The Priestess could tell that Mani was intentionally ignoring her. He did not even spare her a glance, maintaining an inscrutable expression.
She didn't blame him for this. After all, many years ago, she had left him with his father to assume her role as the Priestess and protector of the mountain at the heart of the Highland tribes. For her, duty to the Highlanders came before personal feelings, wants, and desires.
Quickly regaining her composure, she hid her momentarily faltering hands under the folds of her gown and turned towards Barbara. "The mountain was attacked," she announced, her voice resonating with a mixture of solemnity and urgency.
Those words instantly captured the attention of everyone in the room. Even the maids, who stood unobtrusively behind the Priestess, stiffened, their eyes widening in shock.
