Skwyr Court

ManagingAnger

After the Sun Welcoming Ceremony, Sirshi followed Master Moudren to the room where they kept the robes. She pulled off her own and put it away, then started back to the main chamber.

“Apprentice Sirshi, a word.”

She turned around and stood at attention.

“Yes, Master Moudren?”

“We’re glad to have you back in the temple,” she said. “With your permission, I’d like to discuss making you a permanent acolyte with Master Daktra.”

“Yes, Master Moudren. This is where I want to be.”

Master Moudren smiled, bearing a striking resemblance to the Goddess Olmgra.

“I’m glad to hear it. May Olmgra bring you a bright future, Apprentice Sirshi.”

“And you as well, Master Moudren,” Sirshi said with a bow.

When she returned to the main chamber, she found Kurgm waiting for her. She’d barely spoken to him in two months, occasionally seeing him and his friends at meals.

“Good morning, Sirshi,” he said with a smile. “You’re back.”

“Yeah, I’m here for another month or so,” she said, choosing not to mention Master Moudren’s offer to stay. “That’s what happens. Priests are rotated around, but I can pick sometimes.”

She walked past him and out into the castle. She noticed two things at once. The first was that he was following her. The second was that someone was waiting for him.

When Sirshi saw Ekla, any good spirits that she might’ve been in vanished. Any hope of the Goddess after the ceremony was replaced with anger.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, trying to keep her voice down.

“Waiting for my apprentice,” Ekla replied. “Good morning to you too, Apprentice Sirshi.”

How was it that everything Ekla said made her angry? Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut for once and leave Sirshi alone? Sirshi figured she’d spoken first, but Ekla didn’t need to make it worse.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Master Ekla. I’ll try harder to be perfect like you.”

Ekla closed her eyes.

Probably embarrassed to even be around me.

“Do you have to talk like that?” Ekla asked.

“This is the way I talk.”

“That doesn’t mean there can’t be something wrong with it.”

“And you’re always perfect? Talking down to everyone like you’re better than they are? I’d rather talk back to people than down to them!”

“Calm down.”

“Why? Too embarrassed to be around your loudmouthed half-sister?”

Ekla glared at her, and Sirshi knew she was getting somewhere. Good. Now Ekla had an idea of what it was like for Sirshi to spend time with her.

“Yes.”

Something about the look on Ekla’s face made Sirshi think she hadn’t meant to say it, but her anger grew all the same.

“Fine!”

“Sirshi, I—”

Ignoring her half-sister, Sirshi stormed back into the temple, pushing past Kurgm on her way. Every thought in her head dissolved in the scalding heat of her anger. She wanted to calm down, and the only place she could do that was the Meditation Room.

To her luck, it was empty. In all the time she’d spent in the temple, there were few times she’d ever found someone else in it. Any other day, she’d wonder why, but today, such a thought didn’t stand a chance.

Why does she have to be that way? In her head, her own voice was a roaring flame. She didn’t dare scream inside the Meditation Room. She could barely see straight. This was why she avoided Ekla. Why did Kurgm have to latch onto her? She didn’t want friends! She didn’t need friends! Sirshi was fine with just Sirshi. She didn’t need anyone else. Apart from Master Daktra, and maybe Master Moudren, everyone lectured her eventually, claiming superiority over her. She was sick of it. Why couldn’t everyone leave her alone?

Her head whipped around the small room. Her limbs shook. She held her head in her hands to try to stay calm, but she was losing the fight for control.

Sirshi knelt in front of the Calming Basin. She thrust her hands inside. They hit the edge of the basin. It overbalanced and flew into the air. Through the storm of rage, Sirshi saw it strike the statue’s hand. She heard a crack.

The statue’s hand fell to the floor and landed with a thump.

The haze fell away and shock replaced it. She couldn’t believe what she’d done. Why did this always happen to her? Ekla made her angry, she lashed out, then she got in trouble. Little Miss Perfect got away with it every time. Their parents had never once punished Ekla.

It’s fine, she thought as she picked up the basin and returned it to its place. Water was everywhere. She grabbed a towel and dried herself off. I’ll find Roshil. She’s an artisan, she can fix it. I’ll go to the forge, get her to come here, she’ll fix it, and nobody will know.

It was never that simple. Sirshi was reminded of this when she turned around and found Master Daktra standing in the doorway.

