All in all, she felt ready for the jouro e. Hopefully, the priest would be too, or this could quickly turn into a months-long nightmare.

  6. Faith and Fate – July 23, Year 216

  The pza had bee less poputed as m passed into noon. Late m hadn’t been a particurly busy time at the pza, certainly nothing pared to the evening before, but when Sally stepped out of the Circuit Runner’s Guild at the start of noon, it was almost deserted.

  Whehought about it, it shouldn’t be a surprise. It was noon in July, the height of summer. The heat was draining and the sun deadly.

  There were no animals dragging carts about, no people running across the breadth of the pza. Most caravans leaving today would’ve already left at dawn; they wouldn’t be running around to sell their wares, stock up on traditions, acquire new iory otiate tracts at noon. The people present – including the guards – stuck close to the buildiher seated oios of the many buildings surrounding the pza, or they were standing in alleys, all seeking the shade. The few people not doing so were semi-hurriedly walking towards their destination.

  What was surprising was how ued she was. It had not really occurred to her that it was summer, her mind still stu the winter she’d fought the Erlings. From what she recalled, she hadn’t really sweat either, and the jouro Cardinar was effortless, barring the strange, rapid fight with the bloodfiend. Only afterward had she felt tired and in need of rest.

  She would be grateful of it if it didn’t lead to more questions. Questions she her had the time, knowledge nor currently the desire to answer. She had things to do. She could wait until Lovesse.

  She moved toward the street leading to the shores of Lake Prior. On the way, she spotted several manufactories of all kinds to her left and right, the st sounds of metalwork eg from them. There were also the wharfs to her left, a number of boats still docked but the majority of them out at the ke. The ke water might not be drinkable, but uhe many other poisoned waters of the Grand Circuit, its fish were both edible, numerous aively safe acquire. Another one of the reasons Lake Prior pys host to the rgest and most numerous poputioers in the Grand Circuit.

  Outside of those, there were a number e buildings straddling the shorelihree of them were practically the same and one was distinctly different from all surrounding buildings.

  The simir ones, located on the far right of the shores, were the water treatment facilities. Massive, monstrous buildings unlike any of the others iy. They were also, by far, the oldest. In fact, they were the first buildings around Lake Prior, and the reasons the Anteer cities were where they were.

  Depending on who you, there were two expnations for their existeo some, especially those outside the Circuits, they were simply remnants of the Old World, one of the few saved from destru by the Last of the Angels, the Protector of All-Children and the reason humanity survived its darkest days. What Sally knew as the Warden of the World.

  Or they were made by the Ahe prophet of the Dekantists, the Ten-Time Drinker, Granter of Visions and Miracle-Maker. They were the aor, patron and protector of the Anteer cities and the Ahemselves. The figure around which the religion formed.

  The other building, to her direct left, was a cathedral by the aptly-named Church of the Evergraced. It was a rge stone building with four towers: two in front, o the ter and o the back. On top of the tral spire was a cross, an older symbol repurposed by the Church of the Evergraced.

  It was covered in painted mosaid had numerous stained-gss windows, all of them depig – either symbolically or directly – a se of one of these Evergraced perf their holy deeds. Many of them were about Evergraced teag their disciples about survival, engineering, manufacturing or a variety of other vital skills, with others depig more straightforward acts like killing demons, healing children and so forth.

  The Church was not native to the Circuits. It came from the West, from the Graral Union, brought by its traders much like the Arist’s Guild. Much like the Prophet Ante and the Dekantists were the unal heart of the Anteeri, the Evergraced and its church was that of the Grandies.

  Despite Ain direg her to a ‘church’, this wasn’t her destination. No, hers was the ‘church’ – called a temple by everyone else – of the Dekantists at the end of the road.

  The temple was located in the ter of the city’s shores, its stone causeway jutting out from it much like the piers further to the left. The stoh was about four people wide aually split in two paths of equal width, meeting again after some distao form a sizeable square.

  Uhe initial causeway, the square part of the temple plex was roofed with triangur, blue – painted, she presumed – tiles with wooden poles ag as support. On the right edge of the tral square was a rger, two storied building serving as the main temple, atteo by the Dekantists’ priests. This temple was made entirely of wood, marking it as a paratively newer addition to the plex.

  On the furthest edge from the shore, at the end of another causeway going further into the ke, was a much smaller, likely older stone shrih a ft stone roof. The left edge of the square was left, granting an overview of the ke.

  The ey of the temple plex was, barring a ceiling to ward off the sun, pletely open. Even the main temple had no walls, only pilrs on which its sed floor and grand roof rested. The entire plex was built close to water-level, allowing the occasional wave to flow over it. Thankfully, the path was treated by the priests so it wouldn’t bee slick.

  There were very few people ihe plex. The only ones present were at the main temple, being atteo by a priest dressed in white robes with a blue sash and a red, V-shaped hat c his head and ears. He held a staff of sorts in one hand, occasionally waving it over the small crowd or taping it on their head, and a pitcher iher.

