“Have been proven right.” Eleos interrupted.
Retracting her hand, the Heireia fell silent.
I wanted to throw Eleos across the room. He swore up and down he wasn’t a priest, let alone an excommunicated one. Had he not kept everything secret from me, perhaps I wouldn’t feel so lost.
“I can hear your thoughts,” Eleos spoke in my mind. “You couldn’t pick me up, let alone toss me.”
That did it. I was going to kill him after this.
“Enough, Heireia,” The Grand Cleric rested his palms on the table, “We must decide our next course of action.”
“Are we certain of these claims?” A wizened man at the end of the table questioned. “There is no doubt of her connection to the Maiden?”
“I am certain.” The Grand Cleric said firmly. “I saw how the Bloodstone resonated with her. And I will not harm her again for your benefit.”
Snapping his mouth shut, the old man sat.
“But,” a younger woman said, “but wouldn’t her appearance mean. . .”
Silence blanketed the room until all voices rose at once. My eyes flashed between the clergy, trying to keep track of their argument.
“The end days cannot be upon us.” One barked. “The Maiden is supposed to appear only when the final city remains.”
“You heard what happened at the outpost.” Another argued. “We might have little time left.”
“What if it consumes us next?”
“The Bloodstone wards the Empty, itcannot.”
“They claim it’s now useless! This woman stole its blessing.”
“Why are we even considering such a ridiculous story? One spun by thieves, at that!”
I retreated into my mind, thinking. The last thing we needed was for them to stick me like a pig and create a new Bloodstone from my corpse. But convince them Iwastheir goddess, and nothing good would follow.
“No.” Eleos agreed, reading my mind.
“You were the one who sought me,” I thought. “What do you think I am?”
“I think you bear no relation to any god.” Eleos thought. “Because they are mere figments conjured by desperate men.”
Blinking rapidly, I gazed at him in shock.
Shaking his head imperceptibly, he spoke in my mind, “Perhaps claim to be her envoy?”
“I come bearing a warning, before the end approaches?” I thought. “Stoke their egos, say Therapne will be the final city where the believers gather?”
“Can you sell that?”
“Haven’t you seen me act?”
Clearing his throat, Eleos addressed the room. “If I may?”
The arguing slowly died down until all eyes rested on the former heretic.
“She is right here, false or true. Why not ask her?” He looked down at me.
Putting on my best doe-eyed maiden impression, I met the expectant gazes. “I’ve felt the Maiden. I. . .I don’t know how to explain it. I think she sent me as a warning.”
