Chapter 71

Once again the door was pushed open but this time instead of having men drag her out for purification rituals a bowl was pushed into the cell. Someone approached her weak bound body and loosened the chains on her hands so she could sit up straight. The bowl was moved closer to her face and the smell of watery corn soup wafted up to her nose.

"Eat."

Even before the word came out she grabbed the bowl and hungrily downed the warm soup, choking in her hurry to quell the gnawing hunger in her belly.

The young priest who had brought the bowl pressed his lips into a thin line.

"There's progress after all."

Even before Cleopoda could lick the bowl clean he pulled it from her hand, ignoring her whimpered protest, and strode out of the cell.

Birian, the priest made his way to the small room where head priest Federic sat on a mat inhaling from a bowl of burning aromatic plants. He clapped his hands lightly.

"What do you want?" came the gruff voice.