“I can explain,” Sirshi said. “I was—”

“Go to the forge and fetch Our Lord High Artisan,” Master Daktra said. He made little effort to hide his disappointment. “After he’s fixed this, we’ll talk about your assignment to this temple.”

Sirshi couldn’t move. She struggled to breathe. What did that mean?

“Master Moudren said she wanted to keep you here. That she’d selected you as an acolyte for the Flower Blooming Ceremony next month. But now I don’t expect she’ll stay with that decision. She may not stay with either one.”

Sirshi’s world began to crumble. The Flower Blooming Ceremony was only held once a year to usher in the warm season. Being an acolyte at the temple, the acolyte for the Flower Blooming Ceremony, were the two things she wanted more than anything. And she’d almost had them. Almost.

But that didn’t happen. Not to her. Sirshi never got anything she wanted unless she took it for herself.

Sirshi left the Meditation Room. She didn’t look Master Daktra in the eye as she passed. She couldn’t. This was the way things went for her. There was no use assuming anyone stood up for you, that’s what she’d learned. No one was on her side.

#VolumeOne #ManagingAnger

Sirshi’s head was in a whirl as she made her way to the forge. She could almost hear Ekla chewing her out.

This is what happens when you aren’t responsible. If you were more like me, you’d be better.

“Shut up,” Sirshi growled. “Shut up and leave me alone.”

She didn’t want to think about what might happen after the statue was fixed. It was all Ekla’s fault! Why couldn’t she leave her alone? Sirshi didn’t want anything to do with her. If Ekla had let her be, none of this would be happening.

There were only a few people in the forge, considering how early it was. Sirshi looked around, but couldn’t see Lord Grund.

Instead, a woman walked up to her.

“Can I help you?” she asked in a tone that suggested that she wanted the answer to be “No”.

“I’m looking for Our Lord High Artisan,” Sirshi replied, keeping her anger out of her voice. “Is he here?”

“Whatever it is, I’m sure I can help. And you’ll stand at attention when addressing a master.”

Sirshi didn’t know where she found the restraint not to punch the woman in her stupid face. She’d already had enough of this from Ekla.

“Sirshi?”

Looking past the annoying woman, Sirshi spotted Roshil at one of the furnaces. Roshil gently laid down her work on the anvil in front of her and ran over to them.

“This doesn’t concern you, you little monster,” the woman spat.

Sirshi decided that if there was a person this woman hated more than her, it was Roshil.

“You’re not my master anymore,” Roshil replied. She smiled at Sirshi. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m looking for Our Lord High Artisan. The Temple of the Rising Sun requires his services.”

Roshil’s face lit up. “Those statues are so pretty! Do you know how hard it is to carve those? It must’ve taken them months!”

The more Roshil talked, the worse Sirshi felt, and the angrier she got at her sister.

The other woman opened her mouth, but was cut off by a voice that resonated throughout the forge.

“What do you want?” Lord Grund bellowed.

Roshil and Sirshi both stood at attention when he approached. The other woman did not.

“Master Udra, get back to work.”

She stood at attention when she spoke. “Yes, My Lord.”

“And within this castle, when an officer approaches you, you will stand to attention. Is that clear?”

Udra nodded. “Yes, My Lord.”

She turned and walked back to the furnace at which she’d been working.

“She was a good apprentice,” Lord Grund muttered. He turned his attention to Sirshi. “Temple need something?”

“One of the statues needs to be repaired,” Sirshi said, lowering her voice.

He nodded in a way that told her he understood exactly what had happened. Had other apprentices broken the statues?

Take that, Ekla! It’s not just me, so get off my back!

She also wondered how he knew she was from one of the temples, but chose not to ask.

He turned around and motioned for her and Roshil to follow.

“Not a problem,” he said. “I’ve fixed those statues loads of times. Easiest thing in the world if you know what you’re doing.”

“Why am I coming?” Roshil asked.

“I’m teaching you. That’s what I’m supposed to be doing, isn’t it?”

Roshil exchanged glances with Sirshi, then shrugged. Master Daktra wasn’t always the most hands-on master, but Sirshi liked it better that way. Better a hands-off master than to have someone standing over her every moment.

