Sanctification

By N Ponders

In Sanctification, we complete the journey that we started with Ascha N'Dreyid in Books -3 and -2 (Ascha and Lost Time), as she transforms into the High Priestess N'Dreyid, ruling all magick in the land of Caillte Saiocht.

• Language: English
• Publisher: N Ponders
• Release date: Oct 31, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310193071

N Ponders

Born and bred with a love of language, N Ponders went on to get a Bachelor's degree in English and Linguistics.N Ponders lives with zer family. Ze spends zis free time--when it can be found--creating fantastical stories, learning languages, creating artwork in all forms, gardening, and spending time remodeling zer house in the Pacific Northwest of the United States of America. Ze is an avid gardener and wildcrafter. Zis favorite use for the internet is preserving herbal, and other, lore.Although ze has been writing since ze was a child, ze started the stories of The Caillte Cycle when in zer mid-teens, and has been writing sci-fi, fantasy, poetry and children's lit ever since.My pronouns are ze/zim/zer or they/them.

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Part I

A Tower in Boran

Chapter 1 | Starry Sky

The dark-haired beauty who went by the name of Ascha looked up. Even though style had changed, and women now routinely wore their hair down, Ascha still felt more comfortable containing her long raven locks atop her head in a bun. She claimed it was just more convenient, and that it kept her hair out of her eyes. Right now that gave her the added aspect of being able to appreciate the clear night sky above her.

They had been traveling from the singular ruin that was the Steeple in the middle of the forest to the tower in Boran for several days now. The night wrapped around them like a blanket. With all that had happened since the Kirike, the ruling body for all magick in the land, had disbanded their group, and the group’s decision to continue their work in secret, the fall of night felt oddly soothing. Somehow it just felt right. Ascha looked again at the stars winking at her. The moon was waning, but strangely at was still very bright regardless of its phase. Ascha wished that not even the lunar face of goddess Nohtin was staring down at them, and that they were truly alone. She wished their movements had no witness, if only this once. It always felt as though someone was watching her, whether it was a group, an institution or, in this case, a goddess.

***

It had only taken a few days, but they had finished their voyage and began the process of settling into their new home. It was all so confusing, Ascha mused as she prepared for another morning in the tower in Boran. The Kirike hated her, and the other members of the Saith--well, now the ‘Sanctum’--were suspicious of her. She felt as though she had no friends. Even meeting with Kian, Celea, Fial, Narim, Vyk and Felisya, the other Sanctum members, was something that had to be done in secret.

When they had arrived at the tower in Boran that Fial had found for them, everyone else in their group was unimpressed. The tower was in fact less than unimpressive; it was downright depressing. Ascha remembered when she first laid eyes upon the run-down structure. It hardly qualified as a tower. It certainly wasn’t likely to have any undiscovered and interesting secrets, like finding the Tome of Reckoning in the Steeple. Hopefully that meant that it was equally forgotten and unknown. It was still surprising that Fial, in all his silent nature, came up with the plan to move their operations to this place. Ascha wondered if Narim had had something to do with it. The two of them certainly did spend an awful lot of time together.

At least the tower was well-situated in the heart of Boran. Aside from being able to hear the chanting as the priests and priestesses of the nearby temple of the Kirike paid tribute to Nohtin, they were close to everything they needed. And as a bonus, the city was busy enough that no one would notice, let alone ask questions regarding, the dilapidated building the Sanctum was using as their base of operations.

Even so, no one felt safe working so close to one of the Kirike’s temples. The temples operated by the Kirike also went by the name of kirike. Ascha wondered if it was just laziness, or vanity on the part of the Kirike. But the members of the Sanctum were running out of options. Besides, it could prove useful. It’s not as though the Kirike would think to look so close.

Food. The voice broke across Ascha’s thoughts, tethering her back to reality. Ascha identified the deep bass as the voice belonging to Kian. She glanced over to see his medium build and sandy hair. These last few months of activity must have been good for him. It was getting harder and harder to see the extra weight he had been carrying when they had first met. His gentle stature was easier to be around sometimes than the incredible height and manicured look of Fial, or Vyk’s more mischievous demeanor. Whenever Vyk smiled up to those pretty gray eyes of his, Ascha always knew he was up to something.

