Hail Him!

Oh Hail Zepherial!

God of Sky and of Earth and of Land

God of the rich man and of the beggar all the same

Hear our prayer, hear our song, and let none despair

Carry us through the darkest air, extiniguish the hellfire

Oh Hail Him! Oh Hail Him!

The path you guide us, is the path we shall not fear

And so our hearts align

Faith, you will be mine

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“Absolutely fan-fucking tastic.”

Charlotte blushed. A nun who was busy dusting the massive 11-foot-statue of the griffin God Zepherial turned around pointedly and gave Kalean a nasty look. He looked at his feet and anxiously adjusted his collar.

“Glad you liked it.” She reached out her hand for Kalean to grab it, and he helped her down from the podium. Leaning in, she whispered: “Big tip, if you’re still a fan of those biscoff cookies Sister Alice bakes, don’t swear in the church.” He laughed and she smiled, he had that kind of contagious laugh, the one that made you forget about all the worries in the world and just focus on that happy moment laid out in front of you.

“So, are you going to the dinner tonight?” she asked. “There’ll be good food and music and dancing, but you’re going to have to leave space for Zepherial.” She reminisced on all those times a nun shouted “2 feet apart!” when she danced with him.

“I might have other plans....” he gave her the side eye. “No you don’t!” Charlotte playfully pushed him, “See you there then! I’ll be singing tonight!” she turned around as the hems of her long, shardwing silk worship cloak grazed the ground. The sun hit her fire-red hair at just the right angle, and Kalean couldn’t help but be frozen in shock by her beauty as she strode out of the cathedral.

She reached her rooms and sighed, collapsing on the queen bed. It had been a long day, and the last thing she wanted to do was attend the dinner: another parade of stifled yawns, hollow smiles, and superficial conversations with courtiers that had constantly wandering eyes. But at least Kalean was there, and she would get to sing — oh how she loved to sing — and her sister, Mira, would also be there to keep her company.

At that moment the door flung open and a girl came bursting in — Mira. Mira ran and jumped into the bed beside Charlotte, receiving an “OW!” as she landed directly onto the girl’s forearm. “You excited?” “For what, the dinner?” Charlotte asked. “Yeah, the dinner.” She gave Mira a sarcastic look, “are you seriously asking that question?” Mira just giggled.

“Well I certainly am” Mira exclaimed. “I’ll get to see Sir Jorik, he may be 50, overweight, and missing an eye, but he sure does fancy me!” Charlotte just shook her head, “what are you really here for Mira?”

Mira’s tone switched to something far more serious. “You’re lead soprano now Charlotte, you’re head of the choir. Heck, by the Zepherial, you’re almost head of the church. The lead soprano always has the most power, far more than the nuns, second only to the high priest. It’s really about time I give you this.”

She pulled out a beautiful gold chain from her pocket, the pendant was a phoenix — a firebird — interlocked with a dainty but equally striking fire, flames rising up out of the Korvak’talian steel it was forged from.

“Where did she? It was.... mama’s. Wasn’t it?” “It was,” Mira said as he wrapped Charlotte in a tight hug, “She said to give it to you the day you matured from a girl into a woman, and you’ve definitely proven yourself to be woman enough now. “She ran her fingers through Charlotte’s deep red hair, “just like the flames that burn on those strands...” Then she pulled apart. “Well, I’ll see you tonight. Do try to put effort into your appearance this time, will you? Remember, you’re going to be singing on stage, everyone will be looking, and everyoneeeee will be judging.”

“Haha. Shut up Mira.” And at that she was alone in the room.

She interlocked the necklace between her fingers, lying on her back as she felt the cool steel in stark contrast to the burning imagery. “Where did she even obtain such a thing?” But finally, a memory of her long deceased mother, a reminder of her story, of her impact on this world, a reminder that she was once here; holding Charlotte in her arms. And at that Charlotte felt at peace, and she fell into a deep slumber....

“Damn! What time is it?”

She was sure she would be late. Hopefully Mira would forgive her if she came to the dinner in her nightgown. She’d better go check on her in the next room, she if Mira was still there.

But as she touched the doorknob she knew something was wrong. An uneasy silence, something that carried the whisper of death.

And as she twisted the doorknob and opened the door, her whole world collapsed.