Hydrangea arrived at the temple on Gravel, it was a short distance from the palace and she made it in less than five minutes. Every foot of it worried someone would jump out of the jungle and attack her.
She pulled him to a stop and carefully scanned her surroundings. The temple entrance was hidden in vines and moss, the marble was old but not cracked.
She warily observed her surroundings before dismounting Gravel. Taking his reins she darted her eyes one last time before she walked into the courtyard of the temple.
Gravel's hooves clopped on the tile floor; he'd been well taken care of in the palace stables and was now groomed with new horseshoes.
The courtyard was open to the sky and so rain was sprinkling through the leaves and to the blue and white floor.
"Who comes here?"
Her head snapped to the origin of the voice and for the first time, she wished she had something to defend herself. Bastian wasn't anywhere close to her.
She calmed slightly upon seeing a priest.
She clenched her fists around Gravel's reins cautiously, "Alessandra sent me."
He lowered his chin minutely and scrutinized her, he looked to be in his forties with few wrinkles on his bald head. "I see, and what is your name?"
She glanced around the courtyard that was echoing with the sounds of the rain, "Hydrangea Hiraeth." She whispered.
The priest's eyes widened and he glanced around once before he neared her, "Come. You'll be safe down this way. Leave your horse here."
Her lips parted before she reluctantly released Gravel's reins. She followed after the priest, whom was leading her down many dark passages, the oil lamp in his hand blowing in the air.
"Here, here." He whispered, pointing to an ancient looking tapestry; the colours were faded and rich, the beasts and people on it were warring with the other. The priest threw the beautiful piece of artwork aside without a care and revealed a hidden room.
Hydrangea ducked her head in, her hair dripping onto the stone floor.
"This is where the Queen Mother has prepared everything for a safe haven."
Hydrangea nodded slowly and stepped in, her shoes landed on rough stone and she turned to ask the priest a question but the heavy tapestry had already been dropped back in its place.
She turned back around and tried to calm her racing heart. She could do this. Certainly. She licked her lips, hiding away in a temple while Bastian was out risking his life on the sea. She brought her hand up to rest on her temple; she needed advice.
Alessandra was busy, Bastian was gone but he was also the reason she need advice. She missed Brigitte. The woman always had the best answers, so simple she felt she should've known all along but Brigitte made it clearer.
She sat down on a low cot in the roughly hewn room. It was dimly lit by a large grate in the floor. She peered into it—she'd felt too timid to step onto it—it appeared that it looked down on the main alter of the Primals. A large fire was lit that allowed some heat to radiate and rise to her small compartment.
Was this place to be her home for the next six months? The thought made her stomach turn. The anxiety would wear away at her until she was nothing. She closed her eyes. Nothing but a woman waiting for her husband to come home. And he'd better.
"Do you not believe me?"
Her eyes snapped to the figure standing ahead of her between some boxes loaded with provisions. His pale skin cast the smallest amount of light, she could see that he cast no shadow.
"Believe you in what?" She asked.
"You asked me if it would end well, I answered you and said yes. Now why do you doubt me?"
She glanced away from his cold, black eyes. "It's hard to believe. He'll be alright though?"
Ratri-kar nodded, "Your husband will be safe. He's on Samadur's precious seas-"
"But you're master of the tides." She interrupted. She paused when she saw he was taken aback. "Will you please look after him?"
He searched her face for something before replying, "I will."
She nodded, feeling somewhat reassured. "What should I do?" She asked. She had wanted advice and her Primal appeared from thin air.
He was quiet for a long while and she was finally tempted to look up only to find he was gone. Her jaw dropped. Was he a coward?
Huffing, she stood and began to work. If this place was going to be her home, then she would make it her home.
She organized the food and separated the crates from the other provisions such as; blankets, clothes and… she was alarmed when she found a dagger hidden beneath some cotton and silk blankets.
She placed it on the cot and continued on with her work.
After an hour the small room had been swept and organized. She'd had to use an old mat to do use as a makeshift broom, but the floor was cleaner.
She sat down in her previous seat and attempted to focus on her satisfaction at a job well done and not on Bastian. Nevertheless, her thoughts drifted to his smile, and laughter. She closed her eyes. She would miss his laughter.
An hour later while she was eating some dried meat she wondered when Alessandra would send some sort of word.
She began to feel paranoid. She trusted Alessandra, but was the priest to be trusted? He had hardly even said a word to her. And he knew her name. Had that been a mistake? She stood and began sorting through the clothes for a second time. She should never be left alone with her thoughts.
After finding something more comfortable than the gown she was wearing she slipped it on, in a far corner because of the grate.
She walked back to the cot and sat. Boredom was now on her mind. She didn't like feeling idle. Spreading her hands to feel the silk beneath her she drew in a sharp breath at the dagger.
She looked at it and swallowed. She would feel safer with a weapon. With quick movements she hid it on the belt she was now wearing.
Breathing out a breath she looked around her dismal room and sighed. These were going to be very long months.