The Priestess' Affair [Books 1 &2]

𝐈. 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧

"Who?" He asked even though it was evident on his face that he already knew the answer to this question. 

"I have been sent here by the High Priestess to tell you to stop the war that you're planning against the wolves," I told him grimly, pinning him with my gaze. 

"Or what?" He challenged. I had the old urge to smack him in the face because he never listened.

"Or you get killed in the war,"

"This is what the high priestess sent you here for?" He asked, crossing his arms on his chest and looking at me like I was the fool here.

"Yes," I answered curtly. In response, he let out a short laugh.

"What's so funny?" A familiar voice asked.

"Herren," My brother greeted the senior Noble with more warmth than he had shown me. I remained quiet, foreseeing where it was heading as soon as Herren's sly eyes fell on me. "She is here," My brother announced.

I couldn't help but notice that he used 'she' instead of 'my sister' or 'Theresa'. It felt odd being referred to as such by my brother, but at the same time, it acted as a reminder of my current status. 

"That, I could see, but why's she here?" Herren asked as he scanned me from head to toe with his eyes full of judgment, and his face veiled behind a look of utter vexation. In response, I felt the eternal loathing for him upwelling inside me like the water in the sea.

"I have been sent here by The High Priestess," I told him grimly, "She had a vision in her dream. Theoron should postpone his ambitious plans for a while if he wishes to live," 

The two of them burst out laughing all of a sudden, leaving me in shock. I stood there, drowning in humiliation, while the two laughed at me.

"Theresa," Herren spoke, still chuckling, "I'm so sorry that you had to come this far for this but do you think that we would believe that girl?"

"She is the High Priestess of the Eternal Lagrifiri Shrine, Herren. The laws of nature have chosen her. You cannot—" Herren dismissed me, waving his hand over my face.

"We don't need those ancient superstitions anymore, Theresa. We have the Enlighteners and capable court Mages at our disposals who don't rely on stupid dreams and visions to tell us about the future," He stopped chucking and added grimly, "Now, we make the future,"

"You're discrediting an institution that had existed for long and guided Somireans through the darkest of times," I reminded him pointedly.

"Since the darkest of times are over, we don't need you anymore," Herren returned. I was seething because my brother stood there and watched as Herren humiliated me. He didn't utter a single word in my defence. The look on his face suggested that his views weren't any different than Herren's.

"Regardless," I muttered, regaining my composure, "We would continue to be as we had before Somirea and all the kingdom before it. The rulers and their subjects are temporary. We are eternal," I provoked.

"Are you suggesting something, Theresa?" Herren snarled, taking a threatening step closer to me, but Theoron stopped him. I was still excepting him to say something in my favour; instead, my brother betrayed me.

"Theresa, tell Vittoria that I honour her service, but I refuse to accept her presupposition. You have been here for a while now. You should set out soon. The journey back is longer," He told me dismissively, delivering the last blow to whatever was left of our relationship. I blinked tears, unable to accept this as the reality.