What? she asked, focusing on the figure that was chopping some vegetable. Oh, yes, food. Did you need some help?

Just make sure that pot doesn’t boil over. I’m used to working in less-than-ideal conditions, but this place… He motioned with his head as his hands were full of the vegetables that he had just cut. Kian’s frustration was starting to come through in his tone. It was something that hardly ever happened, but Ascha could understand as she looked around at the decrepit surroundings of the tower. The dust was so thick it was hanging from the cobwebs and making cobwebs of its own. She wasn’t sure how they could do that without a spider.

Ow! It was almost on cue. The tower seemed to know how to be annoying, and tripping Kian when he was getting lunch ready for everyone was only one of its small quirks.

You can’t get all frantic on me, now. You were always the calm one. Ascha sounded more authoritative than she intended.

I didn’t know you thought of me that way. All right then, I guess I’m the calm one. Everything is perfect. There? Is that better? Kian shook the pain from his leg and pasted a smile onto his face, shoving the vegetables unceremoniously into another boiling pot. Ascha sighed.

So, what do we have here? she asked, deciding that a change of topic to something she didn’t really care about, but something Kian cared an awful lot about, was due.

Ah, that pot there is a wild mushroom soup, and this one here, Kian gestured to the pot he had dumped the vegetables into, is a potato-vegetable stew of my own invention. There’s rabbit in there, too, as well as some incredible herbs, if I do say so myself, which I will not be divulging to anyone because they are my own personal, secret blend. He smiled proudly. Narim skipped down the stairs, followed by Fial.

Something smells divine. Kian, are you up to your culinary sorcery again? Narim brushed a wave of her long blond hair back behind her shoulder as she asked.

Sorcery? I would never do such a thing, Narim. Would you care for some? Soup one or soup two?

Some of both, if I may, came the reply from her thin, yet delicate, lips. Narim’s fawn eyes almost sparkled as she anticipated the fare. If Ascha didn’t know that Narim’s eyebrows were naturally arched, she would have assumed that it was a further expression of excitement.

But of course! I’m glad to see that my cooking is adequately appreciated around here. Ascha, could you pass me the ladle, Kian replied.

Chapter 2 | Caife Conversations

One of the convenient things about being in Boran was that they could frequent the local taverns when they wanted to break up the routine of eating Kian’s cooking. His fare may have been excellent, but a person still needed to variation sometimes. This was one of those times, and the Sanctum found themselves in a tavern called Caife. They hoped the food proved as palatable as the pub’s close and convenient location to the tower. It was only a few minutes’ walk away, once they had found the hole-in-the-wall establishment.

The majority of them sat down, while the dashing, and far-too-handsome-for-his-own-good, Vyk went up to the barkeep and ordered a round of something to wash their food down with. It was likely going to be something that probably wasn’t good for them, even though it would taste delicious. It seemed that the place didn’t have many options for food on the menu, and served whatever it was they decided to serve that day based on what they had available. Today seemed as though it would be a vegetable stew along with a hard garlic and oat bread for dipping. The sign at the front said the lunch would only run a couple of coppers each, which was a price with which none of them could argue.

The topic between everyone was food, as it was meant to be so by the setting.

Mm, all this talk makes me think about my favorite, Celea chattered, brushing a clump of her brownish-blond, shoulder-length hair behind an ear. Her light eyes focused on far away memories as she recalled her childhood.

What’s that? Kian inquired.

My family makes the best ostrum. That would definitely have to be my favorite, Celea answered. Ostrum was a somewhere between a stuffed bread and a stuffed pastry. They usually had a blend of cheeses, vegetables, meats and spices unique to the recipe, often a closely-guarded family secret.

Ascha became oddly silent.

Are you okay, Ascha? Celea asked.

Yeah, it’s nothing.

