Changing clothes, Bryony gathered a basket before heading for the gardens.

Waving to several guards, Bryony traveled down a familiar path. The garden was her favorite place; with flora from various realms and where her mother started the tradition of naming every child after flower, save for Sage. And this year, it’d be where she’d hide from –

“Have you seen Princess Bryony?”

Stiffening, Bryony immediately turned a corner to hide, heart beating as she peered around just long enough to see a blond boy questioning a guard. Why was Sedrick looking for her? Before deciding if she should hide or run, footsteps startled her into fleeing. Guards watched her with bewilderment.

A small white building suddenly entered Bryony’s vision, hidden in a small section with walls of high bushes, and made a sudden stop just past its entrance, which was marked by white pillars. She’d never seen it before.

“My lady?” asked a guard down the path with concern. Bryony didn’t recognize her. “Is everything alright?”

Bryony pointed to the building. “If I hide here, will you not tell Prince Sedrick? Please?”

Blinking, the guard nodded. “Of course, my lady.”

Thanking her with relief, Bryony ran towards it. It was in a courtyard of filled white stones, which rolled under her feet as she slipped into the building and pressed herself against the closest wall, screwing her eyes shut while listening for Sedrick.

A minute passed, and Bryony held her breath as a familiar voice ask, “Did Princess Bryony pass here? I need to speak to her.”

The guard spoke calmly, with no hint that she knew Bryony was only a few dozen feet away as she lied, then added, “I’m afraid I didn’t see which path she took.”

Sedrick sighed and thanked her before walking off.

Breathing out heavily, Bryony slid to the floor. She was safe for the time being. Opening her eyes, she glanced around the small room, gasping as she noticed the eight faces glowing white even in the dim light. It was a temple she realized, just large enough for the seven statues circling half the room. Four the left, three on the right, all their faces turned towards the center statue.

Slowly standing, Bryony stepped to the closest statue, towering over her frame despite not being the tallest. Even though her family wasn’t very religious, she knew who they were. The four sister goddesses represented the four primary elements; the oldest, Hertha ruled the earth, Althea had power over water, Enya manipulated fire, and Sabiya, the youngest, controlled the air. Across them were the twins, Sorin, commander of sun and light, and Kieran, ruler of the moon and darkness. At Kieran’s side was his partner and lover, Lyra. Once a star, they were worshiped mainly by lovers.

At the center was Thalia, the mother, with hands outstretched to welcome all. Creator of all and who gifted magic to the world, or so the stories went. It’d been centuries since magic disappeared, and some found it hard to worship the one who’d taken it all back. Still, Bryony reached into her basket to place a bread roll at the statue’s feet and bowed in thanks.