Carmine (Completed)

Chapter 16

I raised my head and the strands of my now frazzled hair bounded with the tender movements of my prayer. My eyes regarded the kaleidoscope of red and blue triangles that rounded the white circle. This was the symbol of my god, Ashuor.

The room was dimly lit with candles on high rods surrounding the wall. The lines in my palms dimmed under the dropped tears, yet quivered side by side, as it turned outward like a cup.

We Asconians have worshipped the father of tranquility and strength for so long and, yet here I was sitting on the ground before his image.

A humble servant, for I have not prayed in a while. I should be ashamed.

Beside me sat two other nobles, in their finely weaved silk and long gold chains. They prostrated themselves by his simple image.

Ashuor was a God that had been a part of my life since birth. I was blessed within his waters, for the corporal and capital ranks of Ascus held him as their highest deity.

But his name lost relevance elsewhere. He faltered before gods like Erot and Omson, who have more prosperous gifts and dreams to give out than our fair father.

I was okay with that. Ashuor always decreed that success comes with time and those that stay true to themselves will be rewarded.

I do not need wealth, power, or any such things. What I needed was to survive.

"Carmine," her softened voice called out to me. I got up from the raised altar and stepped down into Para's space. She held my hand and guided me down. We left into lines of royal soldiers and walked out of that temple.

It was smaller and when I glanced up across the divide of the open roof corridor into the city below us; a higher temple raised. That was the temple of Erot. It stood taller than the city, yet flatter than a true bulwark with its lower internal wall against the tower in the center.

A strange construction, for it lacked sense, but who needed commonality when the tower's opal-layered wall shined? That stone was made in the fire dunes of the Eastern islands, but only the bravest of men went to that place.

Witches were prevalent there, yet the Erot temple bought their constructions?

I struggled to understand it, but if it was pretty why not throw away thy beliefs and values to sparkle in the daylight?

That vague memory of what that murdered assassin said tickled me raw.

Erot ordered my death.

It sounded like it was someone inside the temple's rank and file. Kello? The high bishop? That mysterious girl?

There were too many suspects and not enough proof. We came down the last stairwell and walked down a new narrower corridor. The window panes gleamed from the sun.

It was an uneventful march until a guard turned toward me. I drifted back when a scorching pain pierced my shoulder. He stabbed me and fell on my back.

Para screamed out as she spun away. The assassin kicked a guard and pushed over three men next to him. They toppled over each other.

My pain was insidious as it traveled through me, but I leaned off the floor. What blood I left behind stayed there, especially when I ripped out the knife from my shoulder.

It should have entered my heart, but thankfully, I moved too quickly.

I was not dying here.

The assassin reached for me.

I drifted back. A guard swung his sword. The assassin swerved his body away from the swinging of swords.

I dropped to the ground and scrunched up against the wall. My heart was threatening to break with its shattering beat. I feared it broke through my chest walls.