THE BEGINNING
"Priestess! Please, you must stay within the confines of the carriage. Please! It's a wonder no one from that village followed us. Priestess!" Amalie hissed for the hundredth time that afternoon.
The woman didn't yell or raise her voice, instead she hissed. A tone that belied her so-called vows. She was beautiful, even in her age, but she had a foul way of her; a stern anger that reared it's ugly head whenever her vision wasn't precisely adhered to. Amalie stalked forward, manicured hands lifting expensive skirting. "Priestess, please!" This time it was more moan than hiss, and she turned round, searching the freckled, wrinkled face of the woman who was supposed to know her best.
"My name is Katarzyna Nupera. My friends call me Zyna. Those who've seen my magic call me the Songbird. And yes, I am the last Priestess of Nargath, but please Lady Amalie, call me Katarzyna."
The young woman stood from the clear waters of the lake, annoyance marring her usually calm facade. Her long tresses hung limp and straight, covering her breasts and privates, falling halfway past her thighs. The guards that stood nearest averted their eyes on instinct, but Amalie continued to stalk forward, her skirts ever rising against the muddied shoreline.
"Katarzyna," Lady Amalie hissed, anger finally gracing her psyche. "The sun is full in the sky and you are bathing in a lake our guards are unable to completely search. Leaving the temple was not something we decided lightly, Katar-"
"It wasn't something I was able to decide on at all. Though I'm liking the freedom I've attained." Katarzyna interrupted slyly, walking from the lake as Amalie continued to droll on, her voice elevating with the end of every sentence.
"-zyna. You left the carriage in the middle of that village! What if someone had recognized you? What if they're on our trail as we speak? You cannot and will not, apparently, understand how important you are. But no, go ahead, trapeze around in the lake like some kind of water nymph. Go! Hmf."
"Lady Amalie, please be calm."
Katarzyna grabbed her cloak from the log and wrapped it around her shoulders, freeing her wet hair from within it's confines once her cloak was secured. There was a sigh of relief from the guard standing behind Lady Amalie, and Katarzyna did her best to hide the smile growing upon her lips. She plucked her boots and riding gown from the log and crossed the gap between she and Amalie. Reconciling slightly, Zyna gave her an apologetic glance and a small bow before walking back to the carriage barefooted.
There was grass beneath her feet. Tall, wild, untamed… Splashes of colors broke up the monotonous but lovely green, and she weaved in and out, careful not to trample over the flowers. She envied the freedom of this small meadow, of the horses that had their head's; grazing free without a scarce thought to their whereabouts, trusted enough not to be reined. Zyna glanced around, noting the trees had already changed from her sturdy oaks and willows to something stronger, taller, filled with more life.
What did Amalie expect of her? For years she was trapped behind a sea-stone temple, taught the ways of her clandestine craft until her fingers and nose bled. And now she was free. Free from the studying and the praying and the monotony that was her life. Besides, the horses needed rest and she needed a bath.
Weren't priestess' to be clean?
With a groan of defeat Katarzyna climbed into the carriage, the dirt on her feet sticking to the rushes lining the inside. Changing into her riding gown quickly, she waited for the Lady by slipping into her boots and attaching her dagger and sheath to the leather around her waist. She needn't wait long, however, as the woman climbed in and sat across from her. Crossing her arms and legs and glaring disappointedly just above her head, Lady Amalie bounced her foot until suddenly the carriage lurched forward and they were off once more.
She didn't know where they were going, not entirely. Whenever she asked, she was simply told, "North". And north they went, ever slowly, only stopping for supplies and when the horses needed rest. On and on they went, till this day, in this very moment… But there was nothing she wanted more.
"Priestess Katarzyna!"
With a start she jolted forward, her left hand reaching for her blade as she glanced about wildly. It was dark and she felt cramped but she listened with a daze, as Lady Amalie explained they were watering the horses and something about moonlight. Katarzyna rubbed her eyes and waved the woman off, still taken with sleep and dreams and visions.
