Summoned|Acoia

[Kender Bard]

Milan couldn't help but gawk in awe at the site of Acoia itself. It was everything the templar had said it would be, and more. "It's... Beautiful."

"Yes it is," Simion agreed with a quiet sort of pride. He even sat up straighter on his horse.

[Skittlebug]

Priya nods her agreement but remains silent. Seeing the the Force home was striking, but she couldn't help a knot growing in her stomach. She had a fair idea of why the High Priestess had summoned her and to be honest with herself, she just wanted to run.

[Kender Bard]

"Come, we will go to the temple proper," Simion explained. "And there you will be given rooms to freshen yourselves before your meeting."

After handing his horse off to a groom at a nearby stable, the templar led them into the heart of Efilian worship. The temple was as grand and austere as many of the other Acoian buildings. He led the group down a right wing, where there wasn't as many people, and stopped before a set of doors. "Two rooms for all of you," he said. "Decide who will go where on your own. You have one mark to prepare."

[Skittlebug]

Priya looks to her small group and gives a shrug and a grin, "Boys and girls, I suppose? I think I' like to pray and meditate for a little while." She walks into the first room and Irenka follows with a smirk for the two men.

Once the door is closed she sighs and leans against it, "Beautiful place, but hard to enjoy under these circumstances. Are you going to be all right?"

Priya rubs her temples and sits on the bedt "We'll have to wait and see, won't we? I suppose I could take the easy way and just say 'all will be as Efil wishes it'." She shakes her head, "But this could all be a test of my faith and conviction. Oh I'm just worrying myself in circles."

Irenka sits on the bed and puts an arm over her shoulders, "I think you'll be fine. You were chosen after all. Worrying won't get us anywhere at this point." She chuckles, a little nervous herself despite her words.

Priya nods and settles in to pray.


Most of a candlemark later Irenka slips out of the room and knocks lightly on the second door.

[Kender Bard]

Milan answered, evidently restless given the swiftness at which he came to the door. "Irenka, what is it?" he asked, his face twisted in worry. "Is the priestess all right?"

[Skittlebug]

The girl gives a small nod and slips into the room, not much concerned with privacy, they've been camping out together for months after all. "She's still praying, and she's fine, just a little nervous. Its me...mostly. I'm worried, more so the longer we're here. What if the High Priestess is terribly upset about what she...we have been doing? Priya won't agree to stop, she can't." Irenka twist her fingers together, a nervous habit, "How can we keep her safe if the High Priestess is angry at her...?"

[Kender Bard]

"First we must have faith in Efil to protect her true chosen," Milan replied sagely. "But Efil does not protect against suffering."

And it might be in the Force's best interest if her champion were made a martyr. No. He saw Irenka's point now.

"No doubt they will demand she go before the High Priestess alone," Milan mused. "But we can stay outside the doors. Surely they can't deny us that. If it sounds like trouble, we burst in and spirit her away."

[Skittlebug]

Irenka calms a bit, glad that Milan seems to understand, but continues twisting her fingers. She nods slowly, "Yes, I'm sure they wouldn't be expecting that."

Shandar grins, approving of Milan's idea and much more optimistic that the other two. "We'll make sure everything turns out all right, it's why we're here after all."

[Kender Bard]

"How long until Priya is summoned?" Milan asked. "I haven't been keeping track of the time."

[Skittlebug]

"Not long now I think, I'm going to make sure she's ready." Irenka pauses at the door and looks back with a small smile before slipping out, "thank you."

[Kender Bard]

"We're all in this together," Milan reminded her with a small smile of his own.

Just as Irenka stepped back into her own room, a higher ranking priest came and knocked at the door. "The High Priestess is ready to see you," he announced.

[Skittlebug]

With a glance to Priya, Irenka opens the door and holds it for her, listening for the other two in case they didn't hear.

Priya smooths her skirts as she stands and nods to the priest, "Thank you." She steps out into the hallway and waits for him to lead the way.

[Kender Bard]

The priest walks down the hallway, guiding Priya with him.

At the same time, Milan slips out of his room and begins to follow from a discreet distance.

The priest guides Priya to a large meeting room of sorts and gestures for her to enter. Inside, the high priestess is seated at the head of a long table and flanked on both sides by several senior priests.

[Skittlebug]

Irenka and Shandar fall in with Milan and trail Priya.

Priya takes in the group in the meeting room, feeling much more composed than when the small group had entered the temple. She bows respectfully and waits.

[Kender Bard]

The high priestess, Tahti, smiled wanly at Priya. She was an attractive woman with curly brown hair and glinting green eyes who looked ten years younger than she really was. She gestured to the empty seat at the other side of the table. "Please," she said in a smooth voice that was pleasant to listen to. "Be seated. Make yourself comfortable. I'm glad you could join us here in Acoia, Priya. Do you mind if I call you that?"