  Sally nning to go to the priest, until she saw a figure half-obscured by the roof-bearing poles, sitting at the upper-left er of the square with their legs in the ke.

  From what she could tell at a distahe figure was dressed in a blue robe and carried a rge bag, one undoubtedly meant for travel. Sally figured that was the person she sought.

  Sally approached her, but right before she could address the figure, they spoke.

  “When you look into the water, what do you see?” The figure – a woman – asked without turning her head.

  She’s bald, was the first thought that entered Sally’s mind. Perhaps a bit unkind, but women of the Circuits – and men, if they could help it – were rarely bald. That was more of a Southern thing, women sorcerers in particur, from what she uood. The sun wasn’t kind on the bald and the woman in front of her didn’t even wear a hat to ward off the sun, thus risking a heatstroke.

  Sally knew what she was really asking, but decided to indulge her. Stepping beside the woman, she looked into the water.

  For a moment she saw her own face. Dull brown eyes, short brown hair and scarred brown skin, before that vision faded and was repced with another one. A vision she’d seen before.

  “A city in ke’s bck depth. Lustrous, if not for the rust. Breathless, if not for its death.” The reply was a bit poetic for her taste, but Sally didn’t choose it. No one did. Whatever vision you saw es with words and these were always wholly uo a person, and always somewhat dramatic.

  Not that the vision didn’t earn its drama. The first time she’d seen it, she, much like anyone else, had been struck by it. Buildings reag towards the sky – or the surface – the streets and alleys between them filled with moving lights and people beyond ting, carried in its own tide like sands in a river. All drowned in a blue, watery veil, stu endless night. A necropolis.

  It was a vision of the Old World, where all the people in the Circuits would hardly make up more than a small township. Where a single man could hoard the wealth of nations. Where one could drink water on demand a food on and. Where people shot more lead for sport than the new world did for survival.

  A vision to hope for, aspire to and, most of all, to be wary of. While striking, it had always givehe creeps, and now especially. It was a city of the dead, and probably dead for a reason. The ke was a lure for the foolish to fall into, a lure which many had fallen for.

  After the First Sip, this vision would fade, either into something else – whidicated that you could risk the Sed – or into simple refle, which meant your would be your st. Not that it would be safe if a different vision revealed itself; any one beyond the First was always a risk.

  “You have yet to take the First Sip, then?” The woman turned her head, surprise clear in both her void eyes.

  They were wide, green and inquisitive, but without edge. A genuine curiosity seemed to be fixed within them, permaly. To be fair, the woman did just ask a question, but Sally felt heless the impression was a right one.

  “Yes. Is that shog?”

  Sally watched the women pinch her for a sed, befain turning to look out over the ke.

  “Maybe, kinda. I figured a vision and task given by the Ante would be about another of the faithful. But why should it? Makes more sehat it wouldn’t be another believer, now that I think about it.” A moment of silence, before the woman turo Sally once more. “Will you take the Sip?”

  She’d beeed to before, but Niall always said it wasn’t the time and she’d never been at the ke without him. And now she certainly wasn’t in the mood. Some had seen visions of the future, others had gained skills or knowledge they otherwise would never have gotten, while others still would see something about themselves, their future or their past.

  She didn’t want any of it.

  “Is that your task, then? To vince me to take the plunge? Here I thought I was to guide you to the great kes of the Circuits.” Sally asked, arms - well, arm - crossed.

  The woman shrugged in response. “It was just a question. And maybe it art of my task, who knows? Couldn’t hurt to ask.”

  “I suppose that fits a priest,” Sally replied.

  The woman gave a rueful grin. “Ain sees religion as a pyramid, with each step upward more holy thaher, and with a more sacred – and specific – title. A on thing for men from the East, evehey’ve lived half their lives within this city. A priest is what he assumed someone of my stature to be, so a priest is what I am, to him.”

  “Who are you, then?”

  The woman stood up, water dripping from her robes.

  She’s taller than me.

  “Lua Orta,” she thrust out her hand. “But call me Lucy.”

  Sally looked at the hand for a sed, befrabbing and shaking it.

  “Sarah Olivia Palters, call me Sally,” they shook. “But I suppose you already khat.”

  Lucy gave her a bright smile. “I did not, in fact, know that. Well, beyond the st name. Visions are rarely that specific, but you’re an exception apparently. It showed a one-armed woman, st of a Vil, with e tooth. I assumed the st oo be metaphorical.” She tilted her head for a sed and leaned in toward Sally, jokingly iing her befiving a self-satisfied nod with a slight smirk. “Seems I was right.”

  Sally gave a small smile in response. “Not so metaphorical, actually. I had the fang of a bloodfiend with me when I went to your uncle, had to show it to vince him. Ght annoyed afterward.”

  “Ha! I remember when I told him about my vision. Had to go all loopy and dreamily. Should’ve seen his face, like he was sug down fish-guts! Always fun to mess with him.”

  “So, you didn’t get the vision – or prophecy or whatever – then and there?”

