Free Branches of Time, The by Luca Rossi

the practical tasks myself. I'll start moving the animals as soon as I can.”
    Miril smiled: “I'm sorry, Bashinoir. Believe me. The magical protections around us require the support of at least two priests, who take turns and also work together on the main rituals. The initiation phase will be very hard for Lil, as well as tiring for me. As long as she remains a novice, I'll do my best to carry on the rites myself. But I have to be honest with you: I won't be able to last for very long.”
    Upon hearing those words, Bashinoir realized how Miril, speaking so calmly and naturally, looked as if she were being crushed by a heavy weight. It was just dawn, and yet her face was worn, as if she had stayed awake the entire night. We need to help her any way we can .
    The priestess smiled kindly: “If you agree, we can rearrange the living quarters to accommodate all of us. I'll stay where I've always been. Lil will have the novice's quarters and you, Bashinoir, can stay in the guest rooms. The area for priests is more comfortable and better heated, but the energy level of those spaces is not suitable for someone who hasn't taken the oaths and right now I don't have the resources to make the necessary adjustments. When we get a chance to perform that type of ritual, you can move. We can take a look at your new quarters now, if you'd like.”
    We've finally found a bigger house , Bashinoir thought, watching his wife get up to clear the table. But at what cost?
 

21
    Tuirl removed a large key from his pocket and pushed open the heavy door, revealing a long sequence of stairs spiraling down into the darkness. For the thousandth time, he looked around, furtively. He had taken every precaution to make sure nobody saw him, yet he felt a gnawing sense of anxiety whenever he went down to that place.
    The torchlight illuminated the stairs, which appeared to trail on into infinity. As he walked down, the temperature gradually dropped. Spiders and flies crawled about everywhere. Tuirl stared at the wall to his right, searching for a stone with a slightly rosy hue.
    When he finally found it, he counted down another twelve stairs, then bent down to push the third stone from the ground. Nothing happened. Did I count wrong? After a few seconds, part of the wall started moving back, creating just enough space for a man to walk through. Tuirl entered and, pressing a stone to his right, activated the mechanism to close the wall behind him.
    Using the flame from his torch, he lit the lamps hanging from the walls and studied the room. It was exactly how he remembered leaving it. On either side there were dusty bookcases full of scrolls and ancient-looking volumes. A faldstool stood in the middle of the room, with a stone basin full of black liquid in front of it. Every once in a while, a drop fell from the ceiling straight into the bowl. The liquid overflowed, dripping down the side opposite the entry door. There were no partitions in this room, just empty space and, hanging below the ceiling, a thick layer of fog. The liquid dripped down into the abyss. Tuirl looked around yet again, full of an unjustified disquiet. Nobody knows this room exists. No curious eye has ever seen what lies behind these walls.
    He knelt down, took a deep breath and held his hands over the black liquid.
    She's going to be very, very angry.
    He had done all he possibly could to keep postponing their meeting, but he knew he'd eventually have to explain things to her, and now he couldn't buy any more time. For a few seconds, he thought maybe he should turn back and run away. He could come back the week after next, justifying his repeated absences with court engagements and his duties as advisor. No, if I keep putting her off, I could end up with some unpleasant consequences.
    Resigned, he dipped his hands into the liquid.
     
    Kneeling down in front of the altar, Miril immediately sensed the contact. She rose to her feet and headed towards the inner chambers of the Temple.