“They are a branch of the historical Roversellan Orthodox Church of Avenale with integrated elements from the historical Lawrinian Orthodox Church of Mutkowo that endorses homosexuality and necromancy, as dictated by the Immortal Queens. They’re… a fine church, but tend to be conservative.”
“How conservative?”
Her head lifts and her eyes drift elsewhere. “The conservative members of the church didn’t stop going after the Immortal Queens ordered the expulsion of their old beliefs. Even now,somestill attend… But, I assure that it’s a rare issue. The matron is kind and welcoming.”
“I think I’d take any church about now.”
Her fingers twitch. “I’ll take you after we close.”
“Thanks, Mistress.”
“Back to the desk. Now.”
I flicker a smile and obey.
I’m surprised by Mistress Vincenza letting me have the wheel. She hovers close to take over any moment, but there’s still a lot of trust in letting me drive on real roads.
“After this right, it’s just due west,” she states.
This thing’s stressful. Roversella isn’t hilly, so I don’t need to figure out how to slow it on a downhill, but that’s the absolute bottom of comfort and it’s all I have.
She wordlessly spins the wheel left to correct a small drift.
Great Ring, when I wished to be close to her, I meant in my heart and spirit. I feel distant even as her hands nearly touch mine.
Well, it’ll be time to pray in a moment. I think I more or less managed to park.
“You did fine, but you still need me with you while you drive,” she judges.
“That’s… good?”
“Very.” She hops out, leaving me to follow.
Not so many people enter this church—a circular building in orbit of an open and wonderful garden—at this hour. It almost feels dead as we peacefully wander through the courtyard.
Mistress Vincenza sits on a wooden bench next to an artificial pond. “This was my favorite spot to look up at the Ring and stars when I came here regularly. It’s early for that now—still bright—but it can be the closest thing to quiet anywhere in Avenale’s metropolitan area.”
I hesitantly place myself next to her. “Why did you stop?”
She blinks and looks at the ground. “I never once came here for myself.”
Oh.
I debate with myself if I should pray now or find some priestess. “Are we alone here?”
“The matron will be out here soon.”
I take the moment to breathe in the air. The trees here make the place pungent with cedar. My father’s first job always used special red pencils made from their wood; he took more than his fair share just to give to me and Mercurio.
I felt smart with them. They didn’t improve my test scores. They didn’t make me quick to understand fractions. They didn’t even make me a decent amateur artist. But, they made him feel close when he started leaving to sea.
“Vincenza. It’s been so long.”
I open my eyes to a woman in thin, silvery white clothing and a heavy assortment of piercings, all holy in their resemblance of the Ring. Her voice is soft; her face is old.
“Matron Hortensa.” Mistress Vincenza expressionlessly opens her eyes. “This is my apprentice, Catarina de Alioni.”
“H-hello.” I wave.
