94 Guess that poke-cough (1/2)

A dull sigh echoed through the halls as the high priestess looked over the host of priests assembled before her. She gazed at the eyes of her subordinates, a small feeling of warmth in her heart before she opened her mouth.

”Young acolytes and old veterans, it is that time again. The time where we celebrate the past and pray for the future! The festival of the snake father is upon us! It is time for us to feast with the world eater.

For those new and inexperienced, the world eater is the island's patron, and it is time for us to honor him once more! The feast has been placed before his eyes and the time for the supper draws near. Lay your minds to rest and bow in deep penitence so our home may continue to prosper as it has.” She said as she looked at each of the priests before her.

Her eyes roved through the hall giving everyone a cursory glance before she smiled.

”Merla! Step forth. Balogna step forth! Tyr step forth! You three shall go to the feasting halls and aid the soldiers prepare for the festival. Gather the priests under your name and chose a few to aid you. At the strike of the midnight hour the festival shall begin!”

Then she had turned her back on the priests before her and walked through the dimly lit hallway behind her. A Sharp yellow light seemed to shine on her back giving the young priests an illusion of a stable mountain.

On this island the head priestess was supreme. What she said was the law and all she did was for the benefit of her people.

As she exited the room the empty podium was immediately claimed by the young Merla. Her eyes cut through the group before her as she glared.

”Teacher might not have warned you of this thus I shall take it upon myself to do so! Tonight is a very important night for her and I, and anyone that puts even a toe out of line, mark my words redemption shall be swift and terrible!” Then with a derisive snort, her glare redoubled.

”What are you all waiting for, scuttle!”

Balogna and Tyr looked at the fleeing backs of the many priests, a serious expression on their face. Behind them stood Terrick and Breta, now called one and two.

They had arrived following the old duo and had stood behind them throughout the entire thing, even pushing their way to the front of the group when the duo were called to the podium.

Merla turned around with a savage grin, happy at the amount of 'respect' that she was accorded. Suddenly she caught sight Terrick and Breta hiding behind the elderly couple and snarled.

”What are you doing here? Did I not tell you to scram? Run and get back to work maggots!” She roared at them not caring for the old couple in front of her.

Merla glared at him with a nasty glare. She had been chosen as a student to the high priestess and still, her teacher often trusted these old bag of bones more than she trusted even her! It was infuriating, and every glance she took at these old people was another reminder to her of this.

Her young immature mind could not understand her own position, and had at many times assumed that the priests, who she was also a part of where her inferiors.

With a curt and violent nod she walked off in a huff, once more huffing at the apparent lack of respect.

Tyr turned back to them with a kind smile. ”What did you say your names were again?”

Balogna glared at him, ”You old coot, it's obviously …” And she quieted off, forgetting their names as well.

Terrick looked at them, suspicion hidden in his eyes. 'How could someone that senile possibly be trusted so much? Where they faking it? No, their pulses remained stable throughout the entire exchange, and they truly looked clueless….What is going on?' he thought to himself.

”It is one and two, old seniors…” Breta answered them, before looking over at them with a smile. ”Now then weren't you both planning on taking us to the feast hall?”

******************Angella groaned in pain as she slowly stirred. The world around her seemed to shift scarily as a weird smell assaulted her nostrils.

She could barely make out a shadow that stood over her, as her head began to ring. With a small lurch she bent over, candidly spilling her guts of the food that she had consumed last.

As she looked up, her vision clearing, she could make out the silhouette of a man. He had taken a step back hastily when she had begun to puke and stood there calmly.