The three of them went to another section of the forge. This one had bins all across the wall, each one with a label. Lord Grund pointed to bins as Sirshi explained the damage. He asked her a few questions she couldn’t quite answer, but he seemed satisfied with the information she had. As he pointed to each bin, Roshil moved a ladder into place and took something out of the container.

After she’d packed everything into her bag, the three of them set off to the temple.

“Has this happened before?” Sirshi asked as they walked.

“It’s not usually the Temple of the Rising Sun, but people break statues all the time. The Temple of No Cares started making their statues out of cheaper materials after I refused to fix them anymore. As his temple’s name suggests, I don’t think Normtoch cares.”

“But you can fix it?”

“Of course, we can. Wouldn’t be with you if we couldn’t. It’s just the hand, so it’s not that hard to reattach. You didn’t shatter the whole thing. It’s hardly serious. And it’s good practice for Apprentice Roshil here.”

When they reached the temple, they went straight through to the meditation room. Master Daktra was still there. He unlocked the doors for them and let them inside. Sirshi noticed that Master Daktra avoided eye contact with Roshil.

Does everyone do that?

Sirshi looked at the statue with guilt, but it was soon replaced by anger. If Ekla hadn’t been there, none of this would’ve happened. Or if Kurgm hadn’t stayed behind to talk to her. She’d be eating breakfast right now, still excited about being chosen for the Flower Blooming Ceremony. Not that her parents would care. She’d known that when she’d chosen to be a priest, that they’d never be proud of her. No one was. Now not even Master Daktra was. What about Master Moudren? What would she say? She must know by now.

Lord Grund and Roshil inspected the statue. He kept asking Roshil questions, most of which she knew. It made Sirshi realize that he must really trust her. Or was this nothing more than another job to him? Maybe Roshil hadn’t made the mistakes Sirshi had made today.

Roshil took some of the items she’d collected out of her bag. One of them was a card she put on the stump on the statue. After muttering a few words Sirshi couldn’t understand, the card melted into the stump. Lord Grund handed her the broken hand, which Roshil took with great care. She rotated it to the right position, then placed it back on the stump. She muttered a few more words. When she finished, she took her hand away.

The statue looked like it did that morning. There were no cracks, no chips missing, no evidence that anything had happened to it.

“See?” Lord Grund said. “Good as new.”

Master Daktra bowed, and Sirshi followed suit.

“I am grateful, My Lord,” Master Daktra said.

“Don’t mention it. Apprentice Roshil did most of the work. It’s her you should be thanking.”

Daktra’s eyes darted to Roshil. “Yes… I suppose so. Thank you… Apprentice Roshil.”

Sirshi scowled at her master. Why was Master Daktra treating Roshil like that? Roshil radiated a feeling of discomfort, but Sirshi had always assumed the masters ignored it.

“Apprentice Sirshi.” Master Daktra turned to her. “Take today and tomorrow off while we decide what happens next.”

“It’s not like she’s the first one to break this statue,” Lord Grund said as he left with Roshil.

Sirshi bowed to Master Daktra, then to the statue of Olmgra, then left the chamber. She followed Lord Grund and Roshil out of the temple.

“Don’t worry about it,” Lord Grund said. “You’ll be back there in a few days.”

Roshil smiled and nodded at Sirshi.

“Oh! Me, Aonva, and Kurgm are going into the city tomorrow,” she said. “You should come too, since you’ve got the day off too.”

Before Roshil had said anything, Sirshi had been planning to avoid people tomorrow. Maybe it would be better to be away from the castle. Knowing what she did about Roshil, she’d find some way to distract her. The girl certainly wasn’t boring.

“I guess.”

“Great! We’ll all eat breakfast and leave after that! See you then!”

Roshil waved to her as she and Lord Grund headed back to the forge. Sirshi wasn’t sure what she wanted just then, but some time alone felt nice. Besides, she’d be getting her fill of people time tomorrow. With that, she headed to breakfast, hoping tomorrow would be a brighter day than this one had been.

#VolumeOne #ManagingAnger

The next day, Sirshi skipped the Sun Welcoming Ceremony. Olmgra wouldn’t want her there anyway. She met Kurgm, Aonva, and Roshil at breakfast, where she said very little.

“Glad you could make it,” Kurgm said.

She nodded, paying more attention to her food than to them. After they’d finished, they made their way to the castle gates.

