71st of Spring, 514 AV
Evalin smiled to herself as she walked along beside the large Constrictor who slithered in silence. Gresshal had never been one for much words with the nuit, but ever since Evalin's confrontation with Tsenrika he had been especially stubborn. Perhaps he was still hung up on the loss of two fingers on his left hand, and if such were the case then Evalin would surely laugh at this child's insistence to give far too much care to something so insignificant. He had given up protesting her interference with his life, however, which was perhaps due to Evalin's increased calls for his aid. Ever since she had revealed Gresshal's obedience to Aka there was suddenly no need to hide it. Of course she did not know the real reason for his subservience, but that mattered little to the nuit. In fact it mattered none at all to Evalin now what the child thought. Gresshal was perhaps Evalin's most useful tool in this nest of Constrictors, and she was going to be certain to use it to the fullest. Or at least until he broke.
"Why do you want to go to the temple...?" Gresshal's curiosity, or perhaps dread, overwhelmed his desire to re-frame from speaking to the nuit. His eyes shifted to Evalin, not slowing his pace as he lead her through twisting tunnels and a maze of passages ways that would otherwise confuse her.
"Simply to speak with the Priestess." Evalin replied, keeping her answer short both to halt any unnecessary conversation, and because she knew that her vague answer would frustrate the Dhani as well.
For his part Gresshal managed to contain himself for several chimes before his will broke, "The Priesstesss of Sssiku are a sssacred and important part of Zinrah. I will not allow you to desecrate the temple or ssshame Siku in any way Witch."
The force of Gresshal's words made Evalin laugh and she looked sideways at the Dhani, "Worry you not my pet. I shall not do anything to your precious Priestess. I merely wish to speak with them." She wore her usual attire this day. robes and cloak, hood pushed back to reveal long black hair and red eyes paired with pale skin. In her hand was her Staff, and about her neck was none other than Tsenrika, present in his sealed form for safe keeping.
"Jussst want to talk... I sssee." The doubt was evident in his voice even as they passed through the arch of another tunnel and entered the temple itself. The sheer size of the cavern made Evalin's eyes widen, as it did the first time she ever entered Zinrah. Certainly Evalin had been here from time to time with Aka, but the Temple never ceased to amaze the nuit. It was perhaps one of the most breathtaking structures the current world had yet created. Though, Evalin could not help but wonder what would happen should a great quake rack this place and cause the stones to come tumbling down... A pleasant musing for another time however.
As they passed the statues of the queens past and present Evalin allowed a moment of amusement to wash over her, "Perhaps a new statue shall be carved there soon. What think you Gresshal?"
But the Dhani ignored the nuit, turning his attention instead to another Constrictor, a female, draped in religious garbs. He dipped his head respectfully, pausing before her, "Preiesstesss Natasshari, it isss a pleassure to sssee you."
The woman smiled, as much as a Dhani could smile, and laid one hand on Gresshal's shoulder, "Brother, it is good to see you in the temple. Have you come to pray once more?"
Shaking his head Gresshal gestured at Evalin, and Natasshari looked at her curiously, "Sssadly no. I come only to sssee thisss one to a Priesstesss. Thisss is... Katherine... Soshakuakamamushi's personal servant."
Sshari's interest seemed to increased slightly as she eyed Evalin up and down before looking back at Gresshal, one eye ridge raised, "The Viper's Servant? It is unusual for a servant to come to the temple with anyone but their master."
"I come on my Master's behalf." Evalin stepped up beside Gresshal now, leaning on her staff and smiling up at the female constrictor. Gresshal looked sideways at her, a groan apparent in his expression as he struggled to not show his distaste at the lie. If it were known, he would also be held to blame for escorting someone else's slave without permission.
If she were suspicious, however, the Priestess did an excellent job of hiding it as she turned to fully face the Nuit now, looking down at Evalin as she folded her hands at her waist, "On your master'sss behalf? What ever for?"
Pushing a lock of hair behind her hair Evalin spoke calmly, a serious note in her tone as she met Sshari's eyes unblinking, "Why, good Priestess, for advice of course."
