Priestess

Chapter 4

 Chapter 4

Ara jerked as three distinct clangs sang through the meadow. She dug her scythe into the grass with renewed vigor.

“Go get ready,” her father growled. “I’ll finish.”

“Thank you,” she called as she flew across the meadow. Her brother was coming home! Surely Tenan could convince their parents to let her stay.

But her stride shortened when she thought of her dress of three years ago. It would never fit. After a quick wash, she paused before pulling her dresser drawer open. Instead of finding her old dress, her mother’s best dress was neatly folded. Reverently, she slipped the cream colored fabric over her head and wrapped the purple sash around her waist twice before tying it at her right side.

Ara had never worn a woman’s dress before. Let alone one made of fabric that clung to the gentle curves of her body and felt softer than a lamb’s ear. Unsure what she would find, she faced the pockmarked mirror. The sight left her transfixed. Her transition from girl to woman was as transparent as the change from midspring to midsummer.

She left her room to find her mother waiting for her. “Thank you for the dress.”

“You’re welcome.” Her mother sighed as she handed her a cloth covered bowl. Ara peeked inside. Butter. “You’re beautiful.”

Ara tugged at her hair in embarrassment. “I’m not used to wearing it down anymore.”

Gently grasping her chin, Qessa looked directly into Ara’s eyes. “Never break eye contact. It’s a sign of weakness.”

Ara squared her shoulders. Her mother gave an approving nod as she picked two loaves of round bread. They left the house to find Kendrake waiting for them with the horses. Taking the reins, Ara hiked up her skirt and settled in the saddle.

She looked up to see her father gaping at her. “Pull your skirt over your knees.”

Her mother’s laugh rang out. “Don’t like the idea of any soldiers seeing your daughter’s legs, eh?”

He half turned in the saddle and growled, “No.”

Ara did her best to tug her skirts down, but her skin still showed a little below the knees.

Her father lowered his head. “Ara, I—”

Her mother swatted his arm. “Kendrake, stop worrying about your daughter’s dress and let’s go.”

“Humph,” her father replied. Ara was relieved when he kicked his horse into a lope.

As soon as they crossed into Bondell, a hush fell upon those they passed. Ara knew she was the reason for it. The thought burned her from the inside out.

Her father squared his proud shoulders. Her mother looked from Kendrake to Ara before giving her daughter a slight nod. “Remember what I told you.”

            ‘Never break eye contact. It’s a sign of weakness.’ Trying to hold back her glare, Ara met each and every gaze that crossed her own.

But then a watchtower guard galloping through the town. “The soldiers are coming! Everyone to the square!” Ara and Tenan stabled their horses and hurried to line up with the soldiers’ families at the square’s entrance, while the rest of the town edged the main street.

She waited for what seemed an eternity before the massive gates of the wall swung inward. Through the silence, she heard the rhythmic sound of soldiers advancing—horses marching and armor clinking.