Sacrifice|Athrug

[Kender Bard]

It'd been a month since Amann's punishment was handed off to him. It wasn't Renlo who had fetched him to give him chores to do, but another priest who remained politely neutral around the conman. The tasks were mundane--lots of cleaning. Especially sweeping. It was impossible to keep all the sand out of the temple, but the priests did their best.

When he wasn't set to chores, Renlo spent time with him. It was true that there wasn't much to do in the temple, but Renlo endeavored to keep them both occupied in various ways. Dicing, debate, and reading were the most popular pasttimes of the priests and the Reapers.

But the month came and went. The priest in charge of chores-duty did not come around. It was, instead, Renlo who greeted him that morning. "Amann?" he called out, knocking softly.

[Darastrix]

Amann had endured his month of menial labour without much complaint. In a place where everyone knew exactly what it was that he'd done and why he was there, he'd figured any complaining would just be an invitation for someone to use the 'you have only yourself to blame' line that he was sure some of the priests were hoping for the opportunity to whip out. He already knew that, thank you very much. It was that same reasoning that had prompted him to keep his wrists covered. Wrapping both made it look less like he was covering an injury, and he could just say it was to catch sweat before it reached his hands and made his palms wet. And it meant he didn't have to look at his damaged sign, either. It was a grand irony, he'd thought. He was struggling to come to terms with a loss and surrounded by priests who offered counsel in such matters, and he didn't dare approach any of them about it.

When he hadn't been working or with Renlo, Amann had been tending to Threnody or just holed up in his assigned quarters. He'd tried keeping up with his dancing, but the atmosphere in the temple felt too oppressive for him to want to do much. Or maybe it was just him. He'd never had much luck trying to fake enthusiasm to himself; he needed an audience.

Amann looked toward the door in surprise when he heard Renlo. That was odd; he never came to fetch him in the mornings. He opened the door and gave the older man a somewhat puzzled expression. "Good morning...?"

[Kender Bard]

"Good morning," Renlo greeted with his usual friendly tone, but there was a reservation about him today. He smiled, but it wasn't as quick or wide as normal and there was something serious about his look. "I've come to say goodbye. I wanted to catch you early, before you took off like a crossbow bolt out of this place."

[Darastrix]

"I--goodbye?" Amann's expression shifted to one of surprise. It had been a month already? "I haven't really been keeping track of the time," he admitted.

[Kender Bard]

Renlo seemed surprised as well. "I would have thought you'd be counting the days," he admitted. "Well, this is... A little awkward. But now that you know, when do you think you'll be leaving?"

Soon, probably, he thought glumly.

[Darastrix]

Amann ran a hand back through his shaggy hair. "I'll need to make sure Threnody's up to the trip and pack up at least enough in the way of supplies to get back to Haven," he said with reluctance. "So, I guess...today or tomorrow. I know some of the others can't wait; they'll get to stop making sure nothing's missing from the rooms I've been in."

He wondered, if something had turned up missing, would he get to stay longer? Probably not. He'd just piss more people off and make Renlo disappointed in him.

[Kender Bard]

Renlo smiled weakly. "I'll admit, you're not the most loved man in Athrug. But not everyone feels that way about you." He raised his brows. "There's a priestess that lately has been glancing at you with a certain look in her eyes. I think she finds you handsome. But I'll not name names; you're leaving and we want to minimize the amount of tearful goodbyes, not add to them."

[Darastrix]

Amann turned a little pink and looked away for a moment as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Even if I could stay, that would probably be a bad idea. I'll concede the point that the Forces at least pay attention to what goes on in their temples. So me, who's already gotten in trouble here once, with a Taedean priestess in Athrug? That'd just be asking for it. Besides...." His flush deepened and he glanced away again. "I'm not exactly good with women after a certain point anyway."

[Kender Bard]

Renlo was a bit surprised at that, but he didn't prod deeper. Amann seemed embarrassed by it, and he didn't want their parting to be a bad one. "Well, no matter. I don't think Taed cares if you sneak under the sheets with one of his servants, though the older priests would. A lot of us have taken vows of chastity at any rate." He shrugged helplessly.

"Well, let me help you get some supplies," he said after a moment's pause. "We'll see what we can get you in the temple. If we're missing something, I can escort you to Linnod where you'll be able to get anything else you need." He grinned. "I didn't drag you all the way from Talen'sul just for you to fall into trouble the moment you leave."

[Darastrix]

Amann snorted softly. "I think I've filled my quota for trouble for the next few years after this. Mostly I think I'm just going to need rations and food for Threnody. And some flint and steel." He managed to keep from rubbing his wrist at the thought. "I think mine ended up under the bed at the inn I was staying at in Talen'sul or something."

[Kender Bard]

Renlo was so accustomed to taking some with him, he forgot to question Amann's need. "We can arrange that," Renlo agreed. "Though we've only got dry oats for Threnody. If you wanted anything else, we'd have to go to Linnod. But it's summer; once you get to the edge of Naurorod, there'll be plenty of grazing."

[Darastrix]

Amann chewed on the inside of his lip as he thought. Threnody could most likely manage with the oats until they got out of Naurorod, and he doubted Linnod would have fresh apples. "I guess that'll do," he said. "I don't expect they'd have any Earths and Waters there to man an orchard in the desert."

[Kender Bard]

"No," Renlo agreed. "Though Clan Flare actually has managed to force an oasis to form in their clan. Quite a feat; but I don't think they have an orchard to speak of. Though I've never been there myself so I couldn't say."

He leaned back against the door frame. "So, if you don't mind my asking, where are you going to go after you leave?"

[Darastrix]

"Ilyamen, I guess," Amann said. "There's nowhere I really want to go, so it's as good a place as any. I'm familiar with it, at any rate. After that?" He shrugged. "We'll see."

[Kender Bard]

Renlo nodded; he'd expected as much. I hope he doesn't forget that troupe. "Well, let's get your things."

After going about the temple and acquiring what he could--enough to see Amann to Ilyamen, certainly, Renlo walked his friend to the stable where Threnody was kept. "Regardless of what kind of reception you feel you'll get here, feel free to visit. I'd offer to do the same, but you don't seem like a man who'll be in one place long enough for me to catch up."