Sirshi looked around for signs of Ekla. She was not in the mood to see her today.

“We aren’t being followed today,” Roshil said. “I checked.”

In spite of everything, Sirshi managed a small laugh. She decided Roshil wasn’t bad, despite the uneasy feeling Sirshi got from looking at her.

They left the castle. Kurgm nodded to the guards as they passed. Each of them presented the baubles that marked them as apprentices as they passed.

Sirshi didn’t remember the last time she’d been to the city. She actively avoided any chances of running into her parents, so she had never made a habit of leaving the castle. Besides, what was the point? Everything she wanted was in the castle.

“How’ve you been?” Kurgm asked her.

“Fine,” Sirshi replied. She didn’t want to explain any of what had happened with the statue, assuming Roshil hadn’t told them already.

“The forge is nice,” Roshil said, taking attention away from Sirshi (for which she was grateful). “Unless people shove your projects into a furnace.” Growling, she added, “Shove her into a furnace.”

“What happened?” Aonva asked.

“Udra happened,” Roshil growled.

“That woman in the forge yesterday?” Sirshi asked.

“Yeah. While I was gone, my work that I had secured, like I’m supposed to, ended up in the furnace.”

“Why were you in the forge, Sirshi?” Kurgm asked. He wasn’t accusing her, he wasn’t suspicious, he sounded interested. Since when were people interested in her?

“The temple wanted some statues polished,” Roshil said. “Something about a ceremony next month.”

Roshil had lied to her friends. Did she do that for Sirshi? Why? She didn’t want anyone to know about the statue, but she hadn’t expected Roshil to lie for her.

“That’s the Flower Blooming Ceremony,” Kurgm said. “It’s always amazing.”

“I’ve read about it,” Aonva said, “but I’ve never been to one. What’s it like?”

“Everything’s decorated in bright colors,” Kurgm said. “We greet the sky, and welcome back the flowers. There are flowers and plants all over the temple. Then we go outside and plant flowers in the temple garden, and all speak about that for which we’re hopeful this season.”

While he was talking, Roshil dropped back and whispered to Sirshi.

“Master Grund told me you’d appreciate it if I didn’t tell anyone. Our official story is that we were polishing the statues.”

Sirshi smiled at her. She decided then that maybe she and Roshil could be friends.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” A silly grin came over Roshil’s face.

They walked around the city, treading over the dirt roads. They stopped at a few shops, but couldn’t buy anything. They each had a small amount of spending money, which they had to save for lunch.

Shortly after they’d finished eating, Sirshi spotted a boy walking around with a cane. He had bandages wrapped around his eyes, and looked like he must’ve come from Alforn. But that in itself wasn’t as significant as Roshil’s reaction when she spotted him.

“Oshal!” Roshil sprinted off toward the boy, leaving the rest of them behind. The boy had just enough time to turn around and smile before Roshil tried to knock him off his feet with a hug.

“I’ve missed you so much!” She wrapped her arms around him, apparently attempting to squeeze the life out of him.

“I’ve missed you too,” he said.

Aonva and Kurgm caught up with the two of them, while Sirshi lagged behind. She didn’t know what was going on, but she wasn’t sure she cared. She’d had her fill of people time already. Roshil had friends outside the castle, big deal. Lots of apprentices did. Although if she and Roshil were supposed to be friends, should she care?

“I’m Apprentice Aonva. You must be Oshal. I’ve heard a lot about you. Good things, of course! But not too much, not like your sister talks about you all the time or anything like that.”

Did she say “sister”? Was this boy Roshil’s brother? Siblings didn’t get along that well, did they?

“Where’s father?” Roshil asked, looking around the marketplace.

Oshal raised his head, then pointed behind them. The four of them turned and saw a man coming out of one of the shops. Sirshi couldn’t figure out how he’d done that. There was no way the boy could see through the bandages. The way he never turned his head, he must’ve been blind. Was it some sort of spell that let him know where his father was? Was he a weaver?

“Hello again, Apprentice Kurgm,” Oshal said. “You’ve been feeling better.”

“I have, thank you. How about you?”

“I’m wonderful. Thank you for asking.”

Oshal turned his head to her, and furled his brow. Before he could say anything, another voice interrupted.

“There’s my girl!” The man ran over to them and swept up Roshil in a hug. Sirshi’s father had never been that happy to see her in her life.

