>>6128131At this point it’s useless to try. You let it go. It’s not your duty to try and share the light of Ansàrra with those who shut themselves off from it.
And yet, Willow’s words echo in your mind.
“I wonder if your Crow is here with us.”
Sandora frowns.
“She certainly is.”
So it is a woman. For some reason you thought otherwise.
“I was just wondering. Salicera felt her presence.”
“Now that’s just ridiculous.”
“You have seen how antsy she got back in your cabin. I know because you must have noticed it; after all, you seem to know everything about us.”
“I’m a teacher,” she replies, as if that would explain everything. Besides, that’s not an actual reply.
“Is she going to fight with us or against us? If you get attacked in the Temple—”
“No Crows in the Temple, please remember.”
“Before that, then. We are putting our trust in the Throne with this mission. Will she hinder us?”
“Perhaps the other three. There is something in you, Argia Candente. Some kind of… thread. I can’t foresee, it’s not my gift — blessed be the Stars it’s not — but I feel that if my Crow were to try and <span class="mu-i">hinder</span> you, there would be other forces stepping it make sure this would not be the case.”
You scratch your neck.
“Perhaps. I have had… I feel…”
The Asterite tilts her head. You wonder if you can trust her with this information. Then again, perhaps she’s the only person knowledgeable enough to give you a different perspective on things. Being a foreigner, a former-heathen, coming to the Faith always felt like putting someone else’s clothes on.
You felt this with the difference in the Kishirra tradition. Maybe…
“I have visions sometimes. I hear the voices and I feel the scent. It’s like I’m walking in someone else’s memory — I don’t know what this means, but you are right on that account. The Sun-Birther feels closer at times. I don’t if I should be worried. it certainly feels like this pressure is too large for my shoulders to bear.”
The Asterite gives you one long look, then shifts her eyes towards your cameo.
“You carry that on your chest. Do you know what it is?”
[cont.]
