Prayers at Dawn

[Amar]

"So long, so long its been since she came to me that fateful night. Does
she care anymore? Have I been following her will? Am I doing the right
thing? My memories of that first night have faded. The suttle caress of
her dark attire still lingers on my skin. That seductive rhapsody of a
voice still ticks in my ears. Dare I to turn my back on her? She who has
brought me so far?

No, to even think of such things is blasphemy. She will aid me, she will
guide me. I have given myself unto her, all that I am she holds softly
in her grasp. Why would I ever leave her? There is no reason for it.

But still, I must know, what am I to do? Her desires for me, to forge
myself into the dark underworkings around me...they have fallen through.
My talents as a merchant do not live up to her whims. Oh, what am I to
do my queen? What do you wish of me?

I seek your aid now, I need you. Touch me, hold me as a babe and tell me
I am still in your care, tell me that you still need me and want me. My
queen, I am nothing without you, and I cannot progress alone. What am I
to do for you?

The fool who betrayed you will be dead in time, it has been difficult to
get rid of him without revealing myself or the others. We are trying my
grace. The Watch is causing me to shake, to be overcome by fear, steady
my hand Lady, and carry me into rapture.

Please, my Queen, come to me and give me strength. Give me direction.
Give me purpose. I am patient for your reward, and will not be so
foolish with another gift.

Yth tuor wux."

The girl slowly opened her eyes, staring up at the altar above her.
She was young, just over a decade able to bear children. Her hair was
pulled tightly into a small tuft of a tail. Her brown eyes left free to
shine brightly; instead of hiding behind her bands like they usually
did; they seemed incredibly dark next to her pale, cold skin. She still
dripped lightly of water from her bath. Her dark robes tied tightly
about her waist, revealing her soothing figure as the droplets of water
from her head dripped onto the fabric, only to dissapear in its dark
threads.

The majestic claws of the altar lay open before her, awaiting the bag of
coin and measily gem she had before her. She placed them carefully on
the altar. It was dawn, she still heard the sound of the birds chirping
from when she went to check on the time of day. Two weeks, two weeks of
meditation, patience, cleansing, and readying herself for this ritual,
it all came down to this. The priest beside her was clad in similar
robes, though his were a bright and glorious red. He was not a well
ranked priest, he was only here to aid in the ceremony, and assure that
communication was successful.

The man chanted softly and she placed her offerings in the claws, she
kneeled again, and prayed silently, begging for help from her Queen.
Seconds passed, then minutes, nearly half a tick of the sundial they
waited. The chanting never stopped, and she never once opened her eyes.

"How long has it been?" she thought to herself. "Has the ceremony
failed? I must give it more time, I must be patient."

A quarter tick later the priest stopped chantingm, telling her the
ceremony failed. She opened her eyes and looked longingly at her
offerings on the altar. "I will stay. I must be patient. She will
listen." she told him as he left the room.

Time passed, she could not tell how long, she kept her mind clear, and
body still. Yet nothing came. There was no sign. Nothing to bring her
aid.

She heard the soft chime of a clock in another room.
One...two...three...four...8 times. 8 times it chimed. "I have
waited...and she has not come to help me" she thought to herself.

"*Martivir*" she thought to herself, "*Martivir* kosjir." She opened her
eyes, these were not her thoughts, she did not hear the Holy Language in
her thoughts. "Arimaekrix?" she asked, hoping.

"Maekrix thric wux." The voice rang in her ears, a caressing song of the
heavens. Despite the hissing, consonant sound she could tell feminine
presence to it.


"Yth ukris ihk aesthyr" It rang again. "*Thric* gethrisj ihk sjach.
*Thric* gethrisj ihk vutha."

The girl opened her eyes and stared at the altar, the claws were clasped
shut, her donation nowhere to be seen. As she closed her eyes again
darkness came over her, not even the faint light of the torches peirced
her eyelids, all was dark and quiet. As if in a dream flashes of green
light covered her vision, she opened her eyes and the sight did not
change. Slowly the darkness faded, and the world around her was a dark
shade of green. She blinked a few times, staring at the fires, and her
vision returned to normal.

She heard the strange voice one last time. "Wux *gethrisj* ihk achuak."

TRANSLATIONS:

Yth tuor wux.
I want you.

*Martivir*
Peace

*Martivir* kosjir.
Peace, small one.

Arimaekrix?
My Queen?

Maekrix thric wux.
I am not your Queen.

Yth ukris ihk aesthyr
I speak for her.

*Thric* gethrisj ihk sjach. *Thric* gethrisj ihk vutha.
Go not the path of shadow. Go not the path of The Black.

Wux *gethrisj* ihk achuak.
You will walk the path of The Green.