Chapter Five.

Sobêiski.

I sat silently,listening to the Lord Priest who was second in command of the high priest.

My lesson this morning was just a revision of everything I had been taught from when I was eleven. Starting the day after tomorrow,the village would be preparing for my ordination into power and a huge celebration which was weeks away.

I couldn't say I was excited because from that day,all the burdens of dealing with the goddess, Härshänoäh were to be laid on my shoulders.

"...as you must already know that your main calling is taking care of the people and being able to appease the goddess of the mountain.

This is why you are to pledge your love and heart to only her for she becomes your part of sentiment."

I sighed with grief, I was to give my undying love to a being whose existence was questioned for years before deemed to be our protector. I didn't understand our cultures most times,the laws were just dictated and going against them would mean death.

"I don't think it's fair that the high priest must not have a family of his own," I murmured,the Lord Priest snapped his eyes to me,his face showing how my words had offended his faith.

"Lord Sobêiski,our traditions and laws are passed down from our ancestors who knew how to bring order and sophistication. You of all people know that going against the Modëus law leads to instant death.

The only one to grant fairness about these issues is Härshänoäh herself of which she doesn't seem to have a problem with the high priest only loving her," he said to me sternly.

I brushed my fingers over my face,feeling my eyes ache heavily as I listened to my second superior. I wasn't sure I was really ready to take on this responsibility of being alone the rest of my life. Lord Lucaí had proven to be so worthy and capable of the job-given he enjoyed the power and honor he held with his position.

I on the other hand had other dreams of my own. Dreams that included the red head I had so unknowingly grown a liking for. I had felt so different from the first time we met after Old man Sovæ brought her to the temple. It was the very day mother had brought me here after my twentieth birthday,the priests had decided that I was fully ready to take on the task.

Lord Lucaí had thought it was the perfect way to start my mission by taking care of Härshänoäh's best benediction yet. She was always afraid of being around people because she knew they'd call her a monster or otherwise. It took her about a month to start trusting me as well but our connection had been so sudden and strong.

I thought that perhaps what I always felt around her was just the care and love of a big brother as I had been told but as we both grew,even my feelings grew.

"Lord Sobêiski! Lord Sobêiski!!" I jerked out of my reverie and rose my eyes to the elderly man before me. His hands crossed to his chest and his face pinched together with both warning and concern.

"I'm sorry, i just have alot on my mind," I said after shrugging out of my thoughts. He wagged his head while pacing silently.

"Lord Lucaí mentioned your attachment to the lady Manøvie," he said when he stopped "Should I be worried of it?"

"Lady Manøvie and I are just friends. I care so much for her as I did when we first met so there's no reason for worry or concern,Lord Priest," I told him firmly.

I don't think Manøvie would ever consider being more than just best friends with me given how she had quickly distanced herself when Lord Lucaí had mentioned a thing or two about our relationship. She obviously had it that being so close to me would hinder my chances at being the high priest.

"I'll take your word for it,son." he nodded "You are dismissed now. You should brace yourself for the coming ceremony and your responsibilities soon,"

"Thank-you,Lord priest," I stood and gave a slight bow to him as he left the room.

I followed him out after a short while. Keeping my hands behind the sleeves of my robes. I came to the chapel gates ready to head out home when I heard rumbling commotion coming from the path that led to Manøvie's room.

I strode towards the long corridor nebulously in hesitation. She was to be at the Solorato state area at this time, so what was that noise? I hurried over when I saw the open door to her chambers. My heart pulsated with worry as I swifted for her room.

There were two men from the Solorato tribe when I came into the room. One of them seated beside her,holding her hand.

"Manøvie!!" I darted to her side,pushing the strange man from her side as I now took his place beside her stun body.

She was wearing a female Solorato farm attire that left her long legs gaping into the sight of the world. Her feet were smudged by thick balls of fresh and wet mad,giving me the idea that she was perhaps in their gardens.

"What happened to her?" I asked the man standing behind me

"My Lord,she- she was helping us with our dry lands then she passed out," he elucidated.

"You made her farm?!! Is that how you wanted her to help? You know she isn't as strong as your people," I snapped taking off my robe and spreading it over her body to conceal her exposed body.

"No,my Lord. She did not farm at all. Manøvie...

"Manøvie?!" I snapped craning to stare at him with an eyebrow up. He had no right to refer to her without entitlement. He dropped his dark eyes from mine and humbled himself before he spoke up.

"I'm sorry,Lady Manøvie only pulled a tidal wave over our dried land with her powers. I think it was a great impact for her first time," he said.

I looked back at her unconscious face I had palmed, praying with all hope that she was fine. My heart ached for her,knowing that she only wanted to help the people and also gain acceptance from them but she was pushing herself too much.

I sighed rubbing my eyes with my fingers before sitting straight. The two Soloratos still stood at the edge of her bed in deep concern as well. I realized I had been rude to this man because I had over reacted. But to be honest,this was the first time she had gone anywhere without me and the result was her returning hurt.

