Followers of the First

Tribute

The darkest day of the year offered no light for the 'Followers of the'First'; the sky was thick with snow clouds threatening to spill their heavy loads. The only solace was the fact the great room was buried deep underground, heated by a hot spring that flowed under the large flagstone floor. The bells had been rung signaling that it was time for everyone to make their way there. Jula, the high priestess had a long robe of white silk draped over her petite frame; she stood on the platform waiting for the door to close.

"On this day we pray to the celestial majesties asking them to release their wintry grasp on our land and beg that we can feel the sun on our skin once more." Her eyes were closed, her head leaning back and arms outreached as if she was speaking to the sky, "Oh Mother Earth and Father Sky we beseech you, save us from the darkness that not only consumes the land but the souls of greedy men." There was a chorus of 'We beseech you' from the hundred strong gathering of women. Their voices echoing off the plain stone walls, a few were covered in frescos, all of the images of Mother Earth and Father Sky.

Turning to left her black hair fell in waves down her back; it was studded with diamonds that appeared as if her hair was the night sky itself."Sister, is the tribute at hand?" She asked a tall hooded figure to the side, there was just a slow nod. "Then bring it to me."The High Priestess proclaimed loudly letting hundred strong gathering hear, even at the back of the room.

Two more hooded figured pulled on a rope leading out a girl from a side room, she was bound and gagged wearing little more than a white slip stained by the tears rolled down her cheeks. She was pulled forward suddenly, losing her balance she fell to the floor scraping her knees on the rough stone. A hooded figured helped onto her feet and forwards a few steps so she was positioned in front of Jula.

"You're crying." Jula stated; her amber eyes bore into the girl's watery blue ones. "You should be happy." Her voice was cold and indifferent. "Your soul will be free; you are being saved from a life of pain and misery." A frown crossed Jula's face showed she didn't understand why someone wouldn't want the honor she was bestowing upon her. As she spoke the rope that pulled the girl along and was bound to her hands were tied to a ring on the floor.

"Let us begin." Jula exclaimed and there was silence in the large room;it appeared as if a hundred followers were holding their breath. She walked away from the girl to the right side of the platform; a soft mummer flowed over the crowd getting louder with each repeat. "Mother Earth and Father Sky accept our offering." The high priestess started to turn a winch on the ground slowly opening the large gates the tribute was anchored before.

Despite the creaking from the gates, it did not take them too long to fully open, the chanting got louder until a large silvery bipedal figure stood there. It was 20 feet tall and nothing more than an outline,behind it a brilliant light shone, hiding its face from the followers.

Soon it was joined by another even taller figure. "Oh Holy Mother and Sacred Father, please spare your children from the infinite night,give us your love and show us the way into your glorious light."The Priestess was on her knees she arms reaching out to them, the girl that was bond was screaming through the gag desperately trying to free her arms.

"My children." The smaller figure spoke, its voice was like silk. "We are pleased with the tribute; she will be welcomed into our light and given peace." It moved towards the bound girl, towering above her."There are no more tears where you are going." Only the girl could hear its voice, it was dark and almost amused at its own words.The girl was picked up easily held in the hand of the silvery creature. Her eyes were as large as saucers as she stared at it, she was close enough to see its face, but she would never get to describe it to anyone. Turning with its prize it made its way slowly back to the door.

The taller one stood in the doorway. "Children." The voice was somehow deeper, but still soft and inviting. "There is a great darkness about to decent upon the land from the hand of man." It paused turning towards Jula, her eyes were fixated on the being's head, but she could see no features. "From him a monster will awaken and kill us all. We are the First; you are our followers, kill the man locked in a cell before he kills us all." With that the light extinguished itself as the door shut quickly, the beings were gone.

The High Priestess stared at the door trying to understand what it said,had she really been told to kill someone...even if it was a man.Standing up she tried to make sense of the prophecy or command she was given. "We have been blessed with the presence of the 'First',take their light into your heart and know that you are loved." She said not wanting to mention the rest. "We should head back to our prayer rooms to think about how we can share the love with the rest of the world. Let the Mother and Father shine their light upon you."She finished the ritual letting the hundred strong gathering go back upstairs.

She moved to a side room sitting down on a chair she was quickly joined by her second-in-command, one of the hooded women. Melantha was tall her dark skin and soft features contrasted Jula's fair complexion and almost impish visage.

"High Priestess, are you all right?" She walked over to her sitting down in the chair next to her.

" Iam very well; my heart is full of the love and light of the 'First'." She smiled trying to convince her subordinate and herself.

"Blessed Mother and Father asked, no, commanded you to kill someone, and you aren't worried or confused?" She frowned turning to her leader,reaching over she took her hand trying to comfort her.

"It'snot that simple." She said looking down at her hand, smiling slightly, she wanted nothing more than to ignore the command but she couldn't, even if she didn't agree they were all knowing. "I must look into the scriptures for answers, the deities are never literal." She smiled standing up letting go of Melantha's hand."I am going to retire to think this over. Will you see that 'The Night' is observed?" She headed out of the room comforted by the fact her old friend would see it right.

Slowly she walked up the stairs to the main part of the temple, with each step the temperature dropped, she hoped that one of the acolytes remembered to set a fire going in her room or it would be very cold.Her mind wandered back to the question there was only one person she knew of who was mad enough to build something to destroy the 'First'.

"Brother,what are you planning?" she asked herself out loud, but there was no reply, just the sound of her own footsteps on the stone. She quickly arrived in her room, there was a letter on her desk, it was barely morning and there was already a letter, frowning she pick it up heading to her sofa she opened the letter it read.

DearJula,

I have some sad news to report, Ovid died a few days ago, we understand you won't get the letter until after the funeral, so do not worry about coming. He was involved in a riding accident, the horse reared up knocking him from his seat.

I have decided to take his new bride into my family as my second wife,I know that you will not approve but I feel it is the right thing to do rather than to let the poor girl be destitute. Also you will not be able to reach me at Rayhall I am making my way to Wintermount in the north of the country, it is a quiet spot I feel that poor Tansy will be able mourn in peace and solitude.

Forever your brother.

Asen

She read the letter several times trying to come to terms with what her brother had said, their older brother had passed on, and now his widow was being taken in by him. She put the letter on the table as tears filled her eyes; this was not going to be a good year for her.