Page 64 of Daughter of the Darkened City

“I’ve noticed you’ve been absent from the castle.” Avenay had wondered about it, but had figured he’d been enjoying talking to other acolytes. “How has it been, staying at the temple?”

Vasu looked around before leaning in and lowering his voice to barely a hush. “Truthfully? A little odd.”

Avenay frowned. “How so?”

Vasu looked over his shoulder again, and Avenay followed his eyes. They landed on a pretty nymph sitting in the back. She was wearing the scant clothes she’d seen other acolytes wear. When Vasu looked at her, she looked up, eyes locked on him and she slowly, sensually licked her finger before using it to flip the page, eyes never leaving his.

Oh.

In addition to the clear seduction directed at Vasu, Avenay blanched at the use of her saliva on the pages. They were no doubt enchanted against decay and destruction, but it was bad form, regardless.

Vasu looked back at her, his ochre skin reddening. “I’ve been invited to almost every acolyte’s bed at this point. Which is… well, different for me.”

“You’ve taken a vow of celibacy?”

Vasu nodded. “All acolytes of the Holy Mother do—or so I thought. I’m not judging, of course. I’ve just never had to ward off anyone’s advances before. And it’s a daily occurrence now. They aren’t rude or pushy, but it’s…” He swallowed, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s overwhelming. Flattering, to be certain. Or it would be, if I could get over my own mortification.” He fiddled with the button on his collar, straightening it nervously as he spoke, and Avenay smiled.

“Why is it so different here, do you think?”

Vasu swallowed, sitting up straighter, trying to recover himself. “I asked one of the older acolytes, a fully appointed priestess, and she explained why they do it, though they were shocked that the outside world is soprudish, as she put it.” Vasu pursed his lips, clearly unhappy with that adjective. Avenay had to agree. She had never seen Vasu asprudish, just dedicated. “The acolytes see themselves as vessels of the Mother, Evoleen’s, power. Since power is said to seep through the wells from the other world into this one, they believe that it happens most potently at the time of death or at the conception of life. Or at the very least, the exchange of life forces.” He grimaced at the words and Avenay suppressed a laugh. She didn’t want Vasu to think she was laughing at him, but it was clear that he’d been dropped right in his worst nightmare. He was so cerebral, and now he was being forced into wrestling with the world of physical pleasure. Avenay understood keenly the discomfort that came with trying to reconcile the mind with the body.

“So,” Avenay said after a moment of thought, “they believe that having sex is a great way to be vessels of Evoleen?”

Vasu sighed. “Yes, very much so. And they consider it a holy practice to participate as often as they please. They say that it harvests power. For what, I can’t figure it out, and I’m not sure they can either. But I’m also not sure that’s really the point anymore.”

Avenay looked back at the nymph. The female looked up, somehow seeming to sense when they were looking at her and winked at Avenay.

“It feels similar to the moon rites of the demons.”

Vasu frowned. “I’m afraid I know very little about demonology.”

“The moon rites are a monthly ritual with demons. I don’t know all the details, just that it’s an orgy that is supposed to honor the twin moon goddesses. One goddess wears the face of a warrior, the other of love. Life and death. The full moon bright against the night is supposed to symbolize this as well. I wonder how much influence the demon who came here before had.”

Vasu hummed. “That’s an interesting theory. I’ve been looking into the histories of Evolis, and unfortunately have found very little in regards to demonic influence. Look at this, though.” Vasu pulled out a small leather-bound book.

Avenay took it, thumbing through. It was in Entailish. “It’s a history of the witches,” she breathed.

Vasu grinned. “Yes, and very insightful. The librarian, Junie, gave it to me. She seemed sheepish about it and told me to keep it a secret, but I know I can trust you. This book also acts as a grimoire. You should look it over.”

“I will, right now,” she replied eagerly.

The book was ancient. Avenay could tell by the binding techniques and material used. Yet it had been enchanted to look brand new. Even if those few pages were damaged.

Why, though? And by who? She thumbed past and kept reading. There were a few words she guessed at, and one in particular she couldn’t figure out what it was. She had surmised it was an ancient name she was unfamiliar with. There was the typical introduction, talking about what witches were and theories of their origins. How the Holy Mother blessed them. This proposed that their massive amounts of power and control over magic meant that the Holy Mother wanted to use them as her holy warriors.

It was said that Tethon, cast from the realm of the gods for her insolence, came to desire the land of Nemus. But it wouldn’t stop there. She created a group of witches, their power imbalanced and tied into the pit, so that she could overpower all the great beings of Iltain and rule over them as the supreme queen.

Avenay halted, glancing over it again.Tethon. She’d heard that before, but where… She let out a quiet gasp and tapped to get Vasu’s attention again. “This name,Tethon, have you seen it before?”

Vasu shook his head. “No, I couldn’t properly translate it to anything we would know.”

“Tethonis mentioned inThe Tales of Lemia. She was the dark god. But she’s only briefly mentioned, so I couldn’t get solid details on her.”

Vasu glanced at the text again. “I’m afraid I’ve heard of neitherTethonnor the dark god, but that’s amazing.”

Avenay felt it. Something big was right at her fingertips. This was an interesting bit of witch history she’d never heard before. WasTethonthe goddess of darkness who turned the witches against Evoleen? She continued reading.

She began with Evolis, gathering followers to her, creating witches upon witches that would take out her cruel punishments on any who refused to believe. Her benevolent blessings fell on anyone who did believe. But a faction of witches split from the worshippers of Tethon and became determined to destroy her.

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