The Open Sky: Eternal Forest Saga - Book 3

Chapter 14

 From the moment Ilderra opened her eyes on Shimmer-sehr morning, she started rehearsing. The rite required specific prayers and detailed invocations. The motions were choreographed in a uniform rhythm that she wanted to execute perfectly. Oakleaf's help had been invaluable. The elven priestess wrote it all out for her on parchment that she must have read at least three dozen times so as to commit it to memory. She recited the words as she ate dinner that night, as she washed before bed, and as she set out her robes for the next morning. As she drifted off to sleep, her hands pantomimed the associated motions. Everything had to go perfectly.

It was a beautiful morning, the unseasonable cold spell seemed to have lifted, and the warmth of late summer was upon them once again. The rays of dawn warmed her smiling face as she stepped from the house. Oakleaf followed, and together the women made their way to the center of town.

The crowd was already large and growing by the moment. The humans of Meadowgold filed into the town square, surrounding the stage at its center. Each wore a simple tunic on their upper bodies that wrapped over their shoulders. They smiled and cheered for their High Priestess as she approached, and it made Ilderra's heart soar. It hadn't been that long ago that she'd come into her new position met with skepticism and destain. It had been a hard fight to win over the tribe's trust, but the fruits of her labor were unmistakable.

Ilderra ascended the stairs of the stage and looked out over the crowd. There were so many smiling faces. At the center of the stage sat a wooden stool that came up to Ilderra's waist. Atop the stool was a shallow bucket filled with green dye. Forward and slightly to the left of the stool, a small pillow sat. She made her way to the stool as the crowd cheered. When she stopped, she raised her hands to quiet them.

"Good morning, Meadowgold," she said with a beaming smile. "And what a glorious morning the Lady has given us." Her eyes scanned the crowd. She had their undivided attention. Ilderra paced the stage back and forth, trying to make a visual connection with as many people as possible. "These rites are rich in tradition and structured in such a way as to show our blessed Lady the honor she deserves. But, before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to speak from the heart."

From off stage, Oakleaf smiled at her.

"Meadowgold has seen strange and trying times this last year," Ilderra resumed. "Months ago, the Balisekt army marched through our lands on their way to attack the Lady's holy house. Her grace saw fit to spare our city from attack, but the elves of Moon-hollow were not so lucky. As we celebrate today, let us also keep the elves in our thoughts and prayers, and wish them well as they continue to rebuild what the balisekts and their demons destroyed.

"But there have been challenges that were for our tribe alone. In just the last few weeks, Meadowgold has seen the addition of a High Priestess, and sadly, the departure of a leader."

"She's a traitor!" shouted someone from the crowd. The cry was met with nods and murmurs, but Ilderra waved her hands to hush them. On the surface, it did seem as though Lady Viyana had betrayed her people, but after reading the correspondence from the Rose of Windsong meant for her eyes only, she wasn't so sure what to believe anymore. It was a conundrum that would certainly need to be investigated fully, but not today.

"My only hope is that Viyana sees the error of her ways and opens her heart to the Lady's good graces once again. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Meadowgold stands leaderless."

"We're not leaderless!" someone shouted.

"We have our High Priestess who killed the heretic!" yelled another.

"And chased away centaurian soldiers at our border!" cried yet another. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, and Ilderra was taken aback. It was a far cry different than the boos and shouting she endured when she first arrived.