“That’s not true. Your father died in an accident on the mountain. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to have magic.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.”
Her whole attitude changed. “Thank you, Miss Raven!” She skipped off and jumped down the full set of stairs. Every student jumped down the stairs, and every student nearly gave me a heart attack when they did.
My own sweater and bag waited by the door, and after retrieving them, I made my way back through the temple. I walked by the altar, made my daily obeisance to the Lost God, and walked out into the city, thinking about my life.
I loved the students, but I had decisions to make.
Not fully a priestess, I wasn’t sure I wanted to move on from acolyte status. I loved the temple, but dedicating my life, my long immortal life, to a lost god didn’t always seem a good idea. I had too much fun being able to leave at the end of the day. I enjoyed time with my friends, the theater, swimming, and excellent restaurants.
Becoming entirely dedicated to the God, I would have to give up my life as I knew it now for hours of scrying, constant research, hours of waiting and watching, trekking to the gate and the mountain to examine either for change.
My friends would become the other acolytes and priests dedicated to the Lost God with me.
“Deep in thought again, my lady?”
A step away from crashing into one of my oldest and dearest friends, I looked up just in time and pulled to a halt. Happy to see him, I grinned.
“Always, Elex. It is the nature of the acolyte to spend time in contemplation.”
He had such a kind smile. “Methinks you’re thinking about finding a teaching position soon that isn’t in the temple. And you’re wondering what kind of trouble we can get into tonight.”
“Trouble? In S’Kir? How dare you suggest such a thing!”
We were playful and mocking. S’Kir Prime did have its problems, as was the nature of the mischievous druids, but never more than a small share.
He nodded in the direction of another street. “Come on. We have reservations for dinner, and then we’re going to head over to the Mountain Park for games. Is your leg feeling better?”
“Oh, no.” I huffed. “We’re not playingthatgame again, are we, Elex? Oh, please no.”
Laughing still, he put his arm around me. “No, no. We’re going to watch a better team play. We’re clearly not cut out for it. But there are a few leagues, and we can watch them battle it out.”
My terror at playing that silly game where I’d hurt myself must have been evident on my face. Elex continued to chuckle at me even as we walked into the restaurant.
Dinner was exquisite, as always. Drez, the head chef, was magic with food. Every year, her fare became more and more amazing, and our group were her willing guinea pigs. Always trying new combinations and new spices, sauces, and techniques on us, but none of us complained—not for food that magnificent.
Heading for the Mountain Park, Jallina and Arik came running from another street to catch up and join us.
Mountain Park was just that—a park at the foot of the mountain.
The S’Tisk Mountain, the most massive peak in the spine, threw shadows on S’Kir Prime as the sun sank. The streets and buildings shone in the late sun anyway. All made of white, it was only on the shortest days of the year that any true shadow fell on the city.
The magic of S’Kir raised the massive spine of mountains to keep us from the vampires on the other side. No one questioned the magic. The stories said the vampires were wicked and the magic of our island decided the druids needed to be protected.
The simple story was the story told to children. Most of us didn’t question the wisdom, but some had doubts on the reasons.
There were very few druids alive who remembered when there was no mountain. Those who did didn’t talk about it. So, we accepted that the mountain and the magic had reason without imparting the reason for the rising—or the locking of the Gate.
Our friends fell in step with us as we headed for the game of esalhukhi, the very game that made me—the youngest of the group at just ninety-five—sprain my knee so severely that I had to have a healer come and take care of it.
Laughing, Jallina pointed to my knee as we walked. “Even the memory of the injury makes you limp?”
“Hush! You have no idea what pain that was!” I couldn’t stay mad though, and a giggle escaped me.
“Did you not play sports as a child?” Elex glanced over. “You work with those children; you know they are rough.”
