#farth

Chapter 4

Asda watched as Captain Fitz puffed his chest & strutted about like a peacock when her & Farth had toured the frigate.

“This is one of the most versatile ships in the King’s Navy & will operate at full sail with just fifteen crew! The Snapdragon currently holds seventy-three crew, which is split into three shifts. What an easy life my men lead! We’re a bit pampered with two cooks & four cabin boys. The Snapdragon has one gundeck, which is no place for a Lady of your stature Ma’am,” upon seeing Asda’s curiosity, “ -The guest & my living quarters are toward the back. The crew sleeps below decks…”

On Fitz prattled happily on about his ship. Asda looked around. The crew seemed well-fed, well-rested, & fairly amicable. They did not sit around while at port. They were busy cleaning & making the ship shine. The first mate was at the quarterdeck overseeing the crew & making adjustments to a paper that was set out on a collapsible table.

“…Priestess Westwick, you must be tired. Excuse me for keeping you out in the sun with no shade, let me find an escort for you,” Captain Fitz went on, “Lieutenant Brigham.” Catching the attention of the first mate.

“Aye Sir?” the fair man answered.

“Would you escort the Priestess to her cabin? I fear she has no interest for men’s talk.”

“Aye Captain,” Brigham answered while Asda glared at Fitz. The only thing that kept her from smashing her stave atop the man’s head was the small hand signal Farth used, 'Wait’.

She motioned back in annoyance ‘Attack later?’

Again was the ‘Wait.’

Trusting her brother’s judgement, Asda slid a glare in the Captain’s direction again before taking the Lieutenant’s arm & moving away.

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Asda hated Calne dresses. Mostly because she struggled with them so much. This was fashion? Fluff, frills, bows, & layers of heavy fabric? Not being able to breathe? Barely being able to move? What is wrong with these women? Do they do nothing all day?

Asda’s left hand was so tangled in the cords on the back of the dress & she was so exacerbated that she went for drastic measures. Snatching the knife she always had hidden in the pockets of her Calne dresses.

“M’lady?” squeaked someone from the doorway to her room.

Asda whipped around, not for embarrassment for being in a state of undress. She was embarrassed because she was caught holding a knife to the back of her dress.

The petite teenage girl staring at her with large dark brown eyes. The eyes were a deep brown & the hair was a chestnut sort of color.

“M’lady! You’ll ruin that beautiful dress!” The girl cried as as scurried over to Asda & started working the knots Asda had made trying to get out of the dress.

“Thank you, I was at my wits end. You are?” Asda offered for the assistance.

“Rowena , M’lady. I was sent by Admiral Westwick to be your lady-in-waiting. My brother, Emry is a deckhand aboard the Snapdragon.” the small girl explained.

“At least there is someone with sense aboard,” Asda quipped. Drawing a small giggle from the girl.

“The Captain would be all in a rise if he heard your speak, M’lady,” Rowena replied.

Chapter 3

Asda felt the sunlight through her eyelids & bemoaned the fact she was waking up. She rolled over to the side facing away from the window, hoping to catch a little more of the blessed darkness.

After a few minutes of fruitless waiting, Asda accepted her fate.

Stepping onto the worn floorboards of her room, she made her way to the mat in front of her window. Closing her eyes against the sunrise streaming through the frame, she began to settle into her morning prayers.

Although she no longer called the handmaidens, no longer heard their greetings, Asda could not stop. Reciting their names & invocations every morning was something she had done for the last twelve years. A week of silence was nothing to a habit since childhood.

The only thing that changed was the time it had taken for the prayers. Normally, they occupied the majority of her morning even when she woke early. Greeting & speaking to all the handmaidens took time. Silence had made sleeping in & going to breakfast early her new schedule.

“…Goddess watch over me- guide my footsteps, lighten my burdens, & guard my heart. Let me know your wisdom, listen to your truth, see your justice, & do your works.” The well worn words fell from Asda’s lips & she pulled herself up to stand. Today was the day. She left her room for breakfast.

All of Elenai was devastated when the Goddess would no longer answer. Many of the other priestesses blamed the High Priestess Leilani for being “out of favor” of the Goddess. Her strange ways of making peace with the Lord worshippers & breeding peculiar children; one that spoke to so many of the handmaidens, & one that did not speak to them at all. The dissent was beginning to descend on the city of Pavaion. There had been a mass call for talks & all the tribes were sending their chiefs to discuss The Silence.

Leilani & Cedric had reached an agreement that Asda & Farth would leave Elenai. The High Temple was too dangerous & an assassin had been discovered. It had been near the High Priestess’ chambers but Leilani would take no chances with her children.

Cedric had brought news that the northern kingdom of Calne was also in upheaval, but the presence of King Godfred was like a balm on a wound. The King had stated that all religious figures would stay in their current station until the situation was remedied. His faith in their Lord was absolute & in Cedric’s quote of him “I will not have my kingdom in chaos because my priests have not the spiritual power to please the God.”

