Draiks and Angels: Deity

26 - Delta

When they arrived back at the temple of Sobek, it was late at night. The small room was pitch black, so Satiya had to find where to sit by feel. Once again, she wished for her magic. She checked to see if she had recovered enough to light a small flame, but the pull was not strong enough to have recovered any after casting the breathing spell, yet.

Sobek appeared, "You have done as I asked, and so I bestow the power of Sobek upon the ring around your neck."

A yellow gem appeared this time, spinning on its tip. It flew down to her neck like the others.

Satiya opened her eyes and said to Husani, "I don't fancy sleeping in a temple full of crocodiles, but it is late. Any ideas?"

"The roof?"

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Satiya didn't remember much about the temple of Khnum, considering she had gotten darted last time they were there, but she knew there were Priests. When she and Husani walked into the building, they were greeted warmly, and she was glad whatever may have happened didn't make them mad at her.

The High Priest led them into a back room and gave Satiya a tall stool to meditate on. It took her a long time to focus on what she was doing. Images from the last few days intruded on her mind. She tried going back to the basics and focusing on her senses. The hard wooden stool underneath her rump. The smell of clay. The pull of tape in her hair.

Satiya opened her eyes. That last one was not real. She lifted a hand to her hair to make sure she hadn't left any tape last night. She closed her eyes and tried again. Smooth stone on her bare feet. Voices murmuring in the distance. Scratchy rope around her wrists.

Again! Satiya rubbed her wrists compulsively just to be sure there was nothing there. She didn't have a problem last night getting the gem from Sobek. What was different now?

"What's wrong?" Husani asked.

"I can't focus."

Husani knew what that meant, but didn't think Satiya would want to talk about it in front of all the Priests.

"Anxiety can be a formidable foe," the High Priest said.

"Anxiety?" Satiya thought. "Yes, maybe that is what this is. I have always used meditation to control my anxiety, but this is stronger than before."

The High Priest continued, "It can help to ask for support."

"Support? Husani was there at all of these incidents. He was support. But still, here I am," she thought.

Satiya felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Husani. Her shoulders were tight, and she forced them to relax under his hand. He started to take it away and she quickly reached out and placed her hand on top of his.

"No, please, could you help me?"

"Of course."

Husani stood to Satiya's left and a little behind with his right hand on her shoulder. Satiya closed her eyes and tried to focus on her senses again. She could feel the warmth of Husani's skin on her skin. The weight of his hand on her shoulder, that he lifted slightly to not be too heavy. The slight movement in his limb as he could not stand perfectly still. His breathing behind her. Her sight began to darken.

A man with the head of a ram appeared, holding a jar from which a stream of water flowed. He said, "To borrow my power, I require you to find my token."

From out of the pot and along the water flowed a golden object. It came closer to show a stylized, golden ram figure. It turned a few times, then faded away and was replaced by a high view of the delta of the Iteru river. In the right corner of the fan, a silver light shone.