Chapter one- The man in the dungeons

Why a temple had dungeons, Leo couldn’t fathom. But that was until a man was caught in the tile room with his hammer and chisel.

The temple of Sol was split into two factions, men and woman. Two hundred years before the rift had occurred after the priestess’ revolted, tired of centuries of sexual abuse from their male counterparts. They took half of everything and settled on the Western side of the great continent. Not a man had stepped inside the temple of the sky god since its construction, until that October morning.

It was Leo that found him, on the way to the lavat to shave her head. All the priestesses had no hair; a requirement for their service to Sol. Leo had to do it every morning as her hair grew so quickly.

He was on his knees examining the tile sun in the center of the room, directly over the crack that Leo had recognized since her arrival at the temple, a flaw in the craftsmanship. At first she thought it to be Mintha, one of the older priestesses who cleaned to no avail until every inch of the temple shone like Sol himself. But the shape was all wrong, the hips too wide, the shoulders too broad. She gasped in surprise and the man turned.

Leo would never forget her first sight of a man. He wasn’t at all like the priestesses described. Not covered in hair, in fact he was nearly as bald as she, he didn’t omit a foul smelling odor and he didn’t attack her on the spot. He simply looked alarmed, surprised and had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. However, all of those things didn’t put off her screaming. The hall was swimming with women a moment later and the man was taken to the dungeon.

He had a disappointed look upon his face when she took his food to him later that evening. He took the plate, offering his thanks softly. She stared at him then, knowing it to be a sin, yet so full of curiosity. They were so different, yet so similar. He looked up from his tin plate, his forehead creased, then it smoothed as a gentle smile found his lips.

“I suppose you’ve never seen a man before,” his rough voice croaked, void of any trace of water. Leo was surprised that it matched his face perfectly. “It’s alright; I’d never seen a priestess of Sol before this morning. So it truly is a day for new things.”

“Why did you come here?” she asked him, finally raising her blue eyes his hazel ones.

“I was seeking something beneath that tile floor. It’s a half of a tablet. To be more precise, it’s half of a third of a tablet. The last piece to the puzzle I’ve been seeking for nearly a decade.”

“There’s nothing beneath that tile, nothing but the flesh of Ter,” she told him animatedly, stepping forward. The movement caused her hood of her robe to fall back, revealing her hairless head and the three stars that were tattooed across her crown.

“Three stars, my word you’re awfully young to be initiated so far in the house of Sol. Pray what is your age child?” he gazed at her in wonder, then bowed his head in slight respect.

“I am eight and ten,” she said raising her chin.

“But how is it possible? Most girls are accepted at age eighteen and it takes years to earn their first crowning, yet you have been so thrice.”

“You seem to have an intimate knowledge of our customs,” she said slowly. “I was placed her as an infant, as my mother was unfit to raise me. I earned my first crown at age seven, my second at age twelve, and my third only last spring.”

“That is quite an achievement,” he looked pensive. “But is it the life you would have chosen for yourself?”

“It is the life I was given. Eventually I will be the youngest High Priestess in the history of our temple, bringing praise to Lord Sol all my days.”

“That is quite a goal, most certain,” he paused and examined her once more. “And what is your name Priestess, so that I may tell your tale once I escape these prison walls?”

She thought a moment, knowing she had broken many rules by even speaking to him. So what was one more?

“Leonarda.”

“Well Leonarda, I assume you will be in a great deal of trouble if you are caught conversing with me. I keep our exchange and your name as our secret.”

“Thank you,” she smiled. Turning to go, she was caught by his weathered hand.

“And if you don’t believe me about the tile check for yourself. It should be stone, thin as paper and nearly the size of your hand outstretched,” he released her then, nodding in quiet desperation. “I’m Thom by the way.”

“Goodbye Thom,” she nodded in return, and then departed.

An hour later, after cleaning the kitchen, making her bed twice and then shuffling past the entrance to the tile room fourteen times, she entered with a chisel in hand.

The tile room told the history of the Church of Sol, as well as his brothers, Ter and Mir. Together they created the world, children of the stars above, they formed the land, sea and sky. They each reined a grand dominion. Sol, being the oldest and most powerful, chose the sky to be his home. Mir, second born, chose the raging seas, and Ter, the youngest was left to govern the land. Each had churches in their names, and each church acknowledged the others, worshiping the particular god in the season to which they pertained. Fall to Mid winter the continent celebrated Sol, Mid Winter to spring Mir was worshipped and the summer months belonged to Ter, when plants were at their peak.

