Prayer Time

Kneeling before the statue of the Donkey God with hands clasped, Rowena thought back to Aether. Staring at the lapis lazuli statue, she thought of when she and Falco had been fourteen, listening to the High Priest of the Donkey God, successor to Falco's paternal grandfather Conall, who had retired from the position when Menes had died so he could ascend to the throne. The clergyman spoke of a Divine Deucalion from long ago, one who had named the Donkey God as his patron instead much to the displeasure of the Earth Bull's priesthood. When Falco had asked why this long dead predecessor of his paterfamilias had done this, the High Priest explained that the monarch had wanted good relations with all foreign powers, he wanted peace for Aether, not war and would tolerate no acts of piracy in the kingdom's name.

The High Priest then went on to speak of a monarch, nine and three hundred twelvemonths before their time, who had solely worshipped the Donkey God. Then did Rowena ask wherefore he had done this. The clergyman explained that the Deucalion of that time had been foolish, believing that since he was descended from immigrants, he need only worship the patron god of foreigners. Both Falco and Rowena, could certainly see the flawed logic.

Her mind shifting to her prayers, Rowena prayed for luck for Falco, for all the valiant souls laying siege to Hyperion, for Scholastica and Xe-tian, for Achilles, for all who had been caused trouble by Leo and his family. She prayed luck for Ascanius, Eithne and little Aeneas as well, for Rowena did not want anything to happen to that happy little family. Her sister-in-law had finally found happiness and in that happiness, there was potential for her to turn good, to let redeem herself for allying with Taurus when he had planned his attempted coup.

Yes, good luck for all... For tonight, Rowena would try to sneak out of the city and if she could, she hopefully she, Scholastica and Xe-Tian could as well.

Emerging from the fane, Rowena saw Taurus Minor and Pardus speaking to one another as they walked from behind some pillars across the square. What did those two have to talk about at this hour?

Sneaking over to the other side of the square, Rowena kept to the other side of the pillars to keep the High Priest of the Earth Bull and the Former Crown Prince of Hyperion from noticing her. The first thing she heard was Taurus say: "I do think this plan risky, Pardus. Do remember that upon your brother's death, Rowena will be married to me. If this false exchange goes wrong, she could be slain."

"Do not be a fool, Tauruth." Returned Pardus, taking a moment to stroke his panther, Hector. "We will have them outnumbered and with their leaderthhip dethtroyed, we will eathily go into the camp and kill them all... Bethideth, thith will be the perfect opportunity to get rid of my brother tho you can have Rowena. I have long withhed that Acinonyx had never been born. Had that weak-willed thervant gone through will leaving him to be expothed inthtead of raithing him ath hith own, he would be dead now... I do not want Acinonyx ath Crown Prince, thith will be the perfect opportunity to thend him to hith death. Let cowardth go to the deathth they detherve!"

For a long while Taurus was silent. Rowena wondered if the High Priest of the Earth Bull was suddenly hesitant to commit such a deed. Alas, Taurus uttered: "A lovely plan, but Brutus is but an infant and if your father should die in the near future, Brutus will not be eligible to succeed and the throne will go to Ascanius."

"I have that all figured out." Stated Pardus with a chuckle. "How doeth Tauruth Rex thound?"

The mere thought caused Rowena's skin to crawl. A false exchange that results in the deaths of Falco, Lupus, Shahbaz and Acinonyx with Taurus ascending to the throne? It had to be averted!