#ouspiki

         try as she might, it’s near impossible to stop the flesh from darkening as a blush begins to color the commander’s face. leksa finds it ironic she can survey a blood strewn battlefield without so much as flinching, yet when she receives a compliment from a striking woman, she’s rendered SPEECHLESS. ever since they were children, eyva’s always found a way to catch leksa off guard. this proves no different years later. “ i... “ she can’t seem to come up with words fast enough as her mind is both swirling with noise and quiet as the night. “...could ask the same of you. “ it isn’t very original,  but to try and blunder through any other remark would feel disingenuous. 

   “Have you ever felt truly hopeless?” she asked, not even thinking about whether or not this person is going to understand her. “I thought I had, but I think I was just naive before. This is a whole new level.”

❝     i  can’t  handle  this  anymore.     i  don’t  know  what  to  do.     ❞

the man pauses , fingers still inches deep in the snow that lines the religious alter & the crown that lay upon it. he pauses --- turning back to face the woman who’s voice had carried through the empty hall.              her appearance reminds him vaguely of his first wife , she was not intimidating and yet, there as a sense of how she carried herself that told him that this woman was important. he shifts his weight. so that the sunlight streaking in is no longer in his eyes. as the silhouette forms into a person, the man’s smile forms, he knows this woman. he knows who this female is, and what she is.                   “ who are you to say that ? ” he asks , his tone accusational. “ i am to be king , this will be my crown , i am allowed to touch my own crown am i not ? ”

                  there’s a small pause, as she looks down at the small bundle of fabric in her hands --- a bit of a stretch but she looks up , rather confused. it’s a   gift  she understands that much , but it’s a weird thing to say (  what is she supposed to say ?   ) is the word she is looking for thank you ? or is what she is looking for something more.  as the fabric falls off, as she sets it aside, the comb is revealed and she pauses a breath hitches. and the world seems to stop around the small gift in her hands... she’s never gotten a gift without a purpose before --- the only use for thing sort of thing was ( beauty ) and she... had never gotten anything for mere beauty.                     “ meci. ”

❝ and what does it really matter? ❞  they questioned.  ❝ say what you want to say.  i don’t have time for your riddles. ❞

light hues finally flicker away from the stone statue to observe the priestess.  he wonders how someone can have such faith in one they have not seen or heard. it is not a question he has ever dared to ask any of the women here. their practices are beyond him. many speak as if they have personally communed with the goddesses and perhaps they have heard the sacred voices of their spirits. it is not an experience he will ever be blessed with though, he supposes. head turns away as gaze drifts towards the cold floor, staring blankly at a splatter of blood. it must have come off of him at some point. is he bleeding? he hadn’t noticed.   “  em na ste hosen nat.  ”