The Matriarch's Daughter

Chapter Six: Reunion

Thepa and Rory gathered their weapons and left the room. Thepa was bursting, having not seen Rory for at least a completion. She almost made it to the sitting room to say something, waiting until they were far enough not to be overheard, when Rory beat her to it.

"You know, I was going to say how good you looked, but after you sat on me, I think you could stand to lose a few pounds," Rory teased.

Oh Rory, you haven't changed one bit, she thought. It had been a while, but she missed Rory's ribbing. She only hoped her own game was up to snuff.

"Keep it up, elf, and I might sit on you again. Besides, didn't they teach you any combat training in that temple of yours? You figure they would want to make sure her Royal Highness was trained enough to stay off her posterior. What kind of pretty-pretty priestess princess can't avoid a decent spring attack?" Thepa retorted with a playful smirk.

Rory rolled her green eyes at the teasing title. "At least when my rear hits the ground, people don't have to worry about whether or not someone cast an earthquake spell."

Thepa grinned. "Maybe, but sitting on you might be the only way to shut you up."

"If I knew staying quiet would get you off your rear, I would have sown my mouth shut completions ago.

Thepa turned to stare at Rory, who stared back at her, barely suppressing a smile. Finally, Thepa did a quick look behind her to check her bottom and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe it is getting a little big. It must be the fatty foods here in the capital."

Rory shook her head, "Nah, you're as perfect as ever. I've missed you, sis."

They hugged again, Thepa happily embracing it. When she was done, she pulled away far enough to sock Rory in the arm.

"Hey, what was—"

"I'll write you every day, Thepa," Thepa mocked. "I love the stationary, Thepa. It's perfect. Thepa. I'll go through so much you'll have to buy me more. You know it's been a month. A month! At the least you could have sent more than a single whisper spell."

Rory rubbed her arm, but her eyes filled with remorse. There was something there, Thepa could tell. She wondered if it had anything to do with what Einkidi had written.

""It's been difficult with my duties," Rory said. "I've tried a few times, but the longer I put it off, the more ashamed I became. It got to the point where I felt writing would have made it worse. Forgive me?"

"Always," Thepa responded without a second thought. It stung, but Rory was here now and from what she gathered, indefinitely. "I'm honestly surprised you'd not made the trip sooner. I would have thought the High Priestess had better opportunities to visit Goldale."

"I'm needed around Wildehaven. Ironically, I've made two trips to the Beachwick to meet with the druids. They are interested in the teachings of Chandeidra."

"Really? Did you meet with Sister Oona? She's the friendliest of the three Sisters. If anyone in the Beachwick would approve of your goddess, it would have been her."

"Yes, I did. We had a lovely chat," Rory hesitated. "I actually got to meet all three Sisters and spent a fair bit of time with the Matriarch. Your mother was very kind to me. She didn't say it, but I believe she misses you very much."

"Oh," was all Thepa could say.

Rory hooked her arm into hers, pulling her away from the sitting room. "You never told me what happened. The last time I saw you, you were ready to go on your world tour. What happened to the Matriarch in Waiting? What happened to my Thepa?"