Ashtik: The Champion of Black.

Chapter Eight: Abhorrent Answers.

          All that had been, had been poor. All that was, was perfect. There were traces of starlight in the marble pillars. Ambrosia carried on the uncorrupted air. Ashtik Sai-Weleg, she who was named Sparrow-Knight, the Champion of Black and the harbinger of what comes next, stepped forth alone. Her single footfall echoed through the vast hall. She could almost see the sound of it in the otherwise undisturbed air. She saw her shaky breath bound between the great banners that hung from the walls. The centre most, a sheet of pure gold, dangled without motion beneath the cathedral's dome. Sunlight poured in from the south, though Ash looked north, and saw the crescent moon through the stained glass. She took another step towards her inevitable fate and saw before her, some better creature. Flamed hair, and speckled skin. Golden eyes and glowing smile. It was what a woman was supposed to be, to the minds of the gods. She stood as though she weighed no more than a feather, yet she beamed as though carrying the mass of the sun.

"They are unready, Sparrow." She sang in whispered words. The noise didn't echo, nor did it disturb the air as Ash had done. She seemed to belong in this divine place, perhaps she was the altar at its focus?
"Then what am I to do?" Ash asked as lowly, and meekly, as she could manage. The woman raised a holy hand and sprung a horde of servants and lessers, seemingly from the very ether. They circled Ash like vultures to a ruptured carcass before, all as one, they fell upon their hands and knees before her. They offered Ashtik their prayers and servitude at the whim of this Golden greater.
"Rest, for now. Explore the conclave. It is truly beautiful at this time of year. Show your sister the sights while the mothers have Satra brief them." The she breathed through golden lips.

          The servants would have carried Ash, that she might not sully herself with the cobble and dirt, had she not begged them to leave her. The silver doors shut her out of the conclave and she made back for her gifted horse.
Evara lay in a small mound of hay, clearly still writhing from the feast she had enjoyed three days past. So drunken had she been that the hangover still persisted in force, even all these long miles later. Ash bundled the child up in a great cloak and aided her atop of the horse, despite Ev's grunted protest.
"You can't still be this bad." Ash laughed as her sister struggled to balance atop of the mare.
"I hate wine," was all Evara could manage. She slumped her head against Ash's back as the two rode into the city of divinity.

To be completely honest, the city was something of a disappointment to Ashtik. The central chapel was everything she could ever dream of; but the city itself was naught more than Duke's crossing with strange architecture. They carried on down what seemed to be the main road of the northern quarter. Houses piled higher than she had ever seen. Instead of the burrows in the grown, like those of Maester Veil, or the stone carved and wooden framed houses of Meomi across the border; these houses were made of hardened blocks of reddish clay. Oak struts marked the corners of every building. Some buildings even bridged over the road, supported by finely cast steel bars. The novelty of suspended houses and shops stripped the slightly claustrophobic feeling of being completely surrounded on all sides.

A particularly tall building held a sign on the front, though Ash couldn't read the text. She nudged her sleeping sister and pointed to the post.
"It just says 'inn'." Ev whimpered before falling back to her restless sleep.
"Good, let's get you some food." Ash said.

A post at the inn's door held a station for her horse. She wrapped the mare's rein around the slick wooden post and helped Ev to her feet.

"Twelve plates for a room." A grizzled old man shouted from behind his bar as the pair entered. Ash lumped her sister at an empty table and tore a small velvet pouch from her blade belt. She poked within and drew forth a silver disk and handed it over.
"Luxury suite?" He chuckled.
"Just... look after her." Ash said and the old man set his sight on Evara. "If anyone looks at her funny-"
"Cut their cocks off." He darkly interrupted her, brandishing a cleaver and a wicked look.
"Exactly. Another disk if she's happy when I get back." Ash offered, showing the man another silver disk.
"Right, I'll put some food on for the two of you." He sniffed the air as two young men entered and sat far from Ev.
"Not for me, though I'm sure she'd be glad for a double portion. But I'll take two cups of the house best, thank you." Ash smiled. He poured the only ale the house held into two surprisingly fresh-looking cups. Ash took them with a nod and sat to Ev's side.