“Huh. So today is Bel’tes…” Peter looked over one of the books that Anamea had left them, “…And there’s ten days in a week, eaamed after one of the gods oddesses.” He mumbled around a bite of rasher and eggs, musing aloud. “Dek.” Traya called out the corre. “Is it different in your world?” Ennalyssa asked, looking up from her own book; something that Peter was happy to see, finding out that the young teenager had an actual education, short as it might have been, before being ‘chosen’ and then ‘educated’ by that harpy (which he was told was not a polite thing to say as there were bird-style beastkin) he had met the other day. “We had seven days in our week, also named after different gods and goddesses.” Peter expined, “And the sun.” “Oh, what was that day called?” “Sunday.” “…”Peter ughed, “No, really. That was it. And we had ‘Monday’ because ‘Moon Day’. Speaking of, we only had one of those.” “That… is dumb.” Ennalyssa went back to her book, “And that’s weird, only one moon.” “Different worlds.” He shrugged.He poi her pte with his utensil, something that reminded him of a slightly long-tined spork more than anything else, “Don’t fet to eat ys. That’s protein, and that’ll give you the energy to get through the day.” “I know.” She protested, “It’s just been so long…” “How…” He paused, dreading the answer holy but needing to know, “How long ago did you get chosen for this?”Looking up from her book again, she paused before usihumb to t the joints on her fingers, “Well, I’m almost eleven… and it eter twitched a little, having to remind himself, again, that Aetyros used dozenal instead of decimal se, to his way of thinking, was ‘almost thirteen’. Yet, even so, it likely meant that d’Zaier, or whoever chose Ennalyssa when she was quite literally a child. “… Yeah, I was eight.” She frowned, “And now I’m almost eleven.” “Eight…” Peter said, at her nod he tinued, “So… Eight, e—” “Eight, Nine, Dek, Ell, Ten…” Traya, from the kit, reminded Peter again as she worked at ing the pans she used for cooking breakfast. “Right, right.” Peter sighed, looking to Ennalyssa, muttering “This is why I’m not the oeag you math.”The younger woman giggled, “Uhuh.” She agreed, “But, yeah. Almost five years I’ve been training here at the church’s grounds. And it’s been cottage pe and rasher for breakfast all that time.” “Not that that’s bad but… the one small bowl and maybe some rasher…” Peter sighed, “And I have no idea what you, or the soldiers, would get for dinner.” “A stew.” Traya answered, “Made from leftovers from baking and cooking meals and things for the others.” “Who are these others?” Peter asked, half curious and half furious. “The healers, cilors, clergy…” Traya answered, “Though just those in charge.” “So… d’Zaier, Vaunn, whoever is in charge of the cilors…” Peter frowned, “Why do the warriors and guardians of the Church get so mistreated…” “Yes, and a couple others.” Traya expihough she shook her head, “It’s more that’s just what the dining hall serves them. They are allowed to purchase food on their own, go out a at taverns and the like.” “And how often is that I wonder.” Peter nibbled on his toast, topped with butter and a fried egg — to Ennalyssa’s surprise he had asked for some cottage pe as well but suggested some ges to Traya to make it thicker aer tasting; and she had to agree, having tried some after Peter noticed her looking at it curiously. “Well…” Traya started.Peter held up a hand, “I imagi’s ‘not very often’, sidering how long training for weerday.”Traya nodded. “So…” Ennalyssa started, wanting to move away from this subject as well, “… What else is different from your world?” “Well. I alked to a goddess before ing here.” Peter chuckled. “You what?” Traya almost dropped the mug she was washing, makier wince a little at having spilled those beans. “Yesterday… when Anamea was healing me… a Goddess snu—” He tapped the side of his head, “—and chatted with me; Di’si’thy, if memory serves.” “Why?” Traya asked, surprised, “I-I mean, the Goddess of Light is part of that bit of the Family…”Peter sipped his keffe, “I’m gonna need a primer on all the gods and goddesses, I think.” “Well, there’s nine, in three ‘families’ of three. Plus…” “Plus the ohat d’Zaier doesn’t eople to talk about.” Peter said, nodding, not wanting to make Traya unfortable by doing just that. “Right. She’s part of the Family but… isn’t a part of any smaller group.” Traya expined. “I’m guessing Air, Earth, and Water are a little group by themselves.” Peter proffered.Traya nodded, “And Di’si’thy is the Goddess of Truth and Magic. Likely why she appeared when healing magic was being used on you.” “Makes sense.” Peter held up his hand, beginning to glow a soft white-green. “H-How…”Peter grinned, “She kindly taught me that healing spell.” The glowing stopped, a his fio his lips, “I think, just in case of emergency, we keep this to ourselves?” He asked the two girls — they nodded in agreement. “Do you know any ic?” Ennalyssa asked, “I wao learn but—” “I don’t, not yet.” Peter smiled, “I’d like to learn more magic too. So I’ll see if we ’t find someone who teach us.” “Really?” She asked, eyes wide.Peter nodded and got a tight hug for his troubles as Ennalyssa near-leapt from her chair and ed her arms around him. “I will do everything I to make sure you are protected and protect yourself.” Peter hugged her tightly, promising her. “Now, you two go and wash up a dressed.” Traya ordered the two, “You two have training to get to.” “Alright, you heard Traya.” Peter smiled, patting Ennalyssa’s back gently, “Let’s get ready.” “Fihe youeen sighed, finished her milk, and wiped her mouth before walking off.Peter stood and gathered their ptes, mugs, and such, heading to the kit, “Thanks, again, for cooking breakfast.” “Of course. I don’t mind.” Traya smiled as she took the pile of things from Peter, “Like I said, go get dressed. I’ll take care of this.” “But…”Traya shooed him off, “You ’t help yet. You have training. It’s okay.” She turned a bato the kitette, “You just have a good day, well, as good a day as you .”

