Karina

The first thing she noticed was how tall the woman was. Or at least seemed to be. Simar Temdin was probably not much taller than Karina herself, but the priestess' aura made her appear much larger. Staring into her emerald green eyes, Karina was reminded of how she had always felt around Fiona. Like she was in the presence of some great force. But this woman's energy was entirely unfamiliar. Karina felt herself shrink back.

"Be careful," said the voice in her head. "Show deference but not weakness."

Karina bowed her head towards the woman but did not retreat any further.

The priestess stared, assessing. Karina could feel her eyes on the top of her head.

"You are Karina Amoral I presume?"

Karina hesitated. The priestess's words made no sense. Why did she mistakenly use the Nita's name with her own? She had asked for the same name when she had knocked as well...

"Answer her question," the faery said in her mind.

Karina straighten, looking into Simar's face but avoiding direct eye contact.

"I am Karina Sayers, charge of Elder Nita Manna Sayers," she answered, correcting her. "To what do I owe the great pleasure of your presence?"

"Do you know me?" The woman asked. Her voice was hard.

"We have not met before, your Grace, but I have heard much of you through my mentor and it is a great honor to make your acquaintance."

"And do you know why I come?"

Karina paused and waited to hear if any advice would be forthcoming. When there was only silence, she answered honestly.

"I am afraid I do not."

The priestess's eyes bore down on her still, but Karina stood her ground. Now that she had faced the woman fully she no longer so uncomfortable standing in Simar's power. As with Manna and Fiona, she still felt the presence of the priestess's strength, but it was not unbearable.

"May I come in?" Simar asked.

Karina was startled by the simplicity of her question. Keep calm, she reminded herself. I must remain calm. She took a deep breath.

"Forgive me, your Grace," Karina said. "Of course, please come in. I hope you can pardon the humbleness of our home. This cabin is usually reserved for harvest time and is not suited to entertaining guests."

Simar nodded, walking to the center of the room and taking in the cabin's interior. "May I ask why you came here?" she asked.

"Do not tell her that Caleb sent you!" Serifina's voice commanded urgently.

Simar looked at Karina suddenly or rather at the space around her, as if she had somehow sensed the other presence in the room. Karina stared innocently back.

"Manna asked me to come here for a few days," she replied. "She said we were low on burdock and hawthorn and wish for me to search for them in the forest." When Karina's next thought came and she heard no objection from her friend, she continued. "Manna also thought that some time in solitude would be good for my training."

"And what training is that?" Simar asked, her interest clearly peaked.

"I wish to someday join your honored Initiate, your Grace," she answered, bowing her head slightly in respect. "Manna believes I have potential."

"Is that what she has told you?" the priestess asked, her voice hard.

Karina nodded.

"And nothing else?"

Karina hesitated, confused by the question. "I am not certain what you mean, your Grace."

Simar's eyes became just a bit colder and Karina felt a new wave of her power wash over her body, something stronger and more intense.

"Karina, Manna has already confessed her treachery," the priestess said. Her voice was frighteningly serious. "If you lie to me now, I will not help you nor the Elder Nita escape the harshest punishment our people can mete out."

Karina felt a cold chill of terror travel the length of her skin. The vision of her dream flashed through her mind. The flames. The heat of the fire. Green eyes. Simar's eyes.

"Do you know what that means?"

Karina nodded slowly, trying to hide just how frightened she truly was. The woman spoke of treachery. Serifina had as well. But it didn't make any sense.

"I have read the great book and know our laws," Karina answered quietly. She fought to hold back the tears forming in her eyes. "Forgive me High Priestess. I do not know what my mentor or I could possibly have done to warrant such punishment."

The green eyes continued to glare down on upon her as Simar considered her answer. Karina stared back doing her best to hide the abject fear that was sweeping through her body making her shake. The priestess's power invaded every part of her. Inside and out. Pulsing, prodding, pushing against her.