This matched the image Asda had of King Godfred, whom she had only met at her debut. The imposing figure & his too-perceptive gaze had made sixteen-year-old Asda draw two conclusions. One, she would never defy this man if she had the choice; & two, she would never openly lie to him. She was sure this man would remember, & repay her in full.

Farth was to meet him this fall in his coming-of-age Calne ceremony in three months.

The warm draft from the ovens in the temple kitchens brought Asda from her contemplations. The kitchens were a wide space with many of Ignatia’s priestesses busy preparing the food. Their natural resistance to heat & ability to bend fire to their will were essential to making the wonderful treats they made. Now all of them wore apprentice’s gloves & tools for taking things out of the ovens & cookfires.

Asda was almost glad to leave. She wasn’t sure how much more she could stand, seeing her fellow priestesses reduced to using tools & laboring over something that was easily done with a handmaiden’s power.

Farth was already seated with his food. Having no handmaidens to pray to, he was always up with the dawn & early to eat. Asda gathered a roll, candied meat, & hot spiced tea. Balancing it all on a her plate, she maneuvered her way over to her brother’s table.

Farth barely glanced up from he food when Asda sat. The siblings never had very many friends before the Silence, both being oddities to the rest of the temple. The prodigy & the inept priest. It was just worse when people believed their mother was to blame.

Eating in a comfortable silence, Farth was first to finish. He waited patiently for Asda. Once they were both done, they washed their dishes in the trough of water by the kitchens.

“I’ll meet you at your room,” was all that Farth left her with before disappearing to down the hall toward his room.

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Struggling with tightening the ties on the back of her Calne underdress, Asda was exacerbated. She wondered aloud, “How do Calne women dress themselves?!”

“They don’t,” replied Leilani, sweeping into the room & neatly snatching the strings on the back of the corset. “Breathe in as much as you can & hold it,” she instructed.

Doing as she was told, her mother pulled on the strings. Hard. The corset tightened painfully around Asda’s chest. Making eyes water, & her lungs burn.

“Slowly release,” Leilani quipped. Feeling the High Priestesses working furiously at the ribbons, Asda let out a small streams of air at small intervals until her mother was done. Dropping her hands to her sides with a small- “There.” Signally Asda to suck in a painful breath. Partially because she hadn’t inhaled in a minute, & partially because the corset was so tight.

Leilani helped Asda into the next layer of her own personal torture device. Continuing the conversation, “Calne women do not dress themselves? Are they children?”

“They are not children, but they are expected to dress themselves in the utmost fashion. Which they cannot seem to achieve alone,” Leilani’s smirk revealed itself slightly & Asda did not miss the irony in her mother’s statement.

After buttoning up the back of the last layer of the dress, Leilani shifted to stand in front of her daughter.

“Take your staff, guard your back, & look out for your brother. Know that I will always love you,” hugging her daughter close, she whispered in her ear, “May the Lady bless your feet to be swift & sure, may she bless your heart to be steadfast, & may she bless your head to know the right path.”

This was her mother’s normal send off for long journeys & Asda suspected it was Leilani’s favorite.

“Ready?” Farth broke up the exchange from his position in the doorway. He was wearing normal Farth male clothing. A high collar & two different jacket layers.

“Almost,” Leilani chirped. Sweeping Asda’s mass of dark curly hair into a neat twist, settling it into place with an ornate pin.

“Now you are ready,” Leilani said with a strange finality. Moving to hug Farth & give her traditional prayer.

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Arriving at the docks, Asda was accosted by a very large man in Calne clothing.

“Asda! Farth! My children! It’s good to see you!” Cedric exclaimed, sweeping both his children into a large hug. Asda was tall for a woman & she only stood to her father’s chest. Farth only came to his shoulder. Cedric was pale man with warm green eyes.

“It’s good to see you too Father,” Farth replied enthusiastically, both siblings squeezing their father back.

“Eh-hem,” came a polite throat clearing came from behind her father’s considerable girth.

“Oh yes! Children, this is Captain Alaric Fitzwilliam. Captain Fitz, these are my children- Priestess Asda & Lord Farth,” Cedric swung around to introduce a medium-build man with cool blue eyes.

“It’s an honor to meet you Lord & Priestess,” the Captain bent at the waist offer a curt bow.

“Treat them with all the respect they are due Fitz, there is nothing more precious to me,” Cedric leaned down to clasp Captain Fitzwilliam on his shoulder.

“I will do whatever I can to make their stay comfortable Admiral,” Captain Fitz replied with fervor, looking upon Asda’s father with respect.

Chapter 2

Asda stared into the darkness, not really registering what was around her. Tuning out everything around her & listening to her heartbeat.

She knew this dream, but it carried the weight of something alien. Something she had never known.

All Asda did was exist, in a silent void. So calm it was almost maddening. Almost. She was just silent. Nothing happened. Like sitting on the brink of something. Never knowing what was beyond. Quiet like before a storm.

She supposed the darkness was a result of her father’s religion & how he worshiped the Lord. The spouse & other side of the Goddess. Ever the same, but always opposites. Some of what was His was bleeding into her dreams.    Asda would just have to push herself further in her pursuit of the Lady’s will, & purge His darkness from her soul.