The entrance to the room was a large door with the sun in spectacular size. The walls were historical murals done in mosaic form, the journey of the sons, the creation of earth and then the creation of man by Ter’s hand. In the center of the floor there was another sun, twice the size of the one located on the door, with long golden rays stretching from its center.

Leo could already see the crack stretching across the center of the yellow tile. She bent to examine it, tracing the line with her index finger. She noticed for the first time that it was eerily straight and moved her touch to the edges.

“Could it be?” she muttered aloud and placed the edge of the chisel along the outside, instead of the center, finding a space beneath the grout. She positioned herself above, using her weight to push down, then to the side. It came up rather easily after that, then bent back and stood in mid air.

“Hah,” it was a hinged; the metal of it had a copper like tone.

Leo reached back for the lamp she had brought with her and used its dim glow to inspect the hole. It was nearly a foot deep, with a few parchment boxes. She reached her hand down in, shoving the boxes aside, until she felt it.

The stone was smooth, more level than any marble she had ever felt. It was also heavier than she expected, as she had to use both hands to remove it from the hole.

Three edges were perfectly cut, and the fourth was jagged, as if someone had rushed the last bit of the cutting. She placed it the front pocket of her robe, along with the chisel and used both hands to put the hinged tile back in place. She wasn’t as gentle as she meant to be and it fell the last few inches with an echoing Thud.

“Bless me Sol,” she muttered, grabbing her lamp and snuffing it out. She shuffled to the far wall behind a pillar and ducked down.

A few seconds later she heard the door creak open and the soft steps of two sisters.

“There’s no one here,” a soft voice said as the light from the torch she held grew steadily closer; Leo tucked her feet beneath her to escape its creeping glow. “I told Hecta it was nothing, but she was so spooked by that man this morning and wouldn’t listen to a word I said.”

“I tell you, she hasn’t been the same since her fifth crowning. Sometimes I think the ink seeps into your brain.”

Leo peeked around the pillar to see who was on watch. Isba and Geffa. Both had been crowned three times, the same as Leonarda, and wore the same ivory cloak she did, but they were twice her age and all the more bitter for it. She would be cleaning the lavat for a week if they caught her there.

“Did Priestess Fortuna say what would happen to the man?” Isba asked, she was slightly taller and her robes hung around her ankles, as they were all the same size.

“No,” Geffa sounded disappointed. “But Mintha said the last man they caught on the grounds was taken the Cliffside and pushed off, so Mir could see to his judgment.”

“You mean the rocks at the bottom.”

They both laughed at that. Leo bent her head in slight sadness, the man had trespassed, but surely he didn’t need to be killed over it.

“Let’s get out of her before Mintha catches us and makes us scrub the floor where the man stood.”

“Even though she’s probably done it four times by now,” they laughed once more, and Leo heard their feet scrape towards the door. It opened and they exited to the hallway and all light in the room disappeared.

She made her way through the dark, feeling along the wall until she reached the cold metal of the door. Sticking her head out to avoid any sisters on watch, Leo slipped from the room and made way to the dormitory, to bed. By the time she lay her head down she had decided to speak to Thom the next day, show him what she found, and if need be, help him escape from the dungeons.

*****

Leo examined the sandstone in her bunk in the morning light, surprised at first by its age, secondly by its detail, and then finally by the content, painstakingly carved along the edges of the stone. Basically it told the folktale, at least part of it, of the one true king.

It had been one of her favorite stories as a child, Mintha and sometimes Hecta would tell her the tale, relishing in the fact that they were able to be mothers, at least in that respect.

The true king lived on an ancient island, the island where all life began. It was told that it was where Sol, Mir and Ter first came there when they arrived on earth. Shortly afterwards they divided the sky, earth and sea and set to govern their lands, but not before blessing the land they arrived in with a race of men. Many chose to leave the island, to explore and eventually establish the tribes of the great continent. But those who remained stayed blessed, never going to war, never sick, only living long fulfilling lives with their kindred.

It was fabled that the brothers knew the tribes would go to war and eventually would need to be united. They created a map to the then lost island and divided it into three pieces. Each brother took a piece, destined to divide it between the tribes of men, so they would be unified by a leader from the island when the time came. Thousands of years had passed and still they had not united. The tablet she held seemed quite old, and Leo played with the idea that the stone she held was the original. Perhaps Thom was attempting to unite the tribes. How wondrous.

“What’s that?” a squeak came to her side and Leo jumped in surprise.

She dropped what she was holding into her sheets and glanced into the amber eyes of one of the newer sisters, Aeda.

“Just a piece of stone I found on the grounds, it had an interesting shape.”