He looked at each of them.

“Apprentice Kurgm, good to see you again.” He took Kurgm’s hand and shook it. “And who’s this young lady?”

“Apprentice Aonva.” Aonva bowed politely. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” He shook her hand next. “Apprentice Kurgm said ‘inseparable’, I think. I’m glad she’s made friends.”

Aonva turned her gaze to the ground as the man turned his to Sirshi. “Last but not least?”

“Apprentice Sirshi.” She hesitated, then remembered she needed to bow. “Nice to meet you.”

He grinned at her. “Nice to meet you. I’m Daylarl, Roshil’s father.”

Roshil started talking to Oshal so fast that Sirshi wasn’t sure she could keep up. When she dragged Aonva into it, Daylarl chuckled.

“Are you Master Ekla’s sister?” Daylarl asked, turning to Sirshi.

“Half-sister.”

Daylarl nodded as if he understood. He couldn’t possibly understand what it was like.

“It’s not easy having someone like that for an older sister, is it?”

It wasn’t only his face that said he understood, but his voice. How was he doing that? Did he really understand?

He nodded to Roshil and Oshal, still chatting away with Aonva. “Oshal was born early. Roshil wasn’t a year old, but she knew he was sick. She was always by his side, even growing up. But Roshil doesn’t make friends easily. Even before… well, the other children didn’t like her. But they liked Oshal. He could be friends with anyone.”

Sirshi figured there was a point to this, but Daylarl was taking his time getting to it.

“Even then, she didn’t stop looking after him. He knows that’s what she does, because he can sense it. It’s not always obvious to everyone else, though.” He turned his gaze to Sirshi. “Ekla can be a bit much, but I know she loves you too.”

“She doesn’t care,” Sirshi snapped. “Everyone loves her because she’s so perfect. All she does is lecture me. I suppose I should be grateful she pays attention at all.”

Anger rose inside her again. She could see the statue in the Meditation Room, its hand on the floor. With all the focus she had left, Sirshi willed herself not to be angry again.

“What’s your apprenticeship?”

“Priest.”

“Oh, what temple?”

“I’ve finished my first round of rotation. I’ve been offered a place at the Temple of the Rising Sun.”

A grin spread over Daylarl’s face. “The Goddess Olmgra. Deity of hope and light.” He winked at her. “Good choice.”

His words caught her off guard. No one had ever taken an interest in her like that. No one had told her she’d made a good decision… ever.

“Thanks.”

“She’s good at it, too,” Kurgm added.

“I’m just carrying things now. Doing chores, helping with the ceremonies. The Flower Blooming Ceremony is soon, and I was chosen to assist.”

Sort of.

“Congratulations,” Daylarl said with a smile. “They have a lot of ceremonies, don’t they?”

“It’s to celebrate the end of the cold season, the hardest time of the year. Then to welcome the new warm season, when the flowers return, and the light of the world with it. There are also celebrations of the end of hard times. Olmgra teaches us to take joy in even the smallest victories so that we don’t take them for granted.”

Make today a bright day.

She looked at both of them and saw interest on their faces. They cared? Since when did people care what she said? Or were they just pretending so they could make fun of her?

“Her temple here is beautiful,” Daylarl said. “Not as flashy as Rendlok’s, but he’s the god of architecture, so you know they’re just trying to impress him. Sometimes simplicity is its own perfection.”

She nodded, not sure what else to say.

Before she could think of anything, Roshil nearly tackled her father.

“How’ve you been?” they asked each other at the same time.

“Keeping out of trouble,” Daylarl replied. “Those protests a few months ago weren’t as bad as they could’ve been. Especially after His Majesty came out of the castle to talk to everyone. It turned into a big town hall meeting.”

“Everything worked out,” Oshal said. He turned his head to Sirshi. “It usually does in Skwyr.”

Did he know about the statue? Had Roshil told him? No, she wouldn’t have. Would she?

Oshal smiled at her. His smile wasn’t big and goofy like his sister’s, it was soft and kind. She knew then that he wouldn’t judge her, not for the statue, not for anything.

“Thanks,” she said, still not sure what to make of him. No one had ever been so nice to her as they were all being.

“Master Grund’s great!” Roshil exclaimed, breaking the silence. “I’ve been learning a lot, and he made me this!” She held up her wrist. There was a small disc attached to it, with an insignia of a flower engraved on it.