"I'm sorry," I said coming to his side "She's like family to me," I added.

"I understand your care for her,my Lord." He held his chest to portray his apprehension. "I am Tõrontõ,first son of Solorato Sovæ [xix]," he preceded

I nodded once,mentally smacking myself. It wasn't polite of me to treat the son of our providing tribe with no respect but he'd have to forgive me for I was unaware.

"What is going on here?" Lord Lucaí stepped into the room,eyeing each one of us strictly then to Manøvie who lay unconscious on her bed.

His gaze lingered there for a moment and I instinctively knew that he noticed my robe over her body but I didn't care because he very well knew my great concern for her and not anything would deter that,not even the position I was being prepared for.

"Forgive us high priest for coming into the Temple before time of prayer but the lady Manøvie fell ill and we had to return her  immediately," Tõrontõ said holding his dovetailed knuckles in the air towards Lord Lucaí.

"It's alright,son of Sovæ. Actually I must thank you for your authentic kindness and generosity." He smiled,taking both of his hands back "I shall see you and your comrade out, I assume Lord Sobêiski now has everything under control. Come- please,"

I watched them leave the room,the high priest closing the door behind him,a small smirk glinting on his face with him making sure that I saw it. I frowned suspiciously as the door took its frame. The way he had smiled had left me uncomfortable and questioning  what it meant.

"Mmh,"

All that was wiped from my mind when I heard Manøvie whine from behind me. I knew she was now awake.

Manøvie.

I felt myself float back into my mind until I could feel my body again. I let out a heaved breathe as I felt the same sting in my chest resurface sharply.

"Mmh," I winced at the pang now able to blink my eyes, squinting at the intensity of the light. I recognized the ceiling to be my room's so I guessed that Tõrontõ had returned me to the Temple.

"Manny?" I heard someone call. I looked around and saw the dark silhouette brighten into Sobêiski's face. I stretched my hand out and held his arm still struggling against the giddiness pervading me. "It's okay,i got you." he availed me to sit,pulling a soft cloth further to my shoulders as I rested back on the soft pillows.

"Sobêiski.." I closed my eyes,still feeling the pang of dizziness as he held onto me. I squeezed the cloth over me, pulling it to my chest then I felt it's strange texture.

I opened my eyes,quickly recognizing the soft garment over my body. I pinned Sobêiski with a look,searching his body for what I knew was missing. He sat beside me in only his linen long sleeved shirt and trousers supposed to be shadowed by his priesthood robe.

I threw it off my body,now regretting my actions at seeing my exposed body but that didn't matter to me anymore.

"What are you doing?" He asked as I got off the bed,feeling the crusts of mad fall off my feet as ambled to the chaise next to the window and threw my shawl over my shoulders.

"Your priesthood robe is meant for only you to wear- you alone, Sobêiski! You know this for heaven's sake," I frowned and shook my head at him.

"I know that but you didn't wear my robe,Manny I only used to to cover your body!" He elucidated as he stood Infront of me.

I huffed and looked away from him with a roll of my eyes. He just didn't get it.

"You've become strangely distant,Manøvie." His voice came out very low "You don't even want to be close to me anymore," he groused

"We can't be too attached that way,Sobêiski and you are well aware of this," I riposted,not giving a glance his way

"Is..is that why you've been avoiding me for the last three days after the King's gala?" He questioned forcing me to look back at him. His face was pinched into a sad frown,a hint of hurt lingering in the sheer of his ocean blue eyes.

Honestly,i didn't expect him to take this so personally as he did right now. I thought that it wouldn't matter to him that we weren't as close as we used to be. I thought that he'd understand that this was for the best- for him most especially.

"Maybe it is for the best," I aired out my mind,dropping my tear threatening gaze.

"Best for who exactly?" He asked softly but the softness wasn't of glee,it was a sad and almost broken softness.

I was stung excruciatingly to think that he was hurting because of me,because of how I was acting of late but all I wanted was to protect him,keep him out of flaw so nothing would impede his way of being high priest even if it meant that I'd never get to hold him again and be in his soothing embrace.

I never wanted to be the reason why the people of Modëus called him a traitor of the law and put him to death. The last thing I wanted was to cause him such pain and humiliation- he had to follow in the footsteps of his past ancestors and be high priest.

What I felt would just be a feeling lingering behind the face of my bleeding heart and soon I'd wipe the tears I'll cry off my face with a smile of congratulations to him.

I muffled the tears of agony that threatened to burst through my thumping chest,turning my back to Sobêiski who still waited for my answer that would not come.

"Manøvie,i didn't mean to...

"No,you should just go- please," I said to him through my tears, not wanting to dwell on my weakness. Oh,how can such a heavenly feeling cause so much pain all at once?

Someday, I'd be happy about my decision.... probably.

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