It felt as if the air itself was pressing in on her and Karina suddenly found it difficult to breath. Her chest could not expand with the pressure forced upon it. She felt faint, her body beaten by some unknown force, and she was certain her leg would give way beneath her. Karina wanted to scream, but there was not enough air in her lungs. She wanted to call to Serifina, but her brain was muddled by the dull throbbing pain that coursed through her head. And then, all at once, it stopped.

The radiant energy became lessened. Karina felt herself relax and realized that her whole body had been seized in rigid tension.

Simar was still staring at her but her face was softened. She looked almost kind.

"Is it possible she really did tell you nothing?" Simar asked in disbelief.

"Please," Karina said, bowing her head yet again, ignoring the dizziness that followed the quick movement. "Forgive me great priestess. I do not understand."

"I know." As Karina tentatively looked up she saw the woman shake her head slowly and let out a small sigh. "I supposed I entirely underestimated the Elder Nita. If your ignorance is not feigned, it seems Manna's ability to keep secrets is truly awe inspiring..." she trailed off.

Karina went to open her mouth in the momentary silence, but Simar held up a hand to stop her. "Let me explain." she said. "I will tell you all that I know. Please make yourself comfortable."

It was odd to be offered a seat in her own home, but Karina was surprised to realize she had entirely forgotten that she was standing at all. Walking on shaky legs Karina eased herself into a chair at the small table in the center of the room, exhaustion overtaking her. She fought to remain upright as Simar come to the table and sat facing her.

"When I entered, you must have heard the name by which I called you?" the priestess said.

Karina was surprised by the question and she fought to remember. Even though it couldn't have been more than a few minutes since Simar had arrived, it felt like so long ago. Time seemed warped. Her whole body ached from the priestesses' examination. She wanted to lie down.

"I am sorry, your Grace, I do not remember"

"I called you Karina Amoral"

Karina stared at her blankly, not understanding. She remembered now, but the words made no more sense than they had when Simar had first uttered them. Karina shook her head in confusion.

"But that is the name of the Nita." she said in confusion.

"Yes."

Karina stared at Simar, trying to make sense of the her words.

"Why would you use it with mine?" she asked.

"I use that name because it is rightfully yours," Simar answered. "You Karina, are Fiona Amoral's daughter."

Karina felt faint, the room beginning to spin out of focus... Fiona's daughter? How was that possible? No! Her mind raged. No! Her mother was a great warrior her mother was beautiful, her mother had been dead for years, her mother loved her!

"Calm yourself," Serifina warned. Karina had nearly forgotten her presence. She tried to heed the faery's advice.

"I don't understand," Karina said aloud, trying to steady her voice as her mind raced on. It couldn't be true.

"Manna could not tell you. Fiona had sworn to abandon you as her kin from the moment you were born. You have read the great book."

"Memorized it," Karina replied, without thinking.

"Be careful! Serifina's voice echoed in her mind. "Do not brag. Do not tell her too much."

Sure enough, Karina saw Simar's kind expression waver ever so slightly. Her eyes narrowing.

"If you know the book, you should know why such a fact would be kept secret."

"The story of Astar."

"Quite the scholar." The sarcastic tone brought the blood rushing to Karina's cheeks.

"Control yourself. She is still testing you. Do not let your guard down," Serifina warned.

"So you must understand why your identity was kept hidden."

Karina nodded, biting her inner lip to keep her mouth closed as she tried again to gather her thoughts.

"I understand why my identity was kept secret," she answered carefully, "but if what you say is true, the crime of my existence was resolved fifteen years ago. I am blameless in any further wrongdoing save continuing to breath."

"Yes," Simar agreed, "That was true. Until yesterday."

Karina felt her stomach drop. She said nothing waiting for the priestess to continue as the dread crept through her.

"I'm certain you are aware what the death of the Nita means. Fiona's sudden departure from this world has left a position vacant that must be filled by her successor. As Fiona had yet to officially name that individual, in her absence it was the Elder Nita Manna Sayers to whom that honor fell."

Karina nodded. The sick feeling in her stomach was growing and she continued to bite on her inner lip. She tasted blood.