“Let me see,” she asked her and didn’t wait for a reply, grabbing it from the bed. The girl had yet to earn her first crowning and much to learn in decorum. Leo frowned in response.

Aeda held the stone, weighed it in her hands. She stared a moment longer and handed it back with a shrug.

“You’re an odd girl,” Aeda raised an eyebrow and turned away, calling over her shoulder. “We’ve kitchen duty again today; Brana wants us down there now.”

“Alright then,” Leo told the girl and Aeda exited past the bunks and through the stone archway at the end of the hall. Leo was amazed the girl hadn’t asked more questions when she saw the writing, but then glanced at her hands. Aeda had held it upside down; Leo rolled her eyes at the girl and rose from her bed. She slipped her ivory robes over her head and placed the stone in her front pocket, rushing to the lavat to shave her head.

She realized she must have slept too late as there were only three other sisters in the lavat, one with two crowns, and the other two with four crowns. They glanced in her direction as she entered and then went on to ignore her. They were also on chore rotation. One month they would be required to work cleaning the temple and managing the grounds, and the following month the sisters took lessons with High Priestess Fortuna. This was done to gain further knowledge of Sol and his brothers, as well as languages, history and geography. Once they reached a certain point, they were given a series of tests and if they passed they would be crowned by a star upon their foreheads. Eight stars would circle the head and then the ninth and final would be twice the size of the others and directly on the top of the head.

Once the ninth star was reached that woman would become the new High Priestess and the old High Priestess would retire from the temple. That forced retirement hardly ever happened, most priestesses never made it that far before dying of old age. Leo was sure she would be the exception.

She lathered her head and carefully scrapped the razor back and forth until the light from the windows shined on her scalp. She placed her index finger on each star in the order that they were applied. The first was in the center. She remembered the pain that accompanied the dark blue marks, the first time it was blinding; Leo remembered that it had hurt for days following. The second, to the right, time was slightly less painful and the last was more of an uncomfortable stinging.

Leo and Aeda scrubbed pots all morning as Brana made meals for the sisters in their lessons. Most of the morning Leo contemplated on how she was going to handle her situation with Thom. It was a serious risk of her vows as a priestess to help him escape, much less to even be conversing with him.

“LEONARDA!” Aeda all but screamed at her.

Leo looked to her side where Aeda was scrubbing dishes but she was gone, she then turned and found her in the doorway.

“What?” Leo asked her.

“I’ve just called your name six times. I was trying tell you High Priestess Fortuna has decided what to do with the man, and wants us all to gather in the courtyard,” the girl had her hands resting on her hips and her chin in the air in the most self-important way.

“Right,” Leo wiped her hands on her robe and brushed the stone in her pocket, remembering that she still hadn’t resolved whether or not she was going to show Thom. Perhaps she would give it to Priestess Fortuna after the meeting and beg for forgiveness.

Leo followed Aeda through the halls of grey stone until they reached open courtyard. A small garden branched off to the left and eventually led to the fruit orchards they ran to obtain whatever income they needed after the sums of their Benefactors was presented to Sol.

Fortuna already stood up on their make shift stage, behind her was a large painting of the sun on the stone wall. Like everything else having to do with the temple it was cracked and faded. But Leo could perceive traces of its importance on a grander scale. The sun could be found in all their artwork, it had a great deal to do with their worship of Sol and his embodiment of the sun itself.

The oldest woman in the temple waited for all of the sisters to enter. Leo examined her with careful eyes underneath her Ivory hood. Fortuna had to be nearing the age of seventy and every day of those years could be read upon her face and grey quiet eyes. She had been fully crowned, with the full eight stars surrounding her head and the ninth not visible because she was standing so high up.

Leo smiled at the sun shining down on their heads and sighed quietly. She loved the outdoors and was saddened that she rarely was allowed to journey outside of the temple itself and she had never left the grounds in her lifetime. She stole a quick gaze at the sea that was down the hill to the west. She squinted hard and could almost make out the small fishing ships. She turned back towards the stage as the High Priestess cleared her throat.

“We are all aware of the trespasser found on our Lord Sol’s hallowed grounds yesterday and I have come to a decision as to what shall become of him,” Fortuna spoke calmly but with much feeling. Leo could tell she had not come to the decision easily. “At the gates to our temple it clearly states that this is a temple for the worship of Sol, and we all have made the promise to protect and care for all of his creations.”

Whispers spread through the crowd, growing steadily to voiced complaints.

“But he’s a man,” one of the older priestesses complained. “Men are strictly prohibited from the grounds.”

