Lord Alston's birthday was approaching, and the city was busting with excitement. One week before the celebration the décor was up across the domain: the trees were riddled with bright ribbons and crystal ornaments, the light posts no longer shined their pure white glow, but instead were replaced with dyed solarice stones which varied in color all over town, giving the atmosphere a rainbow glow. New fall flowers were planted along the sides of the road, and the yellows and shades of maroon warmed the chillness of the September air.
Fidelma's family arrived at the temple together, and proceeded as they did the week before, only this time Demetri halted in the archway. For all its beauty, he could not bring himself to push another step forward. Fidelma paused in front of him.
"Aren't you coming?"
He gazed hard into the immenseness of the crowded hall, then reluctantly shook his head. "I can't."
Her eyes dimmed with disappointment. "Are you sure? We've come all this way."
"I'll stay with him," broke in Terran, striding up from behind her. "It's not that cold out yet and we have our coats. Demetri and I can sit out here and listen to the service. Maybe it'll be less stimulating for him. What do you say, brother?"
Demetri switched glances between the two of them briefly. "Ah, sure." Fidelma was still sad to leave them behind, but her parents had already found their seats, and Terran was perfectly resolute in his decision. After the doors had shut, Demetri turned to Terran.
"You really don't have to keep me company, I'm content on my own."
"Don't be absurd. I'd do the same for Ohraan or Fidelma."
The morning drifted by more easily than he anticipated. The rich autumn fragrance helped to calm his nerves, and the music of the people worshiping inside rung like wind chimes in his years. One song would stick in his head for the rest of the day:
Lurai, lurah, hi-lurah Lurai
The King who left His fair kingdom behind!
Lurai, lurah, hi-lurah Lurai
Shout His name from the mountains high!
It was one of the only songs they sang in English, and was by far the catchiest, which he suspected he would come to regret. Soon, the priest's voice carried throughout the dome and through the glass walls. He taught in English, thankfully, and made Demetri wonder, why do the dryads use our language so much? Terran was sitting cross-legged on his left, leant back against one of the columns with his eyes shut, which seemed to help him stay focused and take in information better, so Demetri tried the same. After all, he couldn't find a stalk of wheat or barley anywhere to nibble on. Shortly after he closed his eyes, the preacher's voice resonated in his mind, seeping deep down into his bones.
"...These bodies of ours are frail, they age, they die. But the new bodies that Paul is talking about, the ones we receive in Heaven will never, ever be destroyed. Are our present bodies important? Of course, they are! Of course, God expects us to take care of ourselves, but the point Paul is making to the Corinthian church is that we will not be just free-floating souls up in Heaven, we will be given perfect, undying bodies in an everlasting paradise with an everlasting God. Therefore, since we have such a blessed assurance through the Resurrection of Christ, we can push onward in this life with our heads held high, with our hearts completely devoted to God, because we know what's waiting for us on the other side. Paul says, 'be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.'"
YOU ARE READING
The Shattered Dragonslayer
Fantasy*Cover Artwork by Chaotic_Monki* "Whether the dragons were to be defeated and the village earn its independence, or the dragons were to slaughter him and everyone he knew, the change promised by the impending revolt was inescapable." When his humble...