  “Nope, only when taking the Sip. Every Anteeri knows that, but Ai so it’s bee a bit of an in-joke. My aunt finds it funny too, though she won’t admit it.” Lucy grinned.

  A moment of silence, before Sally broke it. “So… What’ll we be doing, then?”

  “You guessed correct earlier. We’ll jouro all the great kes, do a circle of the Red and Green Circuits, and theurn here. Ain has already paid half, right?” Sally gave a nod. “Well, you’ll get the other half wheurn, and that’ll be it.”

  Sally was a bit baffled. “That’s it? No vague ‘things will reveal in time, or ‘knowing is its own reward’ or some such? Seems a bit straightforward for a spiritual journey.”

  Lucy shrugged in response, and Sally gave a small huff. “Did the vision show so little? Not even why I am necessary for your journey?”

  “It doesn’t really show anything, really. Just a feeling, some vague knowledge of how to get where you o go, what you need. Always enough to get you to do something, but never enough to know why to do it. Maybe otherwise, it wouldn’t o be done anymore? Or something like that,” Lucy replied.

  “And no caravans? No runners uards?”

  “Nope, just us two. Did tell me that. Besides, it is our spirit journey. Wouldn’t be right with other people.” Again, Lucy gave a bright smile in respo seemed to be a habit.

  Sally groaned in response.

  “Please tell me you’ve travelled the Circuits? Fired a gun, at least?” It was almost a plea.

  Lucy, to her disappoi, waggled her hand. “Only the Red, and only around Lake Prior. Does that t? I think it ts. I travel it a lot, and I do it alone. I’ve shot a rifle a couple of times, even hit something with it once.” Again, a bright smile.

  She hoped that st part was a joke.

  “This is for you, then.” Sally gave her the rifle, though she did find it somewhat odd Lucy didn’t carry one. “I’ll give you the spare ammo for it ter.”

  Lucy gave the rifle a one-over and then slung it on her back.

  “Do you have everything packed or do we have to go by your house or something?” Sally asked.

  “Don’t have a house, so I got all I need right here.” Lucy replied, patting her bag. “Besides, this is the right time to leave.” Luod to herself and motioned for her to go.

  Sally didn’t question it, shrugged and began to move back toward the city, Lucy stepping beside her.

  X

  The roads were still clear, the heat havio dissipate. Passing the gate took a bit lowo caravans, one going in and the oing out, were trying to pass each other while their leaders were talking with the guard. Together, they were blog the gate, but seeing as no o them was going in or out, no one seemed ready to hurry them along.

  All in all, the jouro get out of the city was a short one, albeit one filled with versation.

  Lucy had gone first, feeling it’d be her ce to get some info out of Sally. So, Sally told her some things about her past, epping ooo ret emotional ndmines of the Erling incursion, her miraculous survival or the destru of her Vil. She mostly told the woman about her skills and some of her experiences as a junior Warden, what the Vils were like and mostly kept things vague, before finding an opportunity to turn the questions ba Lucy.

  “So, what do you do for a living? You said you weren’t a priest,” Sally asked.

  “Well, not really, though I suppose I do perform clerical duties. I travel from city to city, all along Lake Prior from the Bite to Cardinar. I help out what needs helping, preach what needs preag, advise who needs advising. That sort of thing,” Luswered.

  “You travel from city to city without ons?” If she did that regurly, she should begin to doubt her partner’s sanity. More than she already did.

  “Oh, I do have ons, but they’re all right here.” Lucy replied, tappiemple, before residering and ying a hand over her heart. “Or maybe here? It’s not quite clear to me.”

  That surprised Sally, and she raised her eyebrows. “You do magic?” She didn’t know priests – or whatever she was – did that.

  “Sort of? It is not are magic like the Guild practices. It was a blessing I received from my Fourth Sip. Proper term is miracles, I suppose, though I’m not quite clear on the difference.” Lucy gave her a side eye, before leaning toward her in mock spiracy. “Don’t tell anyone I said that. It’s ‘bad for our image’” Lucy moved back. “Or something like that.”

  Fourth Sip. The thought struck Sally, and she was almost hesitant to ask.

  “How many times have you drank?”

  “I’m on my sixth now. After our journey’s over, I pn to take my seventh.”

  That… “‘S a lht?” Sally asked quietly.

  Sally looked at her new panion again, taking in the new information. Every Sip after the First decreased the likelihood of surviving the by a substantial margin, even with the information one could gain from looking into the ke.

  She couldn’t even begin to prehend the calcutions necessary to determihe odds.

  “Oh yes, left quite an impacora.” Lucy gave her the by-now familiar bright smile. “Young girl like me, blessed more times than over half the Praesidia? At my age? Unheard of, really!” Loud ughter followed.

  “Just wait until after I take the Seventh! I’ll be up there with the high-most of them! Probably give them all a heart attack! Ha, that’d be quite the coup!”

  Sally realized she wasn’t just travelling with ‘some priest’, but, if Lucy was to be believed, a bona fide saint-in-the-making. A soon-to-be head of her religion.

  And, if that was true, what did it mean for her to have a vision specifically about Sally?