In reality Ellanor had no desire to visit the temple, but the escape from the castle was welcomed. Despite it only having been two nights, the properness of Redstone felt suffocating – there was no room to relax.
The night before Ellanor had updated Tara on the day’s conversions with the Daltons, and the details of today’s trip.
“I have convinced the Duchess to leave you alone as long as you stay out of sight,” Ellanor had said. “You will sleep here, in the other suite, and you can only use the servant’s passages to move around the castle. Even then I want you to be careful.”
Tara had bowed her head. “Yes, Madam.”
Lukas had stayed with Tara at the castle as Jane set out with Ellanor and Duke Dalton on their trip. Unlike the past few days, today’s weather was grey. The air was thick with the coming of a storm, and the cloudy sky held a promise of rain.
The party of three rode in silence. To Ellanor’s surprise Dalton had not brought any of his own guards, entrusting Jane with their protection. Though Ellanor could see why – the mountain road was well trafficked by tourists as well as pilgrims and locals, all on their way to or from the temple. As they got closer to the top, blue clad temple guards lined the road. Compared to the black winged Legionaries, these guards lacked the heavy armour and gave friendly nods and smiles to the people passing by.
“Have you ever been to a temple before?” Dalton asked from beside Ellanor. “If I am not mistaken, Lourelle was not the religious type.”
Ellanor adjusted her shirt where it was tucked into her riding trousers. “She was not, though she loved the culture surrounding it. We mostly visited older temples, the ones with a lot of history. I suppose that is why she so often mentioned Water Edge.”
Dalton nodded. “It is truly a sight to see,” he agreed and as they crested the last hill, Ellanor saw what the fuss was about.
When Ellanor had imagined the temple she had seen no more than a ruin in its place – an archaeological site like the ones further south, worn down by nature or scarred by ancient wars. But standing before her was a building unlike any other she had ever seen. On the flat mountain top lay a stone structure, wider than it was tall, of a box-like shape; the roof was supported by giant pillars, carved with intricate patterns of masterful precision, and leading up to the giant gate was a wide staircase that stretched the entire length of the building before wrapping around the edges. Ellanor had only ever seen such architecture depicted in books and paintings.
She could only stare in awe as they rode up to the base of the steps, where two young acolytes took away their horses.
“It’s a marvel, is it not?” the Duke said from beside her. “I used to come here a lot as a boy, whilst my sisters were being trained. I wanted to know everything there was to know about this place.”
Ellanor glanced at him as they climbed the steps. “I did not take you for the religious type, Duke.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, I am not, though I sure was convinced I was back then. For the longest time I wanted to become a scholar, I even studied under the Head here at Water Edge.”
“Well, what made you change your mind?”
He is quiet for a bit, thinking over his answer. “I usually tell people it was because of me not wanting to go through with changing my wings from white to blue – the procedure is rumoured to have horrible side effects for some – but truth to be told it was Dorethy that made me stay at Redstone.”
Ellanor counted in her head, trying to match up the timeline. “You… must be younger than I thought, then,” she said, trying not to sound rude.
Dalton laughed, seeming to relax a little. “I am ninety-three – I was seventy-two when you were born.”
“How old was mum?” The word slipped from Ellanor’s lips, and to her surprise it felt… right.
He startled and paused for a moment, something warm in his eyes. “She was thirty-six,” he said and continued up the last few steps.
Ellanor came to a stop at the top of the stairs and craned her neck to look up at the temple. “That is quite the age difference,” she said. High above them the terrace ceiling loomed, it too decorated in beautiful carvings.
“Maybe by Immortal standard,” Dalton answered, “but from Dorethy’s perspective we are all the same. I have come to find that humans see little difference between our ages, it makes us no less immortal to them.” He gestured towards the open gates. “Shall we?”
“I suppose so,” Ellanor said and walked toward the temple interior. Upon stepping inside it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the gloom in the air. Behind her, Jane said a small prayer before crossing the threshold.
The inside of the temple was as grand as the façde, painted in soft blues and striking gold. Its main hall reached all the way to the opposite side of the temple where an altar stood, carved out of white marmor and shaped like a pair of wings. Behind the altar the wall was missing, the roof instead held up by the same pillars as outside. Beyond the arches Ellanor spotted a garden, no doubt filled with herbs and spices used by the temple caretakers.
Beside her Ellanor heard a small gasp, and as she turned toward it she found Jane, mouth agape staining up at the ceiling. Following her gaze, Ellanor realized why.
Hanging above them, stretching along the length of the entire hall, was a statue of the Mother midflight. She wore a golden armour over a thin white dress; in one hand she held a sword, her other reaching out infront of her, palm up and cupping a star. Her golden wings spread out over the balconies that lined the hall three stories up, and made the light from the windows bounce around the room. It seemed impossible for such a thing to exist.
“How is it possible..?” Ellanor asked no one in particular – still an answer came from behind them.
“Years of labour and a smidge of magic, if you are to believe the records.”
“Reigh!” Dalton exclaimed and threw his arms around the woman. Ellanor stood stunned and watched in silence as the two hugged.
“Now, now, Tor,” the woman said. “Do not be rude, and introduce me to your company.”
Duke Dalton released her and backed away a step. With a cough he turned to Ellanor. “Ellanor, Jane – this is Reigh Canvameer, Head Priestess of Water Edge. Reigh, this is Madam Ellanor Skyward, of Skyward manor, and her guard, Jane.”
