wasted—at least you have understood the gravity of the situation we are all facing.” The eerie somberness of her tone was back. “Events will arise, work themselves out and disappear. Your stars predict a treacherous path, cast as it is by old links with the gods, and already demons hover, for it is in their nature to feed off the pure. Yet all you need do, sweetling, is to constantly dwell upon the Divine and never ever succumb to fear.”

A storm of questions whirled through Ishvari’s head. Before she could begin to articulate them, the Priestess rose to her feet and gazed up at the star-speckled sky, as if looking for a sign. “I must be off,” she announced, bending low to place her forehead against Ishvari’s in blessing. Ishvari opened her mouth to beg her...

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