The Kingdom

I felt sure in my spirit that I wasn't talking with the same woman anymore. "I wish to speak with Ayaya," I said, addressing the dark entity that had taken over the Priestess.

The Priestess's body drew up in supreme indignation of spirit and flung back at me in challenge, "You presume too much impudent boy, to tell me so within the confines of my own temple!"

I stepped forward aggressively and with matching resolve I said, "I am not here of my own doing. I am here on the word of my Master who walks in the blessing of El Elyon and whose spirit is a part of Him. Now be gone and trouble the work of El Elyon no further for I fear you have angered Him grievously already with your interference!"

The Priestess's body shook for a moment and then her eyes opened, blinking as if rising from sleep.

"Ayaya?" I asked, but she turned away abruptly and began walking. Surely this wasn't how this encounter was supposed to end? Did I go after her?

"Hold your ground."

I looked to the right to behold Urtholan standing there.

I did as he said and within moments the Priestess was back. She stalked towards me with rage coloring every step of her stride. There was nothing at all repressed about her now. I fully expected her to attempt to kill me and I was right.

An invisible force slammed into me with a flick of her wrist. I would have been knocked flat from the force if I hadn't already been partially braced against an attack. Even so I was about to go down, but I was getting angry.

"I have authority to be here! Now I demand that this unnatural force from you be removed as you assault not my flesh and blood, but rather He who sent me!"

I had no sooner spoken the words than I was watching the Priestess flying backwards to smash against a pillar. The force against me was gone and I breathed with heavy exertion as I tried to make up for the heavy strain I had just been under.

Not knowing what to do now, I watched as the Priestess slowly rose up from the ground. She didn't look at me as she said, with head cast low, "Even as you have said, the hour is late. Even so, go and leave me, for I can't change. My path is agreed upon. Tell Kuri I am promised to another. I grant you safe passage from these lands. Now go!" She pointed to the door of the temple, still not looking at me.