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<blockquote data-quote="hbarsquared" data-source="post: 2272044" data-attributes="member: 4550"><p><span style="color: deepskyblue"><strong>Chapter One, Part Five</strong></span></p><p></p><p></p><p>The two clerics climbed the inside of the volcano cauldron in the drizzling rain to their destination, the Church of Enlil. Upon reaching it, Abrina could not understand how she could have missed the large two-story structure, <span style="color: white">its white marble walls suffused with veins of vivid blue, standing in stark contrast to the buildings of bare black stone that flank it on the north end of Obsidian Avenue. A pair of white marble statues depicting armored warriors, sleek with rain, stand on either side of the temple’s heavy oaken door. Each of the statues raises a large pick to the star-studded sky. Above the door’s marble architrave were boldly inscribed the following words: <strong>W<span style="font-size: 10px">ITHIN</span> L<span style="font-size: 10px">AW</span> L<span style="font-size: 10px">IVES</span> H<span style="font-size: 10px">OPE</span></strong>.</span></p><p></p><p>Ruphus motioned her through the imposing oak doors of the church. Abrina gladly stepped through, into its safe and warm confines. An acolyte rose from a nearby sit in the entrance hall and approached, her young face carrying an unhidden expression of worry. The acolyte and Ruphus spoke quickly, in hushed tones, and after a moment the acolyte disappeared through a nearby door.</p><p></p><p>“She will return in a moment,” he said, “with some blankets and warm tea. You are free to stay the night, and I offer you my thanks.”</p><p></p><p>“But, my message,” Abrina replied as Ruphus began to turn away.</p><p></p><p>“I must first relate to Urikas what has transpired,” Ruphus said without turning. “She will be out to see you, if she gets the chance. If not, rest well, and you will meet in the morning.” He opened another door, opposite the one the acolyte had used, and left the entrance hall.</p><p></p><p>Grumbling, Abrina tried to wait patiently and piece together the pieces of information that Ruphus had tried to relate to her. He did not know anything about the men with the painted faces or why they had sought to attack him on the way back from the orphanage. At first, he had thought they were going to rob him, but it soon became clear they were trying to intimidate him. No further light had been shed on that mystery, but Ruphus did explain why a cleric of Enlil had an interest in the orphanage.</p><p></p><p>“Three nights ago,” Ruphus had explained, “four children were kidnapped from the Lantern Street Orphanage. Urikas sent me to console the distraught children and some of the staff, to let them know that Enlil would be watching for them. In the absence of our high priest, Delasharn, Urikas has publicly vowed for the Church to locate the missing children and bring the kidnappers to justice.”</p><p></p><p>How the painted faces were involved, and why they were concerned about her, still eluded Abrina.</p><p></p><p>The acolyte returned soon with blankets which Abrina used to swiftly scrub her hair and beart skin, patting down her clothing and armor as well. Hot tea followed soon thereafter which Abrina sipped carefully. She hated tea, preferred the thicker brews of spiced mead, but wanted to remain polite in the sister temple.</p><p></p><p>“Hopin’ you’ll enjoy your night, here,” the young acolyte mentioned, refilling Abrina’s tea and not noticing the grimace. “Jenya will bein’ out to see you shortly.”</p><p></p><p>“Jenya?” Abrina questioned, blowing on her tea.</p><p></p><p>The acolyte blushed, averting her gaze. “I mean, Urikas,” she said. “She is the high cleric, after all, while Delasharn is gone. Must show our respects, and all. She don’t mind her first name, but twouldn’t be right, I say.”</p><p></p><p>She stepped backwards. “I’ll just go warm you up some more tea.”</p><p></p><p>“No, that’s not necessary,” Abrina tried to reply, but the acolyte had already fled.</p><p></p><p>A few moments later, a short <span style="color: white">woman with premature streaks of gray in her rich brown hair</span>, pulled back into an elaborate bun, arrived with hand outstretched in greeting. <span style="color: white">She wore a brown robe with golden trim and the recognizable symbol of Enlil around her neck.</span> Although several inches shorter than Abrina, the woman still seemed taller. She walked with purpose, each step firmly placed in the exact, desired location, her back straight and her eyes firmly fixed on her objective, no matter the distance. Now, those eyes fixed upon Abrina, who wanted to flinch from beneath that intense gaze.</p><p></p><p>Abrina held, locking her eyes with those of this commanding woman, and straightened herself to her full height, not in hopes of intimidating the woman, but to instead somehow match her impressive height.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: white">“Good evening,” greeted the woman. “I have spoken to Ruphus and have learned of his harrowing ordeal, as well as your remarkable heroism.</span> Thank you for interfering when you did. I had not realized the danger Ruphus might have been in when I requested he comfort the children.”</p><p></p><p>Abrina shook her head. “Ninurta led me. I could not just leave him to the ruffians.”</p><p></p><p>The woman smiled, a genuine smile that reached her eyes and lit her face. “Well, you have my thanks, as well as that of the Church of Enlil. <span style="color: white">I am Jenya Urikas, the acting high priest, and I am in your debt.”</span></p><p></p><p>Abrina shook her head again, but did not respond, unaccustomed to such praise.</p><p></p><p>Jenya led her to a private room, down a hallway leading off of the entrance hall, with a warm fire and several plush chairs. Jenya sat in one, inviting Abrina to seat herself in another opposite Jenya.</p><p></p><p>“I am told you have come to deliver a message for me?” Jenya asked, her penetrating gaze resting on Abrina.</p><p></p><p>Abrina forced herself to draw her eyes back from the dancing flames, return herself to her present time and place. “Yes, I have,” she responded, and withdrew the scrollcase. “It comes from the temple of Ea, in Haven. You know the head cleric there?”