Chapter Twenty

"Praise the Great Mother." Zahara whispered to herself as she gazed upon the multitude of people that had gathered in the courtyard of the Great Temple for the cleansing sacrifice, as part of the preparations for the Festival of Harvest.

Since all were equal in the eyes of the Great Mother, everyone who entered the temple was required to be dressed in a single piece white garment. It was for this same reason that Zahara had opted to stand, together with other priest and priestesses - who weren't involved in the rituals - and trainee seers who hadn't gone home for the harvest break, on the balconies overlooking the courtyard.

The Sacred Boabab Tree stood imposingly in the middle of the huge courtyard with a small shallow circular pool under it half filled with wine. Everyone stood silently, the rich and poor alike, composing their prayers and waiting eagerly for the ritual sacrifice to begin.