“And you’ve made friends,” Daylarl said, grinning back at his daughter. “Which is important to parents, you know.”

What parents? Not my parents.

She exchanged glances with Kurgm. Maybe Aonva had nice parents. She glanced at the girl, but Aonva was looking around the street. Sirshi wasn’t sure if she’d heard Aonva speak at all that day.

At least Roshil and Oshal had a nice father. Looking at the three of them, they were so happy. And as the day went on, they all smiled and laughed with her, Aonva, and Kurgm. Sirshi felt for a little while that being friends with Roshil had somehow made her part of their family.

For the first time since she’d broken she statue, Sirshi began to feel happy.

All will be well.

It was one of the first mantras she’d learned at the Temple of the Rising Sun. As they all bid farewell to Daylarl and Oshal, Sirshi believed it.

#VolumeOne #ManagingAnger

The next day, Sirshi returned to the Temple of the Rising Sun. She didn’t know when to arrive, so she got there before the sun was up. She was tired and wished she could’ve gotten something to eat before arriving. She walked through the main chamber and into Master Moudren’s chambers.

“Good morning, Apprentice Sirshi.”

Master Moudren, seated at her desk, greeted her with a smile. Master Daktra looked as thrilled to be there as Sirshi was. He stood off to the side, arms folded.

Sirshi stood at attention. It made her nervous to think that they appeared to have been waiting for her.

“We’re glad you arrived early,” Moudren said. Her voice was calm and cheerful, no different than any other time of day. How could she be happy all the time? “I wanted you to tell me what happened two days ago.”

Sirshi frowned at Daktra. Hadn’t he already told Master Moudren?

“I… I got angry, and I broke the statue in the Meditation Room.” She bowed her head. “I’m very sorry. I can understand if you don’t want me to be in the temple anymore.”

“I don’t think we need to go that far,” Master Moudren said. “One mustn’t punish the sun for setting early because it’s cold outside. What made you so upset?”

“My half-sister, Master Ekla.”

“Is she likely to do so again?”

Sirshi wanted to say no, but she knew that was a lie. Being around Ekla, hearing her voice, seeing that condescending look she always had drove her mad.

“It’s hard to be around her without getting angry. And I think I’m friends with her apprentice.”

“You don’t know if he’s her apprentice,” Master Daktra said, “or you don’t know if you’re friends?”

“I’ve… never really had friends before. But Roshil’s a lot like me, and she spends time with Kurgm and Aonva, so… I guess?”

“It would be a problem if this happened again,” Master Moudren said. “But avoiding your sister would be unrealistic.”

I’ve been doing it for almost a year and a half. But things are different now.

Despite everything, the thought of Roshil made her smile. Just someone else that didn’t seem to fit in or had a “bad attitude”.

“I’d like to work with you on managing this,” Master Moudren said. “If you can stay calm enough around your sister, then I believe our problem will be solved. We will still have to discuss the Flower Blooming Ceremony, but I’ll leave the position open.”

Sirshi opened her mouth to correct her to “half-sister”, but closed it, realizing she was being given a second chance. Arguing with Master Moudren would do her no good.

“Thank you, Master Moudren.”

“Think nothing of it. Just because the sun burns hot, doesn’t mean it can’t also burn bright. This will mean I will take over your apprenticeship from Master Daktra. Is that acceptable?”

Sirshi exchanged glances with Master Daktra. They had both known this was likely to happen. Master Daktra wasn’t a priest of Olmgra, which is what Sirshi had always wanted to be. Once her rotation ended, they’d be separated.

Daktra nodded at her.

“That’s fine,” Sirshi said, returning her focus to Master Moudren.

The way Master Moudren smiled at her made her feel that she’d made the right decision. She’d always liked Master Moudren. She was never upset at her or disappointed in her.

“That will be all. Please get something to eat before this morning’s ceremony.”

When Sirshi walked into the main chamber, people were already arriving for the Sun Welcoming Ceremony. That meant she didn’t have a lot of time to get something to eat before starting. She made her way to the castle exit, when someone called her name.

“Good to see you back, Apprentice Sirshi,” a woman Sirshi didn’t know said. Sirshi was sure the woman had been there before. She must’ve been almost as old as Lady Emgard. “Master Moudren said you were sick. Poor dear. Are you feeling better?”