@Tarieles
"Priestess! Please, you must stay within the confines of the carriage. Please! It's a wonder no one from that village followed us. Priestess!" Amalie hissed for the hundredth time that afternoon.
The woman didn't yell or raise her voice, instead she hissed. A tone that belied her so-called vows. She was beautiful, even in her age, but she had a foul way of her; a stern anger that reared it's ugly head whenever her vision wasn't precisely adhered to. Amalie stalked forward, manicured hands lifting expensive skirting. "Priestess, please!" This time it was more moan than hiss, and she turned round, searching the freckled, wrinkled face of the woman who was supposed to know her best.
"My name is Katarzyna Nupera. My friends call me Zyna. Those who've seen my magic call me the Songbird. And yes, I am the last Priestess of Nargath, but please Lady Amalie, call me Katarzyna."
The young woman stood from the clear waters of the lake, annoyance marring her usually calm facade. Her long tresses hung limp and straight, covering her breasts and privates, falling halfway past her thighs. The guards that stood nearest averted their eyes on instinct, but Amalie continued to stalk forward, her skirts ever rising against the muddied shoreline.
"Katarzyna," Lady Amalie hissed, anger finally gracing her psyche. "The sun is full in the sky and you are bathing in a lake our guards are unable to completely search. Leaving the temple was not something we decided lightly, Katar-"
"It wasn't something I was able to decide on at all. Though I'm liking the freedom I've attained." Katarzyna interrupted slyly, walking from the lake as Amalie continued to droll on, her voice elevating with the end of every sentence.
"-zyna. You left the carriage in the middle of that village! What if someone had recognized you? What if they're on our trail as we speak? You cannot and will not, apparently, understand how important you are. But no, go ahead, trapeze around in the lake like some kind of water nymph. Go! Hmf."
"Lady Amalie, please be calm."
Katarzyna grabbed her cloak from the log and wrapped it around her shoulders, freeing her wet hair from within it's confines once her cloak was secured. There was a sigh of relief from the guard standing behind Lady Amalie, and Katarzyna did her best to hide the smile growing upon her lips. She plucked her boots and riding gown from the log and crossed the gap between she and Amalie. Reconciling slightly, Zyna gave her an apologetic glance and a small bow before walking back to the carriage barefooted.
There was grass beneath her feet. Tall, wild, untamed… Splashes of colors broke up the monotonous but lovely green, and she weaved in and out, careful not to trample over the flowers. She envied the freedom of this small meadow, of the horses that had their head's; grazing free without a scarce thought to their whereabouts, trusted enough not to be reined. Zyna glanced around, noting the trees had already changed from her sturdy oaks and willows to something stronger, taller, filled with more life.
What did Amalie expect of her? For years she was trapped behind a sea-stone temple, taught the ways of her clandestine craft until her fingers and nose bled. And now she was free. Free from the studying and the praying and the monotony that was her life. Besides, the horses needed rest and she needed a bath.
Weren't priestess' to be clean?
With a groan of defeat Katarzyna climbed into the carriage, the dirt on her feet sticking to the rushes lining the inside. Changing into her riding gown quickly, she waited for the Lady by slipping into her boots and attaching her dagger and sheath to the leather around her waist. She needn't wait long, however, as the woman climbed in and sat across from her. Crossing her arms and legs and glaring disappointedly just above her head, Lady Amalie bounced her foot until suddenly the carriage lurched forward and they were off once more.
She didn't know where they were going, not entirely. Whenever she asked, she was simply told, "North". And north they went, ever slowly, only stopping for supplies and when the horses needed rest. On and on they went, till this day, in this very moment… But there was nothing she wanted more.
"Priestess Katarzyna!"
With a start she jolted forward, her left hand reaching for her blade as she glanced about wildly. It was dark and she felt cramped but she listened with a daze, as Lady Amalie explained they were watering the horses and something about moonlight. Katarzyna rubbed her eyes and waved the woman off, still taken with sleep and dreams and visions.
@Tarieles