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  “I will see to it you will not be having a good day.” Havengard sneered, nasally voice pitg high as he spoke at, not to, Peter; standing in front of the otherworlder with another soldier of the Church Luminous behind him about a yard or so, “You will sweat, and bleed and cry. I will make sure of that.” He gred at Peter, trying to look up the few inches of height difference while at the same time trying to look down his the other man, “And you be assured that that girl’s training will be just as…” His surned into a remorselessly gleeful smile, “…intense.” “If you harm her…” Peter started.There was a scoff, “Worry for yourself first, otherworlder.” The grin grew wider, “I won’t be ying a hand on her, I’m not her sparring partner after all.” He sniffed dismissively and turned on his heel, passing by the other soldier, stopping for a moment and whispering something to him and gng in what was supposed to be a menag manner over his shoulder at Peter before leaving the two.

  Gring at Peter the other soldier, a human male, approached him, tying back his long bck hair into a ponytail, and grabbing the pole-arm that had been stu the ground. With a growl, he charged Peter and thrust the on. “Okay then!” Peter yelped, dodging out of the way and looking around for a on he could use but there was nothing around for him to grab. “Quiet!” His ‘sparring partner’ snapped, “You’ve only beewo days and you’ve already said enough.” “A day and a half at most!” Peter yelped as he dodged ahrust, “And what have I been saying?!” “Don’t think I’ll buy into yoading!” the soldier growled, “I have my pride, we all do!” “…Oh for fuck’s sake…” Peter shifted backward to avoid a heavy swipe, “What did that jackass tell you I said?!” “Don’t you dare insult Ser Havengard.” He attacked with anry swipe, though this one was blocked by Peter using his closer forearm and reag across with his other hand to grab at the wooden pole.“If I get a splinter…” He warned grumpily.“That is going to be the least of your worries, Champioer rolled his eyes and pulled in with the hand gripping the on haft while pushing out with his forearm — siaying ‘uhe radar’ seemed wholly impossible at this point, he decided to push some of his limits and see Na’at’s work in a. The crack of wood as Peter she pole-arm in two made him smile ever so slightly.

  — Hours Later —

  Peter sighed as he sat on aurned, empty water barrel. The day had gone poorly for him. He had a sneaking suspi that it wely how Havengard had wa to go: With Peter gettien up.He winced as he rubbed his ribs, Why the ribs again? “So what in Xtha’s name happened here?” A gruff, tired voice broke Peter from his inner monologue.He found a tall, shapely woman with fiery e skin, curling ram horns with long pointed ears stig out through the loop of the horns. She had a long, thin tail that ended with a series of small nubs and a fleshy, ‘blunt’ arrowhead-like point. Her height was added to by bird-like feet — three forward toes and a singur backoioe.Hands on her hips, she wore the white and red of the Healer caste of the Church Luminous though a bit less ‘modest’ than Anamea was wearing; nothing ludicrous, mind, but the top did have cut-outs for her shoulders even with its long sleeves, a red cloth or belt around her waist, and knee-pants… which, sidering her bird-like feet, made sense.“…” Peter blinked, “I, well… I got my ass hao me in ‘training’.” “Ahuh.” The healer frowned as she looked him over, scratg at her with one hand, ed in fingerless gloves, eying him with cat-slit bright green eyes, “Why didn’t you hand them their ass back?” “Because.” Peter started with an annoyed sigh, “I don’t know how to fight.” “sidering what you did to that pole-arm’s shaft…” She pointed out, “You could have easily taken care of him.” “That wouldn’t have done anything but prove whatever whoever told him was true.” Peter frowned, “Miss… Ma’am… is there anything I do to help you, or…” “Em’emoa.” She grunted, reag out a hand that began to glow with the same white-green light that Anamea’s hand did, “Don’t give me any sort of false ies.” “Wasn’t false but alright.” Peter muttered.She snorted, “Look, I’m gonna tell you this once since you’re new here. Leave.” “’t.” “Sure you , you just tell them this wasn’t for you. I’m sure a big guy like you find work lifting cargo for a shipping pany or something.” “Excuse me?”She met his eyes, “You obviously aren’t cut out to be a guard or soldier…” “That’s what I keep trying to tell people but no one is listening.” Peter growled, “And I ’t leave, I promised to protenalyssa.”