“Much better,” she said, with a slight bow of courtesy to hide her impatience. “Thank you. May Olmgra smile upon you.”

“Thank you so much, dear. You too.”

Sirshi made her way out into the castle, where she found someone else waiting for her.

“Good morning.” Roshil held out a pouch of granola. “Master Grund said you’d be hungry.”

“How… why?”

“I think he knows everything.” Roshil glanced around as though someone were watching. She lowered her voice. “I think he can hear everything in the castle.”

Even if that were true, which Sirshi was sure it wasn’t, why would he spend time looking after Sirshi? Did Master Moudren send word to him to send Roshil? Why them?

“Master Moudren probably told him,” Sirshi said, taking the bag and putting a piece in her mouth. It was dry, and tasted only faintly of fruit, but it was food, and Sirshi couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so hungry.

“Yeah,” Roshil scoffed. “That’s just as exciting.”

Sirshi swallowed the dry food. “Did you bring something to drink?”

Roshil handed her a pouch of water, which she gladly excepted.

“Did they kick you out?” Roshil asked.

“What? No, of course not. I mean… I thought they were going to, but Master Moudren said I have to work on managing my anger with her from now on.”

“That’s nothing. People are always telling me I have to manage my anger. ‘Roshil, it’s not polite to growl at people.’ ‘Roshil, we don’t shove people into furnaces.’ ‘I don’t care what your father said, breaking and entering is against the rules.’”

Sirshi stared at her. The idea that this was how Ekla felt talking to her flickered into her mind for the briefest moment. It was replaced by the memory of talking to Daylarl. Nothing about him had made him seem like the kind of person that would approve of breaking and entering. Maybe that was the point.

“That’s good that you’re still here,” Roshil said, ignoring Sirshi’s stare. “What about your flower thing?”

“The Flower Blooming Ceremony? Master Moudren said she’d have to think about it. Only if she feels that I’m ready for it.” She took another drink of water. “Your father seemed nice.”

“He is!” Roshil jumped as she spoke. “We moved here over five years ago, but he made friends right away. He and Oshal are good at that. Especially since…” She ruffled her hair, and her enthusiasm drained away. “I’m here.”

“I’ve been wondering… why is your hair like that? And… your eyes.” Sirshi glanced at Roshil’s eyes, but had to look away. There was something unnatural about them, something Sirshi couldn’t place. Looking at them felt… wrong. A slow, creeping feeling in the back of her mind that said nothing was ever supposed to look like that.

“I was cursed,” Roshil said. “And… I don’t like talking about it.”

Sirshi still had a lot of questions. Who or what cursed her? When had it happened? Roshil must’ve talked to Lord Grund about it, so there was probably nothing the Court could do about it.

She couldn’t imagine being like that. Cursed forever, with no way to reverse it.

Why would Olmgra allow someone to be cursed like that?

Sirshi knew Olmgra, like most deities, didn’t tend to humanity like a shepherd tended her flock. As Master Daktra had taught her, “If they did everything for us, we’d never learn to do it ourselves.” Deities weren’t a crutch, they were a helping, guiding hand. Still, it was hard to hold onto hope knowing something like what happened to Roshil could happen to anyone.

Make today a bright day.

She smiled at Roshil. She didn’t want to pity her; Sirshi hated it when people pitied her. She only wanted to see Roshil smile back. And that she did.

“Make today a bright day,” Sirshi said.

“Like fireworks,” Roshil replied.

Sirshi laughed, then started coughing as she choked on her water.

“Are you okay? Did you stop breathing? That’s important, you shouldn’t do that.”

“I’m fine,” Sirshi said, her voice hoarse. “Really. Just inhaled some water.”

Sirshi cleared her throat a few times after she stopped coughing. She glanced at the temple entrance, then realized that she probably needed to get her robes on before it got any later.

“I’d better go,” she said. She handed the empty pouches to Roshil. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome!” Roshil said in her too-loud voice. “If you’re still hungry after your ceremony thing, you can eat breakfast with us.”

“I’d like that,” Sirshi said.

Roshil grinned, then turned and left.

Sirshi watched her go, then turned back to the temple. She decided that if Roshil could keep smiling, she would too. She would make today a bright day.

#VolumeOne #ManagingAnger