Evalin smiled to herself as she walked along beside the large Constrictor who slithered in silence. Gresshal had never been one for much words with the nuit, but ever since Evalin's confrontation with Tsenrika he had been especially stubborn. Perhaps he was still hung up on the loss of two fingers on his left hand, and if such were the case then Evalin would surely laugh at this child's insistence to give far too much care to something so insignificant. He had given up protesting her interference with his life, however, which was perhaps due to Evalin's increased calls for his aid. Ever since she had revealed Gresshal's obedience to Aka there was suddenly no need to hide it. Of course she did not know the real reason for his subservience, but that mattered little to the nuit. In fact it mattered none at all to Evalin now what the child thought. Gresshal was perhaps Evalin's most useful tool in this nest of Constrictors, and she was going to be certain to use it to the fullest. Or at least until he broke.
"Why do you want to go to the temple...?" Gresshal's curiosity, or perhaps dread, overwhelmed his desire to re-frame from speaking to the nuit. His eyes shifted to Evalin, not slowing his pace as he lead her through twisting tunnels and a maze of passages ways that would otherwise confuse her.
"Simply to speak with the Priestess." Evalin replied, keeping her answer short both to halt any unnecessary conversation, and because she knew that her vague answer would frustrate the Dhani as well.
For his part Gresshal managed to contain himself for several chimes before his will broke, "The Priesstesss of Sssiku are a sssacred and important part of Zinrah. I will not allow you to desecrate the temple or ssshame Siku in any way Witch."
The force of Gresshal's words made Evalin laugh and she looked sideways at the Dhani, "Worry you not my pet. I shall not do anything to your precious Priestess. I merely wish to speak with them." She wore her usual attire this day. robes and cloak, hood pushed back to reveal long black hair and red eyes paired with pale skin. In her hand was her Staff, and about her neck was none other than Tsenrika, present in his sealed form for safe keeping.
"Jussst want to talk... I sssee." The doubt was evident in his voice even as they passed through the arch of another tunnel and entered the temple itself. The sheer size of the cavern made Evalin's eyes widen, as it did the first time she ever entered Zinrah. Certainly Evalin had been here from time to time with Aka, but the Temple never ceased to amaze the nuit. It was perhaps one of the most breathtaking structures the current world had yet created. Though, Evalin could not help but wonder what would happen should a great quake rack this place and cause the stones to come tumbling down... A pleasant musing for another time however.
As they passed the statues of the queens past and present Evalin allowed a moment of amusement to wash over her, "Perhaps a new statue shall be carved there soon. What think you Gresshal?"
But the Dhani ignored the nuit, turning his attention instead to another Constrictor, a female, draped in religious garbs. He dipped his head respectfully, pausing before her, "Preiesstesss Natasshari, it isss a pleassure to sssee you."
The woman smiled, as much as a Dhani could smile, and laid one hand on Gresshal's shoulder, "Brother, it is good to see you in the temple. Have you come to pray once more?"
Shaking his head Gresshal gestured at Evalin, and Natasshari looked at her curiously, "Sssadly no. I come only to sssee thisss one to a Priesstesss. Thisss is... Katherine... Soshakuakamamushi's personal servant."
Sshari's interest seemed to increased slightly as she eyed Evalin up and down before looking back at Gresshal, one eye ridge raised, "The Viper's Servant? It is unusual for a servant to come to the temple with anyone but their master."
"I come on my Master's behalf." Evalin stepped up beside Gresshal now, leaning on her staff and smiling up at the female constrictor. Gresshal looked sideways at her, a groan apparent in his expression as he struggled to not show his distaste at the lie. If it were known, he would also be held to blame for escorting someone else's slave without permission.
If she were suspicious, however, the Priestess did an excellent job of hiding it as she turned to fully face the Nuit now, looking down at Evalin as she folded her hands at her waist, "On your master'sss behalf? What ever for?"
Pushing a lock of hair behind her hair Evalin spoke calmly, a serious note in her tone as she met Sshari's eyes unblinking, "Why, good Priestess, for advice of course."