"You, Karina Amoral, were named as the next Nita."

The roar of anger and despair that exploded her head was deafening. Karina could almost make out Serifina trying to be heard over the noise. Begging her to calm her mind. But the voice was inaudible. The skin on her body prickled. Fear, shock, disbelief, rage. Emotion overtook her. Breath, she reminded herself, breath through it as Manna taught you, but the thought brought another crippling wave of emotion.  

How could Manna have done this to her? How could she have kept such secrets? How could she have named her Nita? How, when she knew it was never what Karina had wanted? How when she knew the consequences!

"Did you have any knowledge of the Elder Nita's intentions to name you as our next Nita?"

Karina put her hands to her head and took a shaky breath. Given her reaction could the woman really doubt?

She could hear Serifina's voice again. It was screaming.

"You did not! You did not!"

But she did not need the faery's aide. Karina looked Simar directly in her bright green eyes. "I did not," she said, her voice was calm, certain. It was the truth.

The priestess stared back, her eyes probing Karina's, her face set in a half frown of concentration, but after a moment, she nodded. "I believe you." She said. There was still a wisp of doubt in her tone but she seemed to be sincere.

"I am truly sorry child. You have my sympathy, but your position is, I'm afraid, quite dire. The Council is enraged with the Elder Nita. They are infuriated that she and Fiona conspired so long to undermine their decree and the unbreakable oath they both swore."

"Forgive me I still don't fully understand." The screaming in her head had lessened slightly. She could almost hear her own thoughts again above the din of emotion. "What decree do you speak of?" she asked

"When you were born, both the Nita and Elder Nita pledged their lives for yours. You would be allowed to live under the condition that your mother abandon you entirely and that you were raised with no knowledge of your lineage."

"But those pledges have been fulfilled."

"There was another pledge."

Karina knew what the priestess would say next, the only way the Council would have possibly agreed to spare her life.

"They pledged that you would never be named as Nita. They lied. They always had the intention to go against their word. Manna Sayers and Fiona Amoral broke an unbreakable vow with the Council of Elders. Do to so is one of the worst transgressions one might commit against our people. In naming you as Nita they have committed high treason. You know the punishment for such crimes."

Karina did not know what to say. She was no longer angry. She felt dead inside. Her entire life was a lie. Every story Manna had ever told her meant nothing now. Every harsh word from the Nita rang in her ears. Her true mother had hated her, the woman she had loved as a mother had betrayed her.

"With Fiona dead, the Council is all the more likely to take their revenge out on your mentor, showing no mercy in her punishment," Simar continued. "And I think you must now realize why I have come here. They wish to take out their revenge on you as well."

Karina felt her head move in acknowledgment of Simar's words, but she could not bring her mouth to speak. It all seemed impossible. How could she be charged with treason? She had had no knowledge that her very existence was a crime. The flames of her dreams danced before her eyes. Serifina's voice was silent.

"There is more," the priestess said.

How could there possibly be more? Karina wanted to put her hands over her ears. She wanted to scream. She wanted to sleep. She wanted to hide away and never come out. Anything to escape Simar's unrelenting words. But the woman's onslaught of information did not stop.

"There is a prophecy, " Simar said. "The prophesy of Nita Astar Tansy. One whose entirety was hidden to both the Council and the Initiate by the Elder Nita until the assembly yesterday. The prophecy states that a child of great power will be born among our people. A child with power beyond what has been previously known to mankind. A child that will bring either the salvation or the destruction of the Senmin people. Manna and Fiona acted as they did because they believed that you are that child."

"No." Karina said quietly. "Please no." She knew she sounded like a scared little girl. She didn't care.

"High Priestess," she said staring down at the table with tears in her eyes. "You must do something. Tell them that I do not wish to be Nita. Tell Manna to name Mina Krin as she was supposed to. She has always been destined to be Nita and is far more suited to it than I." As she spoke, Karina felt her panic increasing. "Beg the Council to forgive us."