</p><p></p><p>Jenya’s eyes widened as she reached out to take the scrollcase from Abrina. “Yes, I do. But for what pressing reasons Helena would send me a message by Ninurta, I do not know.” Jenya withdrew the scroll from the case and began to read as Abrina sat across from her, sipping the bitter tea.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="hbarsquared, post: 2272044, member: 4550"] [color=deepskyblue][b]Chapter One, Part Five[/b][/color] The two clerics climbed the inside of the volcano cauldron in the drizzling rain to their destination, the Church of Enlil. Upon reaching it, Abrina could not understand how she could have missed the large two-story structure, [color=white]its white marble walls suffused with veins of vivid blue, standing in stark contrast to the buildings of bare black stone that flank it on the north end of Obsidian Avenue. A pair of white marble statues depicting armored warriors, sleek with rain, stand on either side of the temple’s heavy oaken door. Each of the statues raises a large pick to the star-studded sky. Above the door’s marble architrave were boldly inscribed the following words: [b]W[size=2]ITHIN[/size] L[size=2]AW[/size] L[size=2]IVES[/size] H[size=2]OPE[/size][/b].[/color] Ruphus motioned her through the imposing oak doors of the church. Abrina gladly stepped through, into its safe and warm confines. An acolyte rose from a nearby sit in the entrance hall and approached, her young face carrying an unhidden expression of worry. The acolyte and Ruphus spoke quickly, in hushed tones, and after a moment the acolyte disappeared through a nearby door. “She will return in a moment,” he said, “with some blankets and warm tea. You are free to stay the night, and I offer you my thanks.” “But, my message,” Abrina replied as Ruphus began to turn away. “I must first relate to Urikas what has transpired,” Ruphus said without turning. “She will be out to see you, if she gets the chance. If not, rest well, and you will meet in the morning.” He opened another door, opposite the one the acolyte had used, and left the entrance hall. Grumbling, Abrina tried to wait patiently and piece together the pieces of information that Ruphus had tried to relate to her. He did not know anything about the men with the painted faces or why they had sought to attack him on the way back from the orphanage. At first, he had thought they were going to rob him, but it soon became clear they were trying to intimidate him. No further light had been shed on that mystery, but Ruphus did explain why a cleric of Enlil had an interest in the orphanage. “Three nights ago,” Ruphus had explained, “four children were kidnapped from the Lantern Street Orphanage. Urikas sent me to console the distraught children and some of the staff, to let them know that Enlil would be watching for them. In the absence of our high priest, Delasharn, Urikas has publicly vowed for the Church to locate the missing children and bring the kidnappers to justice.” How the painted faces were involved, and why they were concerned about her, still eluded Abrina. The acolyte returned soon with blankets which Abrina used to swiftly scrub her hair and beart skin, patting down her clothing and armor as well. Hot tea followed soon thereafter which Abrina sipped carefully. She hated tea, preferred the thicker brews of spiced mead, but wanted to remain polite in the sister temple. “Hopin’ you’ll enjoy your night, here,” the young acolyte mentioned, refilling Abrina’s tea and not noticing the grimace. “Jenya will bein’ out to see you shortly.” “Jenya?” Abrina questioned, blowing on her tea. The acolyte blushed, averting her gaze. “I mean, Urikas,” she said. “She is the high cleric, after all, while Delasharn is gone. Must show our respects, and all. She don’t mind her first name, but twouldn’t be right, I say.” She stepped backwards. “I’ll just go warm you up some more tea.” “No, that’s not necessary,” Abrina tried to reply, but the acolyte had already fled. A few moments later, a short [color=white]woman with premature streaks of gray in her rich brown hair[/color], pulled back into an elaborate bun, arrived with hand outstretched in greeting. [color=white]She wore a brown robe with golden trim and the recognizable symbol of Enlil around her neck.[/color] Although several inches shorter than Abrina, the woman still seemed taller. She walked with purpose, each step firmly placed in the exact, desired location, her back straight and her eyes firmly fixed on her objective, no matter the distance. Now, those eyes fixed upon Abrina, who wanted to flinch from beneath that intense gaze. Abrina held, locking her eyes with those of this commanding woman, and straightened herself to her full height, not in hopes of intimidating the woman, but to instead somehow match her impressive height. [color=white]“Good evening,” greeted the woman. “I have spoken to Ruphus and have learned of his harrowing ordeal, as well as your remarkable heroism.[/color] Thank you for interfering when you did. I had not realized the danger Ruphus might have been in when I requested he comfort the children.” Abrina shook her head. “Ninurta led me. I could not just leave him to the ruffians.” The woman smiled, a genuine smile that reached her eyes and lit her face. “Well, you have my thanks, as well as that of the Church of Enlil. [color=white]I am Jenya Urikas, the acting high priest, and I am in your debt.”[/color] Abrina shook her head again, but did not respond, unaccustomed to such praise. Jenya led her to a private room, down a hallway leading off of the entrance hall, with a warm fire and several plush chairs. Jenya sat in one, inviting Abrina to seat herself in another opposite Jenya. “I am told you have come to deliver a message for me?” Jenya asked, her penetrating gaze resting on Abrina. Abrina forced herself to draw her eyes back from the dancing flames, return herself to her present time and place. “Yes, I have,” she responded, and withdrew the scrollcase. “It comes from the temple of Ea, in Haven. You know the head cleric there?” Jenya’s eyes widened as she reached out to take the scrollcase from Abrina. “Yes, I do. But for what pressing reasons Helena would send me a message by Ninurta, I do not know.” Jenya withdrew the scroll from the case and began to read as Abrina sat across from her, sipping the bitter tea. [/QUOTE]
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