“The Empress bathed in regolith and suffering,” Yolinda stated gravely, waving her hands dramatically. “They say she lived a thousand forevers…”
A scoff. “I don’t think that’s right.” Jagira interrupted her, scowling. “Even the Empress isn’t that old.”
Garrett nodded, emphatic. “Even if she has been in charge for forever. How can you have more than one forever?”
“That seems logical,” Zamett agreed. His face scrunched up and got a little red, like when he was offended. Yesterday, he’d even gotten offended by an offering he felt was meager, despite the woman in silks passing over the exact daily allotment recommended in the Book of Zeuzatt.
“Who’s telling this story?” Yolinda demanded. Then, as footsteps approached — a thump of a cane alongside deliberate pacing, all far too familiar from class — “Shh!”
They huddled on the floor of the closet, shuttering the lantern together, as if the steadily approaching thumps would spark more than a lecture or perhaps a switch for being out of bed.
Perhaps it would, Yolinda thought inanely. Perhaps Zeuzatt would come down from his mountain and embody the guardian caretaker to punish the orphans in his care. Perhaps she would lose her chance to become an acolyte, and be turned out into the streets.
She was the eldest of the group, after all, and Zeuzatt preached that elders should take care of them all. It was why the Empress ruled Olymp, after all; who else but the eldest to protect the holy city?
Her words came in a whisper, even long after the footsteps had passed. “Tomorrow.”
The others took their cue from her tone, and waited only long enough to scatter back to their dormitories, quiet as the mice they spent the day driving from the grain stores. A flash of fingers formed their pod’s sign, and hers formed the lie with reluctance.
In her heart, and deep under the rough linen blanket, Yolinda feared that storytime had ended. And she was not quite certain what might take its place.
***
Thanks to TA Leederman for the prompt this week! I’m in, just under the wire, with: The Empress bathed in regolith and suffering. They say she lived a thousand forevers….
Mine went to AC Young: “I thought you said this thing worked.”
Find more, over at More Odds Than Ends, and join in if you’d like to play along!
