[Amanaduial the archer]

While the dark clouds of the forming of new alliances moved through the palace, all remained still and peaceful in the ancient Temple of Rhais. Despite Morgôs' pretty blatant rudeness to her, she remained her usual unruffled self, and she put aside her natural curiosity as to why exactly the elf was actually in the temple: even mortals, despite the hustle bustle which they seemed to rely on in a city to survive, needed peace to pray once every so often. Maybe the elves did as well: just because Morgôs had fought so effectively and for so long in battles for Pashtia's good, this did not mean he did not have to fight his own demons, she supposed, just like everyone else...

The elf fights a battle... The words jolted Zamara. They reminded her suddenly of something that she had not conciously thought of for some time, yet which had been in her mind for the past month, on and off. She glanced anxiously across at Morgôs where he had taken up a position in front of Rhais, then looked away hurriedly, back at Siamak. The prince was also watching the elf, but with a deep, thoughtful look in his young eyes.

"Everyone needs time to pray, in peace and on their own," she said softly to him, bringing his attention back to her.

Siamak nodded slowly. "And everyone may have their own concerns about those prayers," he replied enigmatically. The Priestess looked at him hard for a second, wondering what, if any, the alterior meaning of that comment was. Then she shook her head, blinking a few times. "My apologies, Prince Siamak, I have had many thoughts and several unexpected visitors now today-"

"How so?" Siamak's reply was whiplash quick. Zamara grinned inwardly at the speed with which he had picked up on the comment as being possibly significant. The quiet, shy prince was apparently becoming more politically minded. "Yourself, if you don't mind my saying so; General Morgôs, of course, who I think I may have seen maybe once in the Temple before; and earlier, your sister, Princess Gjeelea, came to see me. She was asking about pretty much the same things as you," she continued smoothly, anticipating Siamak's next question as he tensed. "Tell me, Prince Siamak: with the current situation, is there still..." she stopped, and mentally rephrased her question so that it would appear less blatant or rude. "Have you and the Princess reached an accord on the matter of the Emissary?"

Siamak remained silent, and his brown eyes flickered away from Zamara's after a second, reaching up to see Rhais'. Zamara nodded ruefully. "My...my apologies, your majesty, I did not mean to pry. I simply wondered, as your sister came in here earlier asking me also about the goddess and her devices..."

"What did you tell her?" he asked softly.

Zamara hesitated, remembering Gjeelea's strange words, and decided not to mention to her brother everything that the Princess had said. Her views on Gjeelea were changing, despite the childish facade that she had attempted to fool the priestess with: she was a most exceptional individual indeed. The High Priestess fixed Siamak with her steady gaze so that he, like his sister, was forced to meet her strangely blueish eyes. She saw his brow crease slightly but spoke before he said anything. "Prince Siamak, I have spoken to the goddess on this matter, as I am sure the priests have consulted Rae about it. I...I am not sure, on this topic, what..." she trailed off, apparently distressed, and looked away. She had almost revealed a great fear to the Prince, a fear that could never be voiced. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "You must pray to the goddess and ask for her guidance yourself, Prince Siamak, if you want my advice. You have never, it seems, taken a side between one deity or the other, and as the people seem more and more to turn away from Rhais, I do not think this will be missed. She will watch for you, if you will watch for her, Prince Siamak."

The Prince looked like he was about to say something more, before he pressed his lips together and nodded curtly. "Thank you, High Priestess Zamara." He nodded again politely, and began to turn away. Zamara leant forward quickly and laid a hand on his arm, her dark fingers brushing the rich fabric of his sleeve lightly. Siamak paused and turned back to her, by his expression probably guessing at some blessing. But Zamara's gaze was somewhat more intimate than that. She leant forward so that her loose, wavy hair was almost touching his face as she murmured into his ear, her voice seeming strangely breathy, as if it was not quite her own. "Times are changing, Siamak. The time of Rae is coming, but those faithful to Rhais... the Priestess will pray for you, be sure of it. Peace be with you: watch out for those who would value the power of steel over the peace of the earth."

Zamara leant away, and something about her seemed to relax. Siamak hesitated for a second, confused, then, nodding quickly, he turned away and left the temple. Zamara blinked a few times and rubbed her forehead, trying to regain her train of thought. She hoped she had left Siamak with something to think about, but rather thought that she hadn't been much advice at all...

Hearing a movement behind her, the Priestess saw Morgos standing, also watching Siamak leave, and he began to follow, but Zamara stopped him, moving towards him swiftly, her white robes gently brushing the stone floor and her sandals silent. "General Morgos, please, would I be able to talk to you for a moment?"

Morgos almost seemed to sag, his expression weary as he reluctantly tore his eyes from the retreating prince's back to look at Zamara, even as he took a step of his own towards the exit. "Priestess, I have many things to attend to and-"

"It is about the elves, General."

Zamara did not know what urgency compelled her, or why she felt such a strong need to find out about this, but the thoughts that had been brewing in her mind needed clarification, and Morgos could help her more than any, she was willing to bet. Her heart was thumping in her chest as the elf froze mid-step and turned towards her quickly. "The elves? What about the elves, which? What do you know about them, Priestess, why is it that you bring them up?" Morgos's eyes were strangely bright.

Zamara cocked her head on one side thoughtfully, resisting the urge to back away as the elf took a step towards her so he was dangerously close, and she noticed out of the corner of her gaze that his fists were tightly clenched. She also noted how thin and pale he suddenly seemed to her. Hesitating, she murmured a few words then turned and mounted the steps to the statue of Rhais and spoke softly to Tayfar where she was trimming the lamps around Rhais' feet. The girl nodded respectfully at Zamara's request, and scurried away to do as the High Priestess had requested. Turning back to Morgos, Zamara descended the steps swiftly and slipped her hand through the elf's arm to lead him behind the statue to the courtyard where she had often spoken with his wife before. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she began. "Morgos...may I ask you what you know of the elves' arrival in Pashtia?"