I don’t think it’s nothing. You know you can talk with us, Fel reassured her. Felisya, or Fel for short, was the closest thing Ascha had to a friend. Her curly, copper-brown hair was somehow unassuming, and her cherubic face was comforting. The light dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks pleasantly complimented Fel’s hazel eyes.

Okay, it’s just, well, I’ve never had a family ostrum. I know, it sounds like a very silly thing to get down about, Ascha confided.

The faces around her didn’t seem to agree that it was a silly thing to be upset about. Kian was the first to break the silence, and it didn’t take him very long to do it, either.

You’ve never had a family ostrum?

Well, I guess that makes sense. If you never really had a family you knew, then I guess you wouldn’t have an ostrum either, Narim said kindly.

You know, speaking of ostrum, we should create our own Sanctum variety, Fel proposed.

Kian got excited at the prospect.

Yes! I could start working on the best spice blends right away, as soon as we get back, he said, although it was clear he was already thinking about what would make the best blends.

Vyk arrived, holding four flagons that were brimming with some sort of brew.

The fall special, an oak-berry brew, he said, placing them down before them and only sloshing a little. Kian, can you go up and get the rest? Vyk nodded with his head towards the bar, where the rest of the flagons were waiting for them.

Kian bobbed his head in response to Vyk, rising from the bench and heading towards the bar. Although he started quickly, he slowed his motions as he heard the discussion of folks at the bar.

Yes. They’re going to be going from house-to-house, building-to-building, from what I hear, an older man said to his companion, obviously in response to a previous comment in their conversation. Kian wished he could close his nose to the odor coming off of the man, as it appeared to be an unknown interval of time since he had last bathed.

They are? That doesn’t sound good, came his companion’s worried response.

I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but over-hear. Who is going door-to-door? A third person chimed in from farther down the bar.

Oh, the Kirike. The bartender responded to the person’s query.

Really? That’s odd. Do you know what they’re looking for? the new person asked.

I don’t know for sure, but from the sounds of it, it’s misuse of magick? Whatever that is. If I could use it at all, I wouldn’t be doing my own dishes, the barkeep remarked, wiping a greasy rag over a mug, supposedly getting it cleaner.

Kian grabbed the remaining mugs and turned back to rejoin his group amid grunts of discontent coming from the bar.

I think we might have a problem, he stated, setting down the drinks.

As in? Narim prompted, as they all looked at him expectantly.

Kian told them what he had overheard at the bar.

Well, I guess that adds a load of things to do to the list, Fel said.

Maybe it would be a good idea for some of us to take a vacation for a while, Celea piped in. She answered Vyk’s inquiring expression, I mean, none of us are supposed to still be working together, and if the Kirike stops by, I don’t see this ending well.

Everyone nodded in quiet agreement.

I haven’t seen my family for a while. I could always stop home for a little and say hello, Fel commented.

That’s probably a good idea, Narim spoke.

Celea can come with me. I know some people down south I think she would like to meet, Kian said.

Fial, do you think you can stay with those people you were mentioning to me earlier?

He grunted a non-verbal affirmative.

And Vyk, I know you have no shortage of friends to stay with. He raised his mug of brew in a less-than-cheery response.

She glanced at Ascha. They both knew she had nowhere to go.

And my family probably misses me rather a lot, too. I should stop back home as well. Ascha, do you think you could stay here and hold down the tower? Fel caught Narim’s grim visage. Fel knew very well that Narim didn’t have the best relationship with her family.

Well, it sounds like everyone else has plans, and someone needs to do it. Sure.

Chapter 3 | Hidden Inspections

Back at the tower, everyone was completing the final details for their trips away. Ascha caressed the cover of a large leather-bound and hinged book.

What about this? she asked.

The Tome of Reckoning? Well, we can’t let them find it, but it wouldn’t be really safe for any of us to take traveling alone. Narim seemed open to suggestions upon offering her observation.

We’re not traveling alone, but Kian and I might run into some Kirike folk. I’d rather not raise any questions by taking it with us, Celea remarked.

It seems as though we should find a safe place for it here, then, Ascha surmised.

Vyk had been listening