These things couldn't be true! She wouldn't let them be true. Karina stared at Simar her eyes burning as the tears began to fall. "Tell them it was all a mistake!" Karina's hand pounded in a fist on the table. She imagined that Serifina was trying to caution her again but she could no longer hear the spirit voice. Not surprising. She knew there was no composure or focus left within her.

Simar reached out and rested her hand over Karina's clenched fingers. "There was no mistake," she said gently. "I saw it almost as soon as I walked into this cabin. You are the child the prophecy foretold."

Karina's hand relaxed in Simar's grasp. She was entirely defeated, shaking her head slowly. Tears continued to slip silently down her cheeks as she shook her head. "No," she protested again, though she knew it was meaningless.

Simar smiled sadly. "We cannot change our fates. I came here to assess the Elder Nita's belief that you were indeed our future leader. That she could be none other than you. I wanted to believe that Manna was not a traitor, but a martyr for our people. I had my doubts. You have quelled them all." She paused. "Karina, I am on your side."

"I don't want you on my side. Just take it back. "

"That I cannot do." Her gaze held nothing but sympathy.

Karina looked away, staring at the table to avoid the priestess's eyes. Her head felt too heavy for her neck to support.

"You should rest." Simar commented.

Karina shook her head" No. I'm fine I..." She tried to stand but found her feet would not support her. She collapsed back into her chair.

"Here, let me help you."

Karina felt Simar's shoulder scoop beneath her arm, supporting her weight and helping her to her feet. The priestess walked her to the small pallet by the fire and Karina collapsed on to the bed, her consciousness disappearing almost instantly.

------------------------

Simar

Simar smoothed the hair on the girl's forehead, wet with the sweat of her exertion. She was already in a deep sleep, her chest rising and falling softly. Not surprising considering the level of force she had used in her interrogation. Simar removed the belt from around Karina's waist and laid it beside the bed before tucking the girl beneath the blankets and ensuring that she was resting comfortably.

"Poor child," She said with a shake of her head.as she walked back to the table and sat down. The Elder Nita had intended to protect her student perhaps, but it seemed that Karina's ignorance would likely be to her immense detriment. She sighed. There was nothing to be done for it now. She could not undo the secrecy Manna and her student had kept. She could only work with the situation as it stood.

"Are you still here?" she asked the seemingly empty room. Simar was almost certain the spirit she had felt by the girl's side remained in the cabin, though it was clearly cloaking its presence.

No answer.

"I am the High Priestess Simar Temdin," she said aloud. You have hid yourself well spirit, but I can sense your essence here in this room. Reveal yourself now!" Though she spoke with authority, Simar was entirely uncertain if the spirit might yield to her command. She had not summoned the faery after all, and it was not truly in her power to control it. But depending on the creature's strength, she knew it might respond to her title.

"I know who you are priestess Temdin. And you have no right to make demands," a voice answered clearly in her mind. Simar hid her surprise at the sound of it. She had of course channeled minor spirits before. The lands surrounding Sithrah made for easy facilitation of dialogue between the human world and the faery realm. But in Gregorn? They were so far from the edges of the veil. How could one of the fae manifest here so fully if not by the aide of some complex spell? Had the girl somehow called the faery to her side? It seemed impossible.

Simar bowed her head in deference to the spirit's clear power. "Forgive me great one," she said. "It was not my intention to offend in any way."

No answer.

"Will you show yourself?" Simar asked, wondering what the response might be. This spirit appeared strong enough to ignore her entirely. But then, there was a shimmer in the air in front of her as it shifted and glistened, and a figure appeared across from Simar. 

The creature was faint, little more than a shadow. Her face was slender with fine pointed features. Simar felt her mouth open slightly in disbelief, though she quickly mastered herself. A spirit this strong could be dangerous, and with no protective circle drawn she needed to show strength to shield herself should the creature attack in some way. Simar had heard the hostility in its tone in speaking her name. 