Ellanor nodded politely at Reigh, whilst Jane bowed at the waist, a hand at her throat – an old religious gesture of respect. The Head Priestess bowed back and spoke, “It was a long time since I last saw you, Madam.”
Ellanor frowned. “We have met before?” She tried to remember if there had ever been a priestess at one of Duke Dalton’s balls, but she was certain she would have remembered the woman before her. Reigh was a head shorter than Ellanor, with pale skin and the signature blue wings of a scholar – natural born, no doubt, judging by her purple eyes. Her robes were of a lighter blue than the guard’s and acolyte’s, with white and gold embroidery, and around her neck a pendant hung portraying the same scene as the statue above them.
Reigh smiled warmly. “Not that you would remember, no.” She nodded to her left. “I think it is best we speak somewhere secluded.” She began walking without waiting for a response. They followed the Head Priestess through a door and into a hallway meant only for workers.
As they walked Ellanor could not help but notice the wear and tear on the floor and walls where thousands upon thousands of feet had walked and hands had touched. Here, hidden from the public's view the marks left by history had remained, a solid reminder of the building’s age.
Somehow the Head Priestess must have sensed Ellanors train of thought. “We keep the nave and the other open rooms as close to original condition as we can – without ruining the integrity, of course. These parts, on the other hand,” Reigh said and gestured around her, “ here we want to preserve the marks of time, as evidence of its frequent use and worship.”
They came to a stop before a wooden door on the fifth floor that opened on near silent hinges into an office. Once again Ellanor was taken aback by the beauty of the architecture: just like the hall below them the far wall was made up of pillars, open to the sky beyond. The other three walls were lined with bookshelves from floor to ceiling, with a narrow balcony cutting the room into two levels. Reigh strode in and took up a seat behind a large desk in the middle of the room.
“Come sit, and let us talk.”
Ellanor did as told and sat in a chair opposite the priestess, though Duke Dalton did not follow.
“I believe it is better you two talk undisturbed,” he said, bowing from the door. “Jane and I will be waiting for you outside.”
Jane glanced between him and Ellanor, before saying, “Madam?”
“It is alright, Jane,” Ellanor said with a nod. “You may explore the temple as you wish.”
The guard’s eyes lit up and with a deep bow she was gone. The doors closed and Ellanor turned her attention to the Head Priestess on the other side of the desk.
“I suppose I will get right to the point,” Reigh said. “I dislike having to tiptoe around subjects.” Ellanor nodded and the priestess continued, “I was present when you were born.”
Ellanor looked down, unsure how to feel. “I figured as much,” she said after a bit, and met Reigh’s gaze. “You must know then who– what my mother was?”
She nodded. “Yes, I knew of your mother. I could not tell you much as to what kind of person she was, for I only met her once, but Tor loved her deeply.”
“Enough to abandon his faith,” Ellanor said.
The priestess laughed. “Oh, Tor was never a believer, he just fancied himself one. The only person he fooled was himself.” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. “I remember the day so clearly, the day he came here the first time. He was a boy back then, younger than you are now, and he came alone. The acolyte’s found him roaming the garden and brought him to me, and he told me he had run away from home.” She laughed again at the memory, her eyes glazing over slightly. “His mother – the late Grand Duchess Clair – was a great general, had a mind for strategy unlike anyone I have ever met, but she was a terrible mother. But it is not my place to discuss,” she added.
Ellanor tucked away the piece of information and said, “When did you find out about Dorethy?”
The priestess sat up straight and pursed her lips. “It was quite early in their relationship I believe. A few years before you came along. Of course, he did not tell me she was human, but he spoke of her often. I was happy he had found someone, a way to escape Redstone, I thought.” She sighed, eyes fixed at a spot behind Ellanor. “Like any young person in love he wanted me to keep it a secret, though I never suspected his love was for a human.”
“Did it disappoint you?” Ellanor asked.
“No, not at all,” Reigh said quickly. “No, it scared me – the thought of what might happen if someone else found out. It is not unheard of for a human to bear an avvir child, but it is never something that happens out of love.
“It was a week before you were born that he told me. Your mother was experiencing complications and he did not dare send for the family medic, so he came to me. I am not going to lie to you, I did not approve of his decision. My opinion on humans is neutral, but to bring a child into this world under those conditions… If anyone finds out what you are you will have your rights taken from you. And Tor will most likely be imprisoned for hiding you.”
A chill crept up Ellanor’s spine. “I know,” she said. “Who else was present at my birth?”
“A human woman, possibly a relative to your mother, maybe just someone she and Tor trusted.” Reigh fell silent.
For a long while Ellanor thought on what had been said. After a moment more she stood and bowed, hand at her throat. “Thank you, Head Priestess, for telling me this and for helping all those years ago.” She straightened and added, “I would not be alive without you.”
Reigh got up as well and returned the bow. “It has been a pleasure to meet you, Madam Skyward. I hope to see you again soon. You will always be welcome here.”
When exiting the office an acolyte was waiting to escort her back out. Once back at the gates, beneath the foot of the dangling Mother statue, Ellanor found Duke Dalton standing in conversation with Jane. The pair looked up as she approached.
“I am ready to go home,” Ellanor said by way of greeting.
Jane bowed and disappeared off to find their horses.
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