Karina

Karina woke the next morning with a pounding headache. Every bone in her body ached. Her sleep had mercifully been dreamless and for that she was thankful. For a brief moment she had even had the vain hope that none of yesterday's evens had actually occurred. Then she saw Simar Temdin sitting by the fire.

As she stared, the woman turned towards her. "Karina, I am so glad to see your health improved. You have been asleep for some time and I was beginning to worry." Simar smiled and came to her, a wooden bowl in hand. "Here," she said, "Drink this. It will give you strength."

With no helpful spirit voice in her head, Karina decided to trust the priestess. She accepted to bowl and drank the dark brown liquid contained within. It tasted or licorice root and rose hip. Not entirely unpleasant.

"I hope you will forgive me," the priestess said. "I needed to test you. To test your power, but perhaps I pushed you too far."

Karina did not fully understand, but with the strange concoction in her stomach she was indeed beginning to feel better. "I'm fine," she said. "Really." As she propped herself up on her hands she found her head clouded with a short wave of dizziness, but soon the world spun back into focus. 

 "I am sorry for my conduct last evening," Karina said. "I let my emotions overtake me. I fear my teacher would have been ashamed." A wave of grief rushed over her as she spoke of her mentor. The woman she had trusted. The woman who had been lying to her all along.

Simar looked a bit astounded. "You are wrong," she said. "Manna would be very proud." She stared at Karina, a slight look of confusion on her face. " You don't even know do you?" she asked. "What I did I mean?"

"I suppose not, your Grace." Karina used all her strength to hoist herself from the bed, standing up and walking to the barrel of water by the stove. She ladled out a handful and splashed it on her face. The cold liquid felt good against her skin. As she wiped the water from her eyes she felt far more awake.

"Remarkable."

Karina turned at the sound of the Simar's voice uncomprehending.

"I suppose you are used to the power of strong women," the priestess said. "You spent your life among them after all. Nonetheless your tolerance for spiritual energy is truly impressive. Particularly considering your lack of formal training. Do you know how those of us with the strength of the Initiate can use our powers?"

Karina shook her head.

"We can surround ourselves with them. Those who lack our power can be physical effected and injured by such displays. This is why people tend to fear us. Their bodies cannot stay for long in close proximity to one who is endowed with the spirit of the fae, especially the very powerful. All Initiate inductees, have the ability to suppress this strength. But when we wish, it can be used as a weapon. 

"Only one with great spiritual force could have withstood the aura I expressed last night. Had you been an average person, it is unlikely you could have remained conscious for more than a few moments, yet you were able to maintain your senses completely. Any emotion you felt under such pressure would have been heightened. I intended it to be so. So contrary to what you might believe, your control last night was in fact quite admirable."

Karina tried to comprehend her words, but her head still felt cloudy. A throbbing pain pounded against her temples.

"I had to see for myself," the priestess continued. "To see whether Manna's beliefs about your destiny, her faith in your place as the child of the prophecy, were warranted. That you can still stand this morning is the final sign. I honor you Karina Amoral, Daughter of Nita Fiona Amoral, as the next rightful leader of the Senmin People, and I will defend your right to that position before of the Council of Elders."

Karina didn't answer. She felt weak, tired. She wanted to argue with woman. Surly the people would not wish an unwilling Nita upon themselves.

"But what of Mina Krin?" Karina asked finally, walking unsteadily towards the table and collapsing into one of the chairs. "She has trained for her entire life. I know nothing." As she said the words they tasted bitter in her mouth. Manna's betrayal was so complete. How could she not have prepared her? How could she have lied for so long!

"I have met Fiona's protégé," Simar replied. "She is a very talented girl. But you Karina are something different. Something special."

Simar came behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I am quite certain you know more than you think, and I will help you child. You are not alone."

The priestess' hand felt strange upon her. Cold somehow. Karina didn't like it. She wished Manna were there. That she could run into her arms. That her warm embrace could wipe away the last few days, that she could comfort her. Reassure her that everything was ok. And then Karina remembered. She was angry with her teacher. Angry at her betrayal. This was all Manna's fault and she could not go to her. The foreign hand on her shoulder was all she could hope for. With the thought, Karina felt a loneliness course through her that was stronger than anything she had ever felt before.

"Do you think you could ride?"

"Hum?" Karina looked up dazedly. The priestess was speaking to her but she was so lost in thought she could barely focus.

"I asked if you are well enough to ride back to town. I have pledged to give testimony at the assembly tomorrow. The Council wishes to pass sentencing on you and your teacher as soon as possible and the longer we are away the worse it may be for the Elder Nita.

Karina felt the panic surge again as she remembered the danger she was still in. That Manna was in. Would the High Priestess truly defend them? Would the Council heed her words? Karina's face felt flush and a new wave of dizziness swept over her, but somehow she forced herself to nod her head.

"I will mange," she said.

"Good. I will gather your things for you."