By its appearance the faery appeared to be a sylph, a spirit of the air. Simar had never seen one manifest so fully. Not outside of a vision. But this creature was very clearly standing before her, however faint. She was there in the human world.

"What do you want of me?" the creature asked.

"You came to protect the child Karina Amoral," Simar said, speaking her question as a statement.

The faery did not answer.

"You aided her. You coached her on what to say."

"I observed and nothing more. The child spoke only truth." The creature's lips moved now as she spoke aloud. Her voice was detached, distant, and entirely inhuman.

"Why do you stand with her?" Simar asked.

Again, no response.

"Answer me sprit!" Simar felt her frustration grow. She had to determine the meaning of this creature that stood by Karina Amoral's side.

"How dare you take such a tone." The faery's voice radiated pure power. Though she continued to speak aloud, the echoes of her energy boomed inside Simar's head. She was overwhelmed for a moment by the force of it.

"I am no child priestess," the creature boomed. "I have no reason to answer you and I will not be disrespected."

"You misunderstand me spirit," Simar answered carefully, doing her best to remain erect, confident, though she could feel the creature's power shaking through her body still. "I simply wish to know your aims."

"They are no business of yours."

Simar was somewhat surprised by the level of the faery's apparent anger. As High Priestess, surly she was worthy of some respect, even from one as powerful as this creature seemed to be.

"Will you help her?" the faery asked suddenly.

"Excuse me?" Simar answered with a casual confidence in an attempt to show that she was not cowed.

"Will you help Karina Amoral? Will you defend her position as the leader of your people?"

"I believe I will."

"Why?"

"I too have my reasons." Simar replied with a small smile. She could be evasive as well. Perhaps she had been haughty to attempt any sort of intimidation against the spirit, but this creature had no right to force answers from her.

"You will not contact me again," The faery said in response. "I appear only to make sure you realize that she is not alone."

"It is so noted."

The creature nodded its shadowy head. "I do not wish to stay here and thus will trust you to care for her."

"Of course," Simar answered, bowing her slightly in respect. "I have already stated my intention to protect the child and stand by her side. To the best of my ability I will ensure she is not harmed."

Silence.

Simar could feel the creature's presence fading already. Not surprising. Breaking through the veil that separated the faery and human realms was a difficult task for any. No doubt the spirit's power was already exhausted.

"I make no promises with you Priestess," the faery said after a moment. "I make it known now that I do not trust you."

Again Simar was struck the level of the creature's hostility. She had vowed to keep the girl safe. For whatever reason, was that not the creature's aim?

"How very unkind you are," Simar answered. "If I have given offense to you great spirit, I heartily apologize. But truly I cannot see the cause for your mistrust."

"Had that child been any but who she is you might have killed her."

So it was an over abundance of protectiveness that motivated the spirit's anger. Simar wondered how Karina could possibly have earned such allegiance from this creature. Still, she was not fazed by the faery's accusation. She had done nothing wrong after all.

"Please have more faith in me great one," Simar replied. "Had she been an average girl I would never have pushed her so hard."

"You pushed her because you could."

"It was my job."

Though the creature's corporeal form had nearly faded entirely now, Simar could still feel her glare.

"I leave you now Simar Temdin," the faery said. "Know that should you attempt to contact me again, I too may be duty bound to test your limits as you tested those of Karina Amoral."

Simar bowed her head again. "I understand," she answered

The air shimmered for a moment and then the figure was gone. Simar looked back at the sleeping girl. "You Karina Amoral are certainly an interesting creature." She said to herself. "Very interesting indeed."

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So it looks like Simar will help Karina! Hooray! But why does Serifina seem so distrustful of the High Priestess...Something to think about. What did you think of Simar's interrogation? I always feel so bad for Karina in this chapter. I mean talk about an overwhelming amount of unpleasant info...:-/ Thoughts on the chapter? I'd love to hear them!! Was Karina's return worth the wait? Friday's chapter is actually her POV as well. She's been gone for awhile, but the end of the book really does focus a lot on her;-). If you enjoyed the chapter, don't forget to vote!