The sun was high in the air. It beat off from the stone, and the heat rose to meet me. I wanted to rush both of us towards the retrieve of the cool Palace, so I could ensure our guest was well looked after, but someone stood in my way.

A large group was quickly approaching us, headed by none other than my mother, still dressed in her ceremonial robes.

We stood on the same path, with nowhere to run away to. Once we saw the Queen, we couldn’t leave without greeting her, or it would cause offence. Brienne may not be the Priestess of Sier, but it would undoubtedly cause trouble for their village.

They were coming closer now, and I could make out the Queen’s stoney expression.

I glanced back at Brienne, who stood with her head bowed. She flashed me a worried look, quick enough so that onlookers would not notice. I followed suit, my hood falling to cover my vision to only the floor.

Soon enough, the sound of footfall came closer, and I saw the edge of the High Priestess’ azure robes halt to a sudden stop.

“Princess Allia. May the Mother have mercy.” she greeted, not even deigning to acknowledge Brienne’s existence. Did having another Priestess breath the same air as her irk her that much?

“High Priestess Ileina, Queen of Ellister. May the Mother have mercy. This is Priestess Brienne, from Sier.” I gestured to my companion, finally allowing my gaze to meet my mother’s. Her eyes were icy, distant, but on in the same way they usually were when she was in prayer or thought.

“Ah, so that is who you are. I was hoping Priestess Ilana would have taught you well enough to greet me upon your arrival. Perhaps she’s not doing a satisfactory job as the Priestess of Sier. She is getting on in her years.”

Brienne’s eyes shot up, wide with fear. “No, Your Highness, it was all my fault. Forgive my impertinence-“

The Queen raised her hand, eyes narrowing. “I have not given you permission to speak, Priestess.” She almost spat the title. “Do you not know how to address your superiors? Is this how the new Priestesses are being taught? Perhaps I should make you back into an Acolyte, since you don’t seem fit for your job.”

Brienne looked at her with a lost expression. Her eyes welled up as she watched her whole life and everything she worked hard and sacrificed so much for begin to crumble at the High Priestess’ simple words. And who said words couldn’t hurt? Afterall, Brienne’s hood only bore two blue stripes. It was almost as white as mine. It was so painfully obvious how we stood so far below the Queen, who was draped in the colours of the richest lapis dyes. It was like she was Mother and we were mere mortals.

But beneath all the circlets and titles, she too, was just a woman.

Another group had exited the Palace and made its way towards us. This one was larger than even that of the High Priestess. Only one person could rival her power.

With his advisors and multiple knights at his side, my father, King of Ellister, entered the scene.

I almost sighed with relief as I saw the gold of his crown glint in the morning sun.

The King was the only person who could protect the poor Priestess from the Queen’s wrath. The crowd of the Queen’s court parted as he approached, like the waves part for a giant vessel. They answered to him and he walked with the glory and grace no other person possessed.

The King’s face looked stern in the morning light, but unlike my mother’s, it was not unkind. More determined. It looked as though it was masterfully chiseled out of the most expensive marbles, and his finely embroidered jackets and jewel-encrusted crown only added to his grace.

The Queen must have sensed his approach, because even without turning to look at him, she began quickly giving orders before he could even speak.

“I want you out of this Palace. Now. We do not welcome such ill mannered persons here. Come back when you learn how to behave accordingly. Guards, please escort Priestess Brienne out.”

The men at her sides made a move towards the young woman, and my heart lurched. I held onto her hand, but knew that I was powerless in this situation.

The Queen held power over the Priestesses. The King, over his subjects.

I had neither.

So all I could do was exchange a frightened look with Brienne as we watched the men approach.

Finally, the King had made it to the front of the Queen’s procession. The guards halted to bow to him, as did everyone else.

Except the High Priestess, of course.

“What is the meaning of this?” The King’s voice boomed through the yard. Not shouting, but wielding much authority.

I took the chance and spoke before my mother could get a word in. Her eyes flashed with rage as I lifted my head and rushed to explain, but I continued regardless.

“Your Majesty, this is Priestess Brienne, from the western Sier. She has ridden here all night to ask for our support, since last night, a man was taken from his home by a Ghoul.”

A gasp passed through both the King’s and Queen’s courts. People exchanged glances, some afraid, others incredulous. I didn’t have much attention to spare for them as I scanned the King’s face for any hint of what was going through the monarch’s head.

He looked at Brienne appraisingly, and I felt pity for the poor soul. Sier was by no means a major village. She would probably have never even seen a Lord in her life, let alone both of the rulers of Ellister on the same morning.

She still kept her head down, probably for safety lest the King too, took offence in her actions.

“Is this true, Priestess Brienne? Have you come here to seek the aid of the Crown?”

Very clever, father. I tried not to smirk.

As a Priestess, Brienne was my mother’s to do with as she pleased. However, as someone who was seeking the King’s help, she would be under his protection.

Brienne looked at me for help, and I gave her a small nod.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please, help Sier.” she whispered, bowing her blond head.

The King nodded approvingly. “The strife of your people has not fallen on deaf ears, Priestess Brienne. While you are here, I will ensure that you are treated with all the respect deserving of a guest of the Crown. Allia, ensure our esteemed guest finds comfort within the Palace walls.”

You need not tell me twice…

“Yes, Your Majesty.” I took Brienne’s hand and pulled us away. Servants and officials parted to let us through, and could practically see the High Priestess fuming.

I kept pulling us further and further away, across the yard, then into the shade of the Palace, and only once the guards opened the doors and we passed into the safety of the Palace walls, far away from the seething Queen, did I pause.

I turned to look at the poor woman. Brienne turned her head left and right, admiring the luxuries that the royal building had to offer. Vast tapestries telling the myths of the Mother, large paintings so lifelike that the likeness of the people and places they presented was immortalised within the paint. One of these stared at me with a condescending eye.