But without darkness, there is no light. A voice projected from the darkness

Who’s there? Asda replied.

Child of the Sister of Life itself, you have much to learn. But remember my name & heed my cry. My name is Zilla.

“What do you mean? I’ve never heard your name before! Why do you call for me?” Asda shouted into the darkness with all the questions whirling in her mind. 

Slowing the darkness of the dream world ceded to the needs of the real one.

She could hear her mother & brother talking in hushed tones, but could not make out what they were saying.

Nestled in warm blankets, & fighting against the sleepy fog in her mind.

Dragging open her eyes, she sat up, & she saw the light from the window making shadow figures on the floor. Her floor. Her room. Her bed.

She remembered fighting with Farth… the void… & the voice…

Trying to piece everything together.

“You’re awake!” Farth exclaimed. Stepping into the room. His pleasant features made even more so by his smile that was so wide, his eyes seemed to squint. Farth had a habit of stealing hearts with that smile. He had their mother’s easy manner & their father’s build. A lean boy of 16 would soon turn into a strapping young man. Asda hated to see the growth, but supposed every sister painfully loved to see their brother grow from a child to a man beside them.

Asda struggled to sit up with her brother crowding her so.

“Wha-What has happened?” Asda finally spoke.

“We don’t know.” Leilani answered from the doorway. The High Priestess for Elenai was a strong, voluptuous woman. One of the city’s toughest warriors & the most caring mother, when her duties allowed.

Leilani had pixie-like features. Large green eyes, a small upturned nose, & red bow lips. She was quick witted, & one of the most insightful people in all the temple.

“Don’t know?” Asda parroted.

“Asda, try to call a handmaiden.” her mother insisted.

Confused by her mother’s cryptic words, she did as she was told.

Ruth? No answer.

Ruth? May I call upon you? No answer from the voice that had been with her since she was six years old.

Ruth?

Turning to her mother, & Leilani nodded in encouragement.

Speaking the invocation aloud, “Friend to all, lover of merriment, Handmaiden to the Mother of all hearts, Ruth. I entrust myself to you.”

Nothing.

Her friend of the last fourteen years was not answering her call.

Desperately, Asda called upon the other Handmaidens.

Herekia. Edole. Quadamah. Veda. Nina. Elga. Frida. Linette. Valeda. Irma-

None answered her call. Her mind spun, & she kept calling out to them.

-Olethia! Fleta! Samara! Orva! Voletta! Questa! Germaine! Simona!

Frantic, she chanted another invocation.

“Life’s blood of the land, balance of the world, sister to earth, Handmaiden to the Queen of all she sees, Eldoris. I entrust myself to you.”

Eldoris was the most powerful elemental Handmaiden. She was the water. The power of the ocean, & the benevolence of an oasis in the desert.

Asda was calling out to the Handmaiden with everything she had. Feeling nothing, & hearing no voice. The Handmaidens had all abandoned her.

“The Goddess has abandoned me,” Asda whispered to her mother.

Chapter 1

Asda dropped into a low crouch, slowing her breathing, clutching her staff, & listening for an approach. Straining her ears. Searching through the soft hush of a forest for the slight indication of her pursuer.

She kept the position. Knowing that any movement on her part would be like sending a signal to the enemy on her whereabouts. Still using her senses to keep an awareness of the world around her.

Still at it? Ruth asked into Asda’s mind.

Yes. He’s proving himself. I think it’s a new warrior phase. She answered.

Must be, I’ll be gone for a while. But I will be back. Okay? Ruth spoke this last point emphatically.

Must be important. We’ll speak when you when you return. Asda accepted the courtesy. Ruth often had to go for talks the Goddess of late. Last time Asda knew of Ruth disappearing, there had been a mountain spewing ash & liquid rock. So there must be something big going on in the world.

Right now she had other problems. Hearing a small rustle of leaves & a branch move to her left.

A gladius struck her staff with startling ferocity. Definitely proving himself. She thought to herself.

Slipping out of the short sword’s reach to better use her staff, Asda stuck out with a thrust to her brother’s side. He reached over with his small round shield & parried it off to the side. Forcing her to swing the butt of the staff around to block the sword.

Her attacker was Farth, her little brother younger by four years. He was sixteen & already had his first crush. On a young disciple that came from a neighboring village that was full of warriors. Hence the new warrior phase.

The siblings set to sparring. Neither giving quarter. Exchanging blow for blow, they were fairly evenly matched. Each looking for a opening to win the match.

Asda found one first. Stepping back, kicking Farth’s shield away from his body & getting in a swipe of the staff. Smacking him on the underside of the jaw as he backpedaled.

 Faith vs. Farth?* *(This is not a religious article)

When we hear the word faith our minds immediately jump to religion which is a controversial subject. But in actuality the word faith is defined as a complete trust or confidence in someone or something. A strongly held belief or theory. According to this definition the church does not have a monopoly on faith. Everyone has strong beliefs or theories about something or another. The question is:…