  This made her pause and her cat-slit eyes narrowed as she stared into his ged purple, “A promise… to protect her, mh?” She sounded disbelieving. “Someone has to.” Peter shot back, “From what I was told she needs it. And after being here for a day, and a little more, I see why.” “Why you?” She asked.Peter snorted, “You’d have to ask her.” “Ennalyssa?”This made Peter look at Em’emoa as critically as she was him, “You used her name.” “Of course, I would.” She said simply, “You’re the poor idiot that d’Zaier summoned, aren’t you?” “One and the same — though I take offe ‘idiot’.” Peter snorted. “An idiot would.”

  “You, Otherworlder, what do you think you’re doing zing about!”Both Peter and Em’emoa grimaced at the annoyed, and annoying, nasally tohat yelled from some distance away and, unfortunately, was getting closer. “You don’t get paid to sit around and waste my time.” He snarled in an attempt to be threatening, “And you, healer, what do you think you’re doing? I didn’t approve healing of this ourning around and standing at her full height, a good head and shoulders above Havengard, Em’emoa gred down at him, “I don’t take orders from you.” “Y-You. What are you doing back here, monster?”Peter stood up now but Em’emoa put her hand out behind her back, palm open and fingers spread, signaling him to stop. “I was called back by Shepherd Vaunn, you know, the person I do take orders from, as he is in charge of the entire Healer’s cadre?” “Mhph.” Havengard sniffed — it was obvious he didn’t think very highly of that decration. “As for your other, rather stupid, question, I’m a healer. I was healing.” She snarked. “Why haven’t you healed the actual guards instead of this pretender and outsider?” He demanded. “The actual guards aren’t as injured as he is.” Em’emoa said ftly.”

  “Are you alright, Peytr?” Ennalyssa quietly asked as she came up, holding her arm close to her body, wing as she moved. “Away with you!” Havengard started to swipe at her, with Ennalyssa wing in preparation for a blow.Both Peter and Em’Emoa moved and while the Healer was quick, Peter was quicker and Havengard found himself staring down the business end of a crooked wooden staff decorated with red and white cloth, beads and a couple of small green crystals with the Healer herself interposed between him and his target.Oher hand, Peter had, once again, grabbed for the hand that Havengard was trying to swipe with — his fingers closing around Havengard’s wrist in a firm grip. “This is ‘strike two’, Ser Havengard.” Peter said dryly, with just a touch of sarcasm around the honorific title. “I order you to let go of me, otherworlder! You will not like the sequences.” Havengard snarled. “If that is a threat to me, fine. I deal with it.” Peter simply replied, “However—” He leaned in and whispered, “If that is a threat against Ennalyssa… you and I will have words.” He frowned, “Remember, Ser Havengard, I was brought here to be her bodyguard.”

  “I’d like to know how her arm got broken.” Em’emoa frowned, lips curling as she spoke, exposing long es. “It happened yesterday too.” Peter brought up. “Did it, now?”Struggling against Peter’s grip Havengard sneered, “Let me go or I’ll call over the guard and have all three of you locked away, I swear it!”Em’emoa looked to Peter, then Havengard, snarling, “You would arrest a child.” She spat, almost literally it seemed to Peter, but held back spattering Havengard with a glob of saliva… if just barely.Peter let Havengard’s wrist go and the nasally weasel of a man immediately began to rub it tenderly. “I expect you to heal this.” Havengard snarled quietly.Em’emoa gave a shh, “It’s not even bruised. There’s nothing to heal.” “This brute broke it, I’m sure.” He whirying to sound gruff.Ign him the Healer picked Ennalyssa up and sat her on the over-turned barrel she had fouer using minutes earlier, beginning to heal her. She looked back at Peter, “You good?” “I’ll be fine.” He nodded, “The Divinely Choseakes priority.” He gave Havengard a rather rge smirk, “Wouldn’t you say, Ser Havengard? I mean we could ighe broken arm of the Chosen Warrior of the Goddess of Light, whose holy grounds we currently stand on. I’m sure she won’t mind while the Healer looks at your wrist.” Havengard only grumbled in a quiet and annoyed non-answer.

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