“More likely—here, let me brush out the back for you.”
Pyra surrendered her brush. “I’m afraid for her,” she said.
“Can’t say I blame you.” ‘Phe carefully pulled through a tangle.
“All the stories say they never come back.”
“The mistresses say not to believe the stories.”
“Even the strangest legends are often rooted in at least some fact,” Pyra answered, quoting Khallio’Phe’s mother.
“Then we live to serve and sacrifice,” ‘Phe quoted back from the Novitiate’s Oath Pyra had taken yesterday afternoon.
The emptiness spread from the pit of Pyra’s stomach to become an amorphous shadow fold ing like a carrion gryphon’s wing over her entire life .
“It’s normal for me to be concerned, isn’t it?” That must be it — I’m just apprehensive about Mauma.
“Sure. Just don’t let it take over. You’ve got to think of yourself too . If I were you, I’d bring it up at our rotation’s monthly dialogue. Priestesses need support-of-the-heart too. You can’t just give and give and give. Nobody will look down on you for it. It’s perfectly acceptable to share your feelings there—even the really bad ones.”
To be quietly written down for review by over-mistress es — maybe as ‘dangerous thoughts?’ Pyra wondered all of a sudden why she made that connection. If she had n o t known better, she would have suspected that she was angry and afraid.
W
orking the Court of Meeting settled into its routine of worship hours, off-Court dialogues, and advanced novitiate level classes. Pyra now had access to the lower security areas of Epymetu’s Temple complex , among them a large menagerie of animals under the Court of Beasts where she liked to spend her leisure hours with Taanyx. ‘Phe complained that she really ought to mix more with the other priestesses, but Pyra had always been somewhat of a loner. She rather enjoyed the mystique.
The menagerie was where her mother had gotten the now rapidly - growing sphinx. Pyra had many warm memories of it and other place s where Mauma had taken her for outings as a little girl. S he had first discovered her ability to talk to the beasts in the menagerie, which made it a magic place.
She whispered to herself, “ How is Mauma? ”
Pyra felt a pang of guilt for not visiting since early last week. Her mother’s condition had looked so awful that she realized she was dreaming up excuses to stay away. I can’t keep doing that. Time is too short.
She slung her lyre back over her shoulder. I shouldn’t be playing to the animals when I could play for her instead.
Pyra trilled for Taanyx and headed for the menagerie door. The guard outside nodded a friendly greeting. She smiled back at him, which by the fire in his eyes, seemed to make his day. The children’s academy would still be in session, so at least she wouldn’t have to worry about Harachne.
She found her mother bedridden, with curtains pulled over the windows and skylight. A rank odor filled the bedchamber. Pyra had difficulty seeing her until her eyes adjusted.
“Mauma?”
The form on the divan was too large for Pyra’s mother, swollen abnormally about the face and limbs. Only the sunken eyes were familiar, though filled with unaccustomed pain. Patterns of bruises traced up and down her arms and legs.
“Mauma, what are they doing to you?”
“Darling, it’s necessary,” whispered the woman on the bed.
“Why?”
“I’m building the future—your future.”
“What future?”
Pyra heard the door hangings move behind her.
“Let your mother rest, darling.” Pandura swept around to the bed, her gold red hair the only color left in the room. She poured the contents of a small black tincture bottle into Mauma’s mouth.
“What’s that?”
Pandura wiped her daughter’s lips. “It will h elp her sleep and ease the pain. ”
“Why does it hurt so, Grandmother?”
Pandura stood up and turned to Pyra. “Her creation codes are
“More likely—here, let me brush out the back for you.”
Pyra surrendered her brush. “I’m afraid for her,” she said.
“Can’t say I blame you.” ‘Phe carefully pulled through a tangle.
“All the stories say they never come back.”
“The mistresses say not to believe the stories.”
“Even the strangest legends are often rooted in at least some fact,” Pyra answered, quoting Khallio’Phe’s mother.
“Then we live to serve and sacrifice,” ‘Phe quoted back from the Novitiate’s Oath Pyra had taken yesterday afternoon.
The emptiness spread from the pit of Pyra’s stomach to become an amorphous shadow fold ing like a carrion gryphon’s wing over her entire life .
“It’s normal for me to be concerned, isn’t it?” That must be it — I’m just apprehensive about Mauma.
“Sure. Just don’t let it take over. You’ve got to think of yourself too . If I were you, I’d bring it up at our rotation’s monthly dialogue. Priestesses need support-of-the-heart too. You can’t just give and give and give. Nobody will look down on you for it. It’s perfectly acceptable to share your feelings there—even the really bad ones.”
To be quietly written down for review by over-mistress es — maybe as ‘dangerous thoughts?’ Pyra wondered all of a sudden why she made that connection. If she had n o t known better, she would have suspected that she was angry and afraid.
W
orking the Court of Meeting settled into its routine of worship hours, off-Court dialogues, and advanced novitiate level classes. Pyra now had access to the lower security areas of Epymetu’s Temple complex , among them a large menagerie of animals under the Court of Beasts where she liked to spend her leisure hours with Taanyx. ‘Phe complained that she really ought to mix more with the other priestesses, but Pyra had always been somewhat of a loner. She rather enjoyed the mystique.
The menagerie was where her mother had gotten the now rapidly - growing sphinx. Pyra had many warm memories of it and other place s where Mauma had taken her for outings as a little girl. S he had first discovered her ability to talk to the beasts in the menagerie, which made it a magic place.
She whispered to herself, “ How is Mauma? ”
Pyra felt a pang of guilt for not visiting since early last week. Her mother’s condition had looked so awful that she realized she was dreaming up excuses to stay away. I can’t keep doing that. Time is too short.
She slung her lyre back over her shoulder. I shouldn’t be playing to the animals when I could play for her instead.
Pyra trilled for Taanyx and headed for the menagerie door. The guard outside nodded a friendly greeting. She smiled back at him, which by the fire in his eyes, seemed to make his day. The children’s academy would still be in session, so at least she wouldn’t have to worry about Harachne.
She found her mother bedridden, with curtains pulled over the windows and skylight. A rank odor filled the bedchamber. Pyra had difficulty seeing her until her eyes adjusted.
“Mauma?”
The form on the divan was too large for Pyra’s mother, swollen abnormally about the face and limbs. Only the sunken eyes were familiar, though filled with unaccustomed pain. Patterns of bruises traced up and down her arms and legs.
“Mauma, what are they doing to you?”
“Darling, it’s necessary,” whispered the woman on the bed.
“Why?”
“I’m building the future—your future.”
“What future?”
Pyra heard the door hangings move behind her.
“Let your mother rest, darling.” Pandura swept around to the bed, her gold red hair the only color left in the room. She poured the contents of a small black tincture bottle into Mauma’s mouth.
“What’s that?”
Pandura wiped her daughter’s lips. “It will h elp her sleep and ease the pain. ”
“Why does it hurt so, Grandmother?”
Pandura stood up and turned to Pyra. “Her creation codes are
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