Some part of her suddenly registered that she should not allow the priestess to see her belongings. Karina remembered the knife she had hastily stuffed under her pillow. Somehow she knew the woman must not find it, but she couldn't leave it behind. Manna had made her swear to never let it from her sight.

"No!" Karina said, quickly. " I can do it. I..." She tried to stand too fast and found herself falling backwards, braced against the table's edge.

Simar's expression sharpened into a questioning gaze for a moment and Karina felt her heart jumping off beat in her chest. But then the woman's face relaxed again into a friendly smile that seemed, at least in part, suspiciously false. Karina swallowed hard.

"You are afraid of something I might find?" she asked. But it didn't seem to be a question.

"No," Karina protested uselessly, "it's just that."

"Do not fear child," Simar said, stopping her from thinking of a proper answer. "I do not expect that much of anything could change my opinion of you or my decision as to how I intend to rule before the Council."

Karina's heart continued to beat unevenly as the priestess began looking through her things. Her belt lay beside the pallet where she'd slept. The priestess must have removed it the night before. Simar seemed to suddenly notice the empty scabbard. As if divining exactly what Karina feared, her hand went straight to the pillow. The knife blade shone brightly as the priestess pulled it into the light that streamed through the windows. It glistened like a beautiful silvery accusation, though of what Karina herself was not sure. The woman looked at the weapon in surprise.

"This is Fiona's athemé, is it not?" she asked.

"I do not know!" Karina said desperately. "Please believe me!"

"Peace child, peace," Simar answered. "I believe you. Manna gave this knife to you didn't she?"

Karina felt trapped. Though Serifina was not there to advise her, she could almost hear her wispy voice, warning her to be cautious. Karina was angry at Manna, but she owed her everything, including her life. She could not incriminate her any further.

"I acquired the knife," Karina answered, dogging the question. "It was given to me as a gift. I was told it was my mother's."

Simar eyed her suspiciously. "And indeed it was," she said, letting the matter go. For a moment, Karina breathed a sigh of relief but was horrified as she watched Simar wrapped the blade in a pice of cloth and pocketed the knife. Karina wanted to say something. She couldn't just let the woman take the dagger.

"Priestess, I..." she began, but as Simar turned sharply towards her, the woman's glare stopped the words on Karina's lips.

"Yes?" the woman asked, her tone hard, daring Karina to make comment.

Karina lowered her eyes and shook her head.

"Nothing," she said weakly. She knew she was in no position to question the High Priestess in any way. It seemed the precious dagger was lost.

With Karina's bundle packed, Simar came to help her from the chair, but Karina was proud to have once again regained her strength. She walked slowly, but confidently to the door without assistance. Simar stopped her nodding towards the sword and bow where Karina had laid them by the door.

 "Are those yours?" She asked.

Karina nodded. How could they be anyone else's? It seemed useless to lie.

"It was said at the Assembly that Caleb Blackwell has trained you to fight."

Karina said nothing. It seemed the High Priestess's test was not yet over. She felt her muscles tightening as she tried to prepare herself for whatever other questions the woman might ask hoping to catch her off guard.

"Mr. Blackwell claimed that the Elder Nita had deceived him," Simar continued. "That he was unaware of your lineage when he took you as a student. Is this true?"

Karina thought of the desperation in Serifina's voice as she had advised her to protect her sword master. "I am sorry priestess," she answered. "I myself had no knowledge of the matter. I cannot answer for my teacher."

"Indeed."

Karina feigned a short dizzy spell, hoping to distract the woman from any further questions, allowing her legs to buckle beneath her, forcing Simar to catch her arm to keep her on her feet.

"Forgive me, your Grace," Karina said, making an effort to sound weaker than she was in reality. "I am still feeling unwell."

The priestess's gaze softened again. "Of course child," she said.

Outside Simar help lift her onto the beautiful white gelding that stood in wait, and then climbed on behind her. "Hold tight," Simar said, and with a slight kick the horse galloped off towards Gregorn.

Karina leaned into the warm white of the animal's neck, feeling the pulsing rhythm of the hooves that carried her swiftly towards potential condemnation. She closed her eyes and softly uttered a prayer to the God. "Please," she whispered aloud, her words masked by the pounding of the horse's hooves. "Please protect me. And please protect, Manna Sayers and Caleb Blackwell. Help me find the strength to forgive them, and above all, please do not let them name me Nita. If you help me, I will be your faithful servant forever and ever. Amen." She hoped that the God could hear.

So Simar and Karina are riding back to the Council. Simar has claimed she will support her, but Karina still seems worried. She may have reason...Avery isn't one to let things go after all. Will Simar be able to save Manna and Karina? We shall see... Hope you have enjoyed Karina's return to the story. She has Monday's chapter as well! I promised she'd be back and now she is:-) Next week you will also get a Simar chapter. Anyone interested in her pov? I personally find her to be a really interesting character. Maybe next week you will see more of why. Anyhoo, if you liked the chapter don't forget to click the star!