Chapter 30: A Price

Bent low to the ground, she looked around trying to see if there was another route she could take to escape from the building when she heard a feminine voice one that dripped with immense authority.

"Violence isn't allowed in Orzana's temple! You know the rules!" her voice loud and clear directed straight at the men.

"Lady Nihmah, we apologize!" The head of the men instantly responded with a light bow, even though his beady red eyes couldn't hide just how annoyed he was to have to bow to her.

"We're looking for a whore! He injured my master and I heard from reasonable sources that she entered the Orzana's temple. I'm just here to drag her out!"

She was terrified as she listened to him speak. She could no longer see his face from where she knelt in the ground but his voice carried enough hatred for her to know that he wouldn't be taking her unscathed.

"A woman? Is it the woman who asked to see me?" Lady Nihmah gently asked turning her attention to Holi, who instantly nodded.

"She looked well dressed so I thought she was alright! I apologize for disturbing your peace, my lady!" Holi replied with a bow, already annoyed to return and see no traces of her in sight.

"If you give us permission, I'm sure we can find her among the crowd!" The bulky muscled man in front said with conviction in his voice as his eyes trailed over the praying masses and the hundreds of pews.

He had stationed men around the entire temple and was confident that the woman he sought was yet to flee.

"There's no need for that," Lady Nihmah sighed, turning her face to the side and calling out in a loud voice. " Come out! I know you're listening"

The moment the huge men with weapons entered the temple, most of the people who had been praying had instantly stopped as the sound of their feet had been enough to distract even the most devout believers.

This instantly changed the atmosphere in the temple to one of silence as most people stood up, with curious expressions on their faces, wondering what the men wanted.

"Violence isn't allowed. They can't do anything!"

"It's just disconcerting to see them!" the ones in the inner circle of the statue, who looked extremely wealthy whispered amongst themselves.

The commoners did the same, their voices lower as they continued to watch.

"I won't repeat myself!" Lady Nihmah spoke again and she didn't have to.

Slowly, Rye crawled out from under the pews. She spared no glance at the men whose killer aura instantly increased the second they saw her but instead, she dashed forward falling to her knees in front of the Lady.

"I would like to join the temple!" Rye begged on all fours, knowing that it was either that or a fate worse than death.

What she didn't expect was the reaction of the woman who stood beside the Lady.

"Blasphemy! Whores can never become blessed!" she snapped at her, looking down at her with clearly hate-filled eyes.

"Bu-but I'm not a —"

"Silence!" the man behind her yelled, shutting her down before she could continue but at that point, Rye was beyond caring.

She crouched forward inches away from Lady Nihmah's feet, going as far as to speak over the man who continued to speak.

"Lady Nihmah you don't have to concern yourself with the likes of her. She's nothing but a—"

"I'm not! I can prove it to you! I'm willing to do anything you ask!"

"—She's nothing but a thief and a violent maniac. She broke my Master's skull before she ran off!"

"Lady Nihmah, we should send her out! She doesn't deserve to stay not to mention becoming a blessed." Holi opened her mouth to speak, entreating Lady Nihmah to do the right thing.

Yet, even as they spoke the lady in front of them was quiet until slowly lost her patience and also spoke up to defend herself.

"You're master was trying to—" but she didn't get to finish before she was shouted down.

"SHUT UP!" Lady Nihmah snapped at her, and Rye instantly mellowed realizing that the Lady already made a decision one that was not in her favor.

Which was why she wasn't expecting to hear the next words she spoke.

"Everyone should follow me! The believers shouldn't be disturbed!" She said, speaking to everyone as she gently straightened the red cap she had on over her white gown.

The Red waist beads around her waist glittered in a fiery manner as she turned around, leading them to follow behind her.

Rye hastened her steps knowing better than to stand close to the men behind her, who would love nothing but to grab her and carry her off.

Lady Nihmah walked quickly, walking through a closed door until they all entered one after the other into a brightly enclosed room.

The only thing present was a fountain, one that glistened blue in such a way that Rye could barely take her eyes away from it.

"I'll explain! If you take this water and you're rejected by the goddess, your body will be damaged. You might either lose the use of one of your limbs or both of them!"

"That or you could quietly go along with the seem!"

Rye was terrified but still understood that with the men behind her, her fate would be just as bad.

"You're a halfling! The chances of you being chosen are closer to zero," the woman beside Lady Nihmah spoke again, the one that had glared gratefully at her.

"Holi is right! It's almost unheard of for a commoner to become blessed. Your chances would only increase if you've taken a founder's blood but that's impossible for you!" Lady Nihmah continued to explain but even before she was done Rye had already made up her mind.

"I'd like to become a Blessed, Lady Nihmah!" Rye responded, with a silent hope in her heart that just in case she didn't and was rejected, the goddess would be merciful enough to end her life too.

Lady Nihmah nodded and Rye could hear the men behind her chuckle amongst themselves, confident that she was going to fail.

Rye instead focused on Lady Nihmah watching her fetch a small bowl of water out of the fountain before moving to stand in front of her.

"Before you drink the water, you should think of a price you're willing to pay. A Blessed is simply the Goddess' tool in the mortal realm!"

'A price? What price could be greater than my life?' Rye thought, nodding her head impatiently as she waited for Lady Nihmah to hand her the bowl for her to drink.