>>6358483Sandora’s green eyes go wide, and not with sea-sickness.
The Inquisitor was there, of course. She had been there since the very beginning, but for Sandora it might still be strange to consider the actual age of the auburn-haired, bandaged woman.
“That is a kinder way to put it than most,” she sighs, running a hand through her mane. “She refers to the time Saint Bragia Lacresta dispatched the Worm, six centuries ago,” she adds. “Just to make sure everyone understands… I was in Madua at the time. The attack came like a thief in the night, got us all by surprise. I fell asleep in its maw like everyone else.” She turns her face away, flushing at the memory. “I was as useless as a cut lifeline.”
Right.
Only Bragia <span class="mu-i">knew</span> what she precisely did to kill the Worm the first time, and you did not stop to ask her precise instructions the last time.
Who else could help?
You raise your eyes to Her sun.
But no miracle vision fills your eyes.
Which means only one thing.
You will have to work for it.
Such is the Will of Ansàrra.
It carried you throughout all this, even in the darkest times, like with the Well, when that mask whispered to you and—
<span class="mu-i">Wait</span>.
“It was a pilgrimage,” you whisper.
The other women glance at you, in silence. Only Soralisa seems to guess what you are about to say.
“The Well. Remember?”
Rubida winces. Soralisa shakes her head.
She only arrived at the last moment after all.
The only one who was there with you until the end, was Willow.
“Those people outside of the Well! The ones with the…” you splay your hand in front of your face. “The cultists! How did they know how to find that spot?”
“The Sisters speak in dreams and nightmares,” Rubida whispers. “My uncle suffered from many a sleepless night ere his downfall.”
“Well. If there is one thing I know about the Seven is that they would not do anything without an audience. We need to find the cultists and track their movements.”
“Those must have been in the past already,” Sandora points out. “If the Worm’s resurrection already happened, then there must have been a great movement of people past the last few cycles. After your friend… left.” She bites her lips. “Are you sure you want to do this for Willow?”
“She is my friend. Like you said.”
“Ha. No other reason needed. Sounds like you indeed, Argia Candente.”
Soralisa clicks her tongue, shares a longing look with Rubida.
“We can give her the benefit of the doubt. She was singled out by the Seven. Sunbirther knows what venom they poured into her ears.”
“One last time,” Rubida agrees.
[cont.]