home

search

Chapter 59 Anaya

  Screaming echoed throughout the colossal chamber.

  Dozens of babies are in perfect sync, forming a most dreadful harmony.

  It is the third week of Lapul. Seventhday. The sixth month's second half is reserved for exams, however, since I devour books with the same relish a fat priest might gobble an offering left on the altar, they are irrelevant; not worthy of pondering.

  During the three days of the festival honoring Acrona, students, and one unfortunate Breaker, are required to bless the little ones. Thankfully, tomorrow and the day after that, someone else will go through this ordeal.

  A thick and lingering smell of incense spreads around me, only to be quickly swallowed by the Great Chamber's cavernous space.

  I feel as though someone shoved a dozen bck roses up my nose.

  Adults get to drink and dance and I get to do this.

  Seven of us—three girls, three boys, and one young man—stand in front of the giant statue of the Second Daughter as the mothers keep moving down the line. Apparently, one fledgling's or even one Breaker's blessing is not enough.

  My thumb, index, and middle finger join at the brow of the small screeching demon. ''May the Allmother always guard you and may her two daughters favor you.'' I will probably dream of that utterance. A few hours ago a priestess delicately reproached me for my ck of enthusiasm.

  A lot of our time is wasted simply waiting for the new batch of mothers carrying their little ear-grating miseries.

  Perhaps Screech is not that bad. That is what I decided to call that tiny-horned piglet that wakes Hebe and other girls up every morning(even though our csses are long-finished).

  I pce three fingers on my forehead and then my heart, after which I ''elegantly'' outstretch my arms and make those same three fingers of both hands point upwards. Of course, all this is done in tandem with a pious bow of the head; making wavy red strands flood my vision.

  Thereafter, I prepare to repeat the mindnumbing process for the I-do-not-wish-to-know time.

  To the Acrona's left-hand side, dozens of strides away from the colossal statue, there is an intricately carved water chronos. It has the height of several men and portrays time quite clearly. I'm reasonably certain it is designed to make the csses st longer. During days of csses, the moment after a nearly full hour of lecturing has passed, one of the attendants near it would wave their handbell causing a chain reaction from dozens of others possessing the same blessed tool.

  I make an effort not to gnce at the chronos too much.

Recommended Popular Novels