Free The Paladin's Odyssey (The Windows of Heaven) by K.G. Powderly Jr.

being altered so she can give birth to a divine being. Rapid changes are taking place inside her body. Soon it will ease up for a few months. Then she’ll be able to receive visitors. Run along. I’ll take good care of her.”
     

     
    T
    he golden skies echoed the call of sea birds gliding out over the Yawam Rahabim . Garden fountains lined the causeway where the two young priestesses ran their arms through the jeweled droplets as they passed. For the moment , everything seemed fine — a time for feeling, not thinking.
    “Why can’t more worshipers be like that last one?” Pyra said to her dorm mistress as they walked back from the Court of Meeting.
    Khallio’Phe grinned. “Was it total magic?”
    “I don’t know. I guess.”
    “Enjoy it while it lasts, darling. Those are few and far between.”
    “‘Phe, I don’t mean to sound blasphemous, but it felt like he was worshiping me instead of the Goddess.”
    “He was.”
    “What?”
    Khallio’Phe said, “We are the vessels of harmony. There is divinity in all of us—even those outside the Temple. Here, we simply develop our own divinity as the gods guide us more closely. It shouldn’t surprise you when they worship you. To them you are the Goddess.”
    Pyra laughed. “I’m too young to be a goddess!” The idea seemed funny until it bit into her like a barbed hook . “But you’re right. M ost are not like him. You’ve read my journals … ”
    “Far more interesting reading than the average novice fare —y ou have a way with words , and see things the others miss.”
    “Thanks. I have this fellow I call ‘the Lumpy One , ’ but his real name is Gorvox . H is mother force d him to come to Temple , if you can imagine that. He’s clumsy, shy, and not all that bright. He keeps coming back to me, but all he does in the sanctum is sit there with his head hung, while he feels like he has to steal quick glances at me when ever he thinks I’m not watching. The first time I saw him he was so scared he almost cried ; p oor thing.”
    “Does he talk?”
    “He’s starting to a little, but not much. I ask him questions and mostly get ‘ yes ’ or ‘ no ’ answers in grunts. Yesterday he told me I looked like a girl he grew up with, except for my spots—I suppose that’s something. ‘Cept for that, he just turns into a lumpish piece of furniture for the whole session. I’ve not forced any worship on him.”
    They passed into the novice dorm.
    Khallio’Phe said, “That’s good. Some priestesses are too pushy over form and forget the substance. Sounds like you’re making progress though . You ’ re wise to g o slow. One must draw people out of their inner worlds carefully. You’re doing great ! ”
    “You really think so? I mean sometimes I don’t know if I’m doing them any good at all. It seems the worship is just mechanical for most —like a form of exercise . I keep looking for something spiritual to happen—like your mother talks about—but I can’t see it yet. Is that normal?”
    ‘Phe said, “What about your magic one?”
    They entered the sleeping chamber, where Pyra p lopped down on her couch. “I s’ pose. It was exciting enough , but not what I’d hoped — fun, but not deep and rich the way I used to imagine . The way your mother describes working the Court always sounds so high and noble … ”
    Khallio’Phe sat down next to her and cut her off. “Between you and me, Mnemosynae hasn’t worked the Court in decades. Mother tends to romanticize past glories a bit much. I wonder if middle age does that. Oh, speaking of my mother, her courier left you a message. She wants you at her shrine after you freshen up. She thinks you might have a gift for divination. The constables have a real need for that in the outer city these days.”
    “I heard the noise out there last night from all the way up in the Court of Beasts. If I didn’t know better, I’d guess the war was at our gates.”
    “Not that war.”
    Pyra went to the