Change of Colors

[Kender Bard]

Once back home, Mina sighed deeply and hugged her new robes to herself. Under one arm was those from her previous faith. She wondered if she should dispose of them, or take them back to the temple. She simply didn't have the heart though. Still in a bit of a daze from all that happened, she fixed herself a cup of tea and settled down in the living room for some deep introspection on her choices.

And she wanted dearly to speak with Nathan. So she waited.

[Darastrix]

Nathan trudged in a bit after noon, looking uncharacteristically grim. Despite the fact that he sometimes found himself holding on to the hope that maybe he could still become Maestro, he was very glad to not be running the guild at the moment. He didn't know how Eril could manage.

He blinked in surprise when he saw Mina, not expecting to see her until much later. The black robe she wore made only a faint impression. He noticed the colour no more than he would if he just saw someone else wearing a different set of clothing.

"Mina? Why are you home so early?" A sickening thought struck him. "Did something happen to one of the temple children, too?"

[Kender Bard]

Whatever Mina had been about to say died on her lips as she looked puzzled. "What? No." Too? "Nathan, did something happen at the guild?" She shifted and gave him her full attention.

[Darastrix]

Nathan sighed and took a seat next to Mina. "We think one of the students was lured away from the guild and killed. She's missing and Eril got this package with...." He trailed off. "It doesn't look good."

[Kender Bard]

She hugged him gently, all other things forgotten. "I'm so sorry, Nathan," she murmured. "If so, then while tragic, she walks the starry path now, and is at peace. I'm sure the murderer will be caught."

[Darastrix]

Nathan wrapped his arms and wings around Mina, resting his head on her shoulder. "I'm all right," he sighed. "I seldom even deal with the dance students. This girl was a singer and had only been here for a couple of years besides, if that long."

He closed his eyes for a moment, then blinked them back open as an unfamiliar scent caught his attention. He pulled back a little ways and really noticed Mina's new robes for the first time. "This isn't yours," he murmured, rubbing a finger lightly over the dark fabric.

[Kender Bard]

"It is now," she sighed quietly, and stroked his hair and outer feathers, glad to give her hands something to do to soothe them both. "I was excommunicated from the church of Etaf."

[Darastrix]

Nathan pulled back in shocked surprise. "Wait, what?" He cupped her cheek gently, his eyes taking in the black robes and her expression. "Why? You were such a devoted priestess."

[Kender Bard]

Mina shut her eyes in sorrow but her earlier time with Azrael had purged her of all remaining tears on the matter. "Evidently they think I've fallen into moral sickness." She reluctantly retold the story of what had happened last night to him. "That, on top of what apparently was a stewing issue, made Priestess Regina force me into choosing between church and you."

[Darastrix]

"Oh Mina, I'm so sorry...." While he couldn't help feeling at least a little glad that Mina would choose him, Nathan hated to be a contributing factor in her dismissal. "Nobody should have to make a choice like that." He didn't see why she couldn't have both.

[Kender Bard]

"I agree," she murmured, hugging him tight. "But I would always choose you, Nathan. It's not all bad news though... Azrael took me under his wing. He said I should try being a priestess of Soahc." She laughed weakly. "And so I am. I can only hope I find solace in Soahc's arms like I once did with Etaf."

[Darastrix]

Nathan kissed her cheek softly. "I don't think you'd have to give up Etaf herself if you don't want to. If Cass kicked me out of the guild for some reason, that's all she could do. I wouldn't be a guildmember, but I'd still be a dancer."

[Kender Bard]

"It's been a long day," Mina sighed, giving Nathan a little squeeze in her arms. "And I just want to stop thinking about it as much as possible. Tomorrow I need to go back and begin my novicehood training under Azrael. Wish me luck... and sanity. I still have my doubts about this whole thing."

[Darastrix]

Nathan settled back close to Mina and nuzzled the crook of her shoulder. "Well, for what it's worth, I rather liked Azrael from what little I saw of him in the temple before."

[Kender Bard]

Trouble always goes away when he's around, Mina thought in wonderment, smiling as she kissed his cheek. "I like him too. Time will tell if this was the right decision."