A painting of My Grandfather, King Ruford, sat on the wall. Guardian of Ellister, since his retirement to the mountains, all his portrait guarded now was the back entrance to the Palace.

Brienne, finally done observing her new surroundings, turned once more to me. I gave her an encouraging smile.

“We are lucky the King arrived when he did, or right now you would be being dragged away by guards.”

She placed her hand to her chest, eyes full of gratitude. “I will never forget his kindness. When I came here, I thought…” she trailed off, suddenly looking around.

It never takes people long to realise it wasn’t safe to speak of some people in the open.

“Are you tired, Priestess Brienne? Are you in need of rest?” when I inquired, she gave me a worried glance. I realised that she must not have been much older than me now.

“Not after that, I’m afraid. It all happened so quickly…” She shook her head, and I felt sympathy for her.

“Then come, let us have some tea in my chambers, so that you can calm down while I have the maids set up a room for you.” I offered. It was the least I could do for someone who nearly saw her status and the status of her teacher crash to nothing. And perhaps I had some other, more selfish reasons too. It wasn’t often someone from outside the Palace would speak to me, and so freely to. Like an equal.

Her eyes widened and she held up her hands in protest. “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly impose anymore on you, Princess Allia. You’ve already done so much for me.”

I chuckled. “I am not my mother, Priestess Brienne. You do not need to worry. And please, call me Allia.”

***

A maid served us cake and tea as we sat on the couch, conversing quietly. I wasn’t sure where Ezra was at the moment, but I’d have lots to tell the nurse when I saw her again.

Brienne was tense at first, running her hands nervously over the smooth surface of the teacup, looking left and right but… soon enough we were talking while enjoying slices of sponge cake.

I couldn’t help but keep eyeing the Priestess. She was still young, and although I was a Princess, and she was a starting Priestess, I couldn’t help but envy her. As a Priestess, she had so much she could do, or would be able to do in the future. She was the one Ilana of Sier had sent, perhaps the Priestess had meant for Brienne to take over one day as the religious leader of Sier.

Most of all, she was unrestricted in where she could travel. She was a Priestess, she had power and influence. She didn’t just sit around all day, waiting to be married off, to then sit around all day in some other place and have children.

Even so, it was not a malicious feeling. More of a wistfulness.

I asked about Sier, about her family, trying to find topics familiar to the young woman, so that she may find this place a little more inviting than the High Priestess had made it seem. I was glad that the King had turned up when he had. Little else could have stopped the Queen from throwing the poor girl out.

“What about you, Princess?” Brienne asked. I must have zoned out a little. Once indoors and away from the watchful eyes of the Palace courtiers, we took the liberty of unveiling our heads from the stuffy weight of the hoods and circlets, and without it, Brienne’s face shone even more vibrantly. Maybe her parents weren’t regretting sending her into Priesthood. Maybe it was the exact reason why.

“What about me?” I raised an eyebrow at her. She leaned forward in her seat, now more like an excited girl than a demure Priestess. I liked this unrestrained side of her better.

She leaned in to whisper. “What about that threat from Freyn?”

My skin prickled. Have news travelled that far already?

I shifted uncomfortably. The maid was still in the room, standing at the wall, and pretending not to listen. Her dark eyes were cast to the floor, and her face remained impartial, but I knew she was listening to every word, ready to relay it to the whole castle- damn, if not the whole Kingdom.

“Irsa, would you mind seeing if Priestess Brienne’s room has been made ready yet?”

She angled here head down, and stepped towards the door, though I could see she did this somewhat reluctantly. Irsa has been acting as Ezra’s stand-in from time to time for the past few months, but still, she often acted quite distant, for whatever reason.

After she gently shut the door, and I heard it click, I once more turned to Brienne, who had sat patiently the whole time, eyes shining. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Well, is it true? Does the King of Freyn want you to marry his son so badly that he had sent Ghouls?”

I felt sudden nausea. The man that had been stolen from his family… was some of his blood on my hands too?

I glanced at Brienne, but there was no affront in her gaze. It seems she, at least, did not blame me. Indeed, she was a pleasant companion. I would miss her once she left once more for Sier, which wouldn’t take too long. The Queen would find one reason or another to get rid of her, pretty and fun as she is.

“Well, while it is true that King Hurn does seek to marry his son to me, I believe his Majesty thinks the Ghouls are unrelated to this. I think… He called them ‘cheap antics’, at least before he heard what happened to your village.” I glanced at her, and sighed. The guilt had, indeed, creeped in and curled around my conscience like a particularly cumbersome weed. “I pray the Mother has sent the Ghoul far away from Ellister. If what happened to your village is somehow linked to me I… I wouldn’t know what to do.”

She must have realised the implications of what she has said, because Brienne dropped her tea and cake and reached her hand to touch mine. Her eyes softened.

“May the Mother have mercy on you, Allia. It would be very unfair if the Ghouls are really the doing of that wretched King of Freyn. If anything, it would be him who should be smitten, not you.”

Brienne has a kind heart. I only hope that others will see things the way she does… and pray the Ghouls leave Ellister alone.

We talked a while longer, until the maid returned and ushered my new friend to her well-deserved rest.

I fell back on my bed, watching its canopy stretch above me. It was embroidered with the scenery of the moon and stars, with Angels flying high and adding more to the sky. It was a brilliantly intricate piece. The background was a velvet black, and the silver threads of the stars seemed to shine against the dark.

Many believed that kind, deserving souls were picked up by the Angels and set on the sky’s plain once their time on earth was up, so they could watch their loved ones on earth, and shine bright for them. I lay there for a while, wondering if the soul of that man would appear in the sky tonight, and whether he would think I played a part in his death.