“Yet he is still a child of Sol,” Fortuna countered.

Leo beamed at the wisdom and resilience of the older Woman’s reasoning.

“However, I have spoken to this man and he openly confessed his desire to defile our temple by pulling up tiles in search of something that does not exist.”

“What was he searching for?” the nervous question rose somewhere in the back of the crowd.

“He believed we held a piece of the Kings Tablet. It is the map to the isle of Neisrep. I looked for myself and found nothing.”

More whispers surrounded.

“And the fate of the man?” this question came from Geffa.

“I have prayed to Sol and also referred to the book of the Founding Sisters. Because he trespassed with the intent of stealing something, even though it wasn’t real, his intentions were still poor. History advises that he be put to death, and sadly I agree. We cannot allow people to think us weak or we shall lose the freedom we all greatly treasure.”

Leo felt tears forming; it didn’t seem right in the least. What freedom was the priestess speaking of, she had only served another her entire life.

“He will be taken to the Cliffside at dawn,” with that she left, Leo noticed how the old woman’s shoulders slumped in a defeated manner.

Most of the sisters returned to their duties, a few stayed to gossip, but Leo made up her mind and rushed to catch up with the High Priestess.

“Priestess Fortuna,” she said out of breath, for a seventy year old Fortuna moved rather quickly.

“Yes Leonarda,” she didn’t even turn o see who it was that addressed her in such a informal way.

“Are we really going to kill that man? He made a foolish mistake, but I don’t think he deserves to die.”

The woman gave a heavy sigh.

“Priestess Olma always wrote that forgiveness was the greatest homage we could pay to our gods. And you told me yourself that every life is worth living. Why can’t we just let him go? I’m sure with his temperament he would respect our temple and leave in peace.”

“And how would you know his temperament young sister? You know of course, if I suspected you of conversing with that intruder you would have to be punished.”

“I do,” Leonarda dropped her gaze from the woman’s grey eyes and tattooed forehead. She reached in her robes for the stone, preparing her confession.

“Then it’s a good thing I know you would never commit such a sin,” Fortuna had a twinkle in her eye. “You always were a compassionate girl.”

She placed a hand on Leo’s cheek and patted in a motherly way.

“I was always sure you would be great and you have helped our temple with your skills as an orator. But know, as I grow older I knew we did wrong by you.”

“Never,” Leo nearly growled. “This is my home. I love Sol and I love all of you.”

“Yes, we never doubted your love, but this is not the life you chose for yourself, not like the other girls. You could have been adopted numerous times, you were a lovely polite child, and many of our patrons wanted to take you home.”

Yes, Leo remembered, giving speeches in Sol’s behalf. Once a kind woman with beautiful hair and brown eyes had embraced her quickly and asked if she wanted to become a member of her family. But the woman was turned down; the priestesses had not wanted to give her up.

“‘Regrets do not become a Priestess of Sol,’” she quoted her lessons.

“Yes, you are right. That’s why you shall be High Priestess in short time. You’re nearly through to your next crowning. If you weren’t on chore rotation you would probably be in scarlet robes by now,” she removed her hand after patting her lightly. “You should return to the kitchens, Brana will think you ran away.”

“We wouldn’t want that,” Leo smiled and dipped into a slight bow in respect.

“I’ll be meeting with you once more, a few weeks right?”

“Yes High Priestess.”

“Be gone with you then.”

Leo waited till Priestess Fortuna turned and then fled towards the kitchen.

*****

Her palms were sweaty when she took Thom his supper that evening. How could she face a man that was being put to death that next morning? The stone had been in her pocket all day, weighing down her robes as a constant reminder of the poor man’s fate.

“Hello again my young friend,” he greeted her when she removed her hood and placed the tray through the gap beneath the bars.

She turned to go, but changed her mind, sitting on the bench that was directly in front of his cell.

“I found what you were looking for,” she stated quietly as he was chewing hungrily on the bread she had brought him. “It was just where you said it was.”

Thom nearly choked in excitement.

“But the older woman, the High Priestess said she didn’t find it. I thought perhaps my research had been false information.”

“I searched last night. Here it is,” she handed him the stone. He broke in an enormous smile, and then wiped moisture from his eyes.

“I know exactly where to go know. Ten years of searching for a map and I can finally make my journey.”

“Is it real then, it’s truly the map to the fabled King?” Leo was full of skepticism.

“Yes. I had to journey to all of the other temples of the gods to find the whole map. You can imagine my dismay when I reached the temple of your brothers and discovered when the women split from them they truly did take half of everything.”

