Page 103 of A Tribute of Fire

“What is this class for?”

“General religious education,” Zalira said. “There is a lot of repetition. We have to know everything inside and out. Apparently there is a test we have to pass in order to become a priestess, and recitation of certain stories and rules is part of that.”

It didn’t surprise me that they would have to study the same things over and over again. Not being able to write it down or read books about the topic must have made it more difficult to retain.

Maia was the instructor for the class and I was glad. She must have really loved teaching to be doing it so often. She had a pack with her and set it down on a podium. When she opened it, some cylindrical objects of various colors fell out and rolled away. Maia gathered them up, but apparently one was still missing.

“My white chalk! Did anyone see where it went?” She hunted around. I leaned forward but didn’t see it. So many had fallen at once.

Suri got up and stuck her hand under the far corner of the dais and pulled out the chalk, handing it to Maia.

“Thank you, Suri. Everyone take your seats and we’ll begin!” Maia glanced up at the doors. “Hurry up, Artemisia.”

Her run must have finally finished. She definitely looked sweaty and tired. She glared at me and I was the one who looked away first.

I knew she wasn’t allowed to hurt me but that she would probably think of another way to pay me back.

“Today we are talking about the different aspects of the goddess,” Maia said, and she was immediately interrupted by Artemisia.

“Why are we going over something so basic? We all know this. Is it because of the Locrian?” The disdain in her voice was evident.

Antiope probably would have made her run more laps. I thought someone as sweet as Maia might wither under that kind of disrespect, but she said, “It never hurts to review material. If you have a problem with the way I run my lectures, you are welcome to leave.”

I half expected Artemisia to storm out, but she crossed her arms and leaned back.

“As I was saying, the goddess has various aspects. Like faces that she shows her followers. Or different parts of her personality. Different things that she has control or dominion over.”

“Like plants,” Io said.

“Yes, we know the love the goddess has for all things that grow. She controls the crops, their fertility and abundance, the rain that ensures their survival. She oversees gifts and hidden treasures, the animals and insects that aid plants. She oversees the law, marriage, the birth of children, healing of the sick. She is mistress of the very earth itself. Here in the temple we learn to appreciate all of the aspects of the goddess and can devote ourselves to serving one particular aspect over the others.”

I already knew what Io’s choice would be. She grinned back at me, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.

Was there an aspect of the goddess devoted to vengeance? I wouldn’t mind dedicating myself to that.

Maia spent the rest of the hour talking about each area that the goddess had dominion over and then dismissed us to return to our rooms.

When we got there, Io took her satchel of scrolls and left while the rest of us washed up and changed our tunics.

I asked Zalira to show me the combination she’d used to catch Suri unaware during their third round, and while she was walking me through it step-by-step, Io returned with a broad smile on her face and carrying something large that she set down on my bed.

“There is a delivery for you, Lia. It’s heavy.”

“For me?” Who could have sent me something? I was thoroughly bewildered. Had my parents done this? I didn’t think so. Not only had enough time not passed but they knew not to send me something as it would risk exposing my background.

I unwrapped the bundle and my breath caught when I realized that it was the pot of Locrian soil I’d left on theNikos. The one I’d asked Jason to bring to the temple if I survived.

There was no note, but given the lack of education in Ilion, that wasn’t too surprising. I did find myself wishing that he had included one, though. I’d been thinking of him more than I wanted to—it would have been nice to know that he was suffering from the same affliction.

Although I supposed his delivering the pot here was an indication that he hadn’t forgotten about me. I wondered why it had taken him so long—nearly a whole week. Maybe he’d been traveling and couldn’t until now?

Did that mean he was in Troas? My pulse beat a bit faster at the thought.

“Is that dirt?” Io asked, sticking her hand into the pot.

“Yes. I wanted to have a piece of home with me,” I said, putting the pot on the floor next to my bed.

“And who sent it? Was it Good Kisser Jason?” Ahyana teased with a mischievous glint in her eye.

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