“Why are you doing this, what have you to gain?” Leo asked him.

“I would think that was obvious. We have been divided for much too long,” he straightened his back and then raised an eyebrow. “But there is more. Years ago, maybe twenty, I was sailing along the islands as a fisherman and was swept away in a storm. I was knocked unconscious, and awoke on the shores of a strange land. The sand was black, like coal; there were mountains with smoke rising from their peaks, and rivers dividing those. I wandered into the land, through the mountains and witnessed an amazing sight. A city unlike any I had ever seen, large buildings of stone, probably twice the size of this monastery. The Land itself was probably half the size of our great continent, but they were completely united. One tribe, ruled by a great king, and after sorting through their strange tongue I discovered that someday they would travel to the Great Continent, bringing their large armada. The only thing they lacked was the vessels to make the journey. They had little experience with the seas.”

“They intend to invade?”

“Without a doubt. I was troubled by this for many years of course, and one day, walking along the shore with my son I stepped on a piece of smooth stone, twice the size of this one I hold. I knew little of the Old Tongue, but knew the stories of the True King, and recognized the artwork. After talking to the monks at the Temple of Mir, I pieced together that it was a map to Neisrep. The past ten years I have been searching, and today I found the final piece. And tomorrow,” He grew somber. “I will be tossed to my death in the ocean.”

“I’m sorry,” Leo said.

“Thank you for your blind faith.”

“I wish I could help more.”

“You’ve done enough already,” He looked up and the sadness in his eyes spread through Leo’s veins. He handed the tan stone back to her. “Will you keep this safe? My son is sure to come searching in a few days. You must give it to him then. Perhaps you could tell him farewell for me as well, and that I love him with all my heart.”

Leo felt tears sting her eyes. She wiped them with her sleeve.

“I will.”

“Thank you,” he turned from her then, and propped a hand against the far wall gazing at setting sun through his small window.

Leo fled then, returning to the kitchen to finish her duties. She fought tears the entire time and went to bed as soon as she was finished. She wept uncontrollably. Thom deserved to see his son one last time, he deserved to live.

She quieted as the other sisters entered the dormitory, and stared at the ceiling until Mintha came and snuffed the lights, then into the darkness and made a decision that would change her life. She felt compelled to move. Quietly she made her way from her bed to the doorway. A small hand caught her arm and she jumped in surprise.

“Where are you going?” Aeda asked her, still awake, the fatigue of the day could be heard in her voice.

“I’ve a need to use the lavat. Is that all right with you?”

“Fine then,” the girl then turned in response to Leo’s sharp tone.

Leo breathed then, calming her as she wandered through the dim hallways. The candles were nearing the end of their wicks. The Dungeon was located on the far end of the temple and Leo made quick time, only stumbling once on a step. No one guarded the door so she entered with no trouble. The key to Thom’s cell was along the wall and she made quick business of unlocking the door. The jumbling of keys awoke Thom in a start.

“It can’t be morning already,” He said into the darkness.

“No it’s me, Leonarda. I’m helping you escape.”

“Thank you child,” he ground out. The door opened unceremoniously and he stepped out, embracing her as his own child. Leo blushed in embarrassment as he set her down. Her noticed her silence in the darkness. “Forgive me for that.”

“Of course.”

Leo led the way, stopping him at the door to ensure that the hallways were clear. They cut through the courtyard, taking the garden path to the orchards where Leo intended to jump the wall.

It took only took them a few minutes as they took off into a run as soon as they left the courtyard. Leo stumbled once more in the dark as they reached the wall, taking a ladder from the near tree and used it to climb.

Thom stopped then, hugging her once more. More prepared this time she patted his back in return.

“I don’t know how to repay you,” he told her. “---though I would like to take the stone with me.”

Leo handed it to him then.

“I want to go with you.”

“That might not be the best course,” Even in the pale moonlight Leo could see the doubt upon his face.

“I have nowhere else to go; I will be banished for helping you escape, for I’ve no friends in that place, and no family outside of it. Please.”

They stood in silence a moment longer, then Leo felt is rough hand upon her shoulder.

“Very well,” he said. “You shall accompany us on this adventure Priestess. It will be very dangerous,” He warned.

“I understand.”

“I thought you did. It warms my heart, a woman fond of adventure and danger,” He told her as he began to climb the wall.

Leo could only swallow her fears at that, remembering what Priestess Fortuna told her once. ‘Fate is decided by the paths we take.’

With that thought she began to climb. Reaching the top she bid a silent farewell to her old home, that old castle upon the hill, not at all certain she would ever return.