Page 104 of The Tribrid Princess and the Taste of Chaos
“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs with appreciation.
I suddenly feel uncomfortable. Jayce… “You ask me to follow you every single time. Why? Who are you?”
“All in good time. I cannot tell you here.”
“Then why bring me here?” I ask, wanting to see the man properly, but he remains standing directly under the intense light of the blazing sun.
“I couldn’t leave you out in the sandstorm,” he chuckles.
“Where are we?” I ask.
“You will get the answers in good time…”
I look around; I came here, so I should be able to guide myself back to the temple.
“Until we meet again, then,” I say before I will myself to the storm, hoping it works.
He steps forward, raising his hand – but I’m being pulled away before he can say or do anything.
Everything darkens, and once again, I’m on the temple steps. The wind whips violently, and sand fills the air.
“This temple? To whom does it belong?” I ask one of the men who is wearing robes that look more important than most of those huddled here. The symbol that was carved into the temple itself decorates his robes.
A priest, maybe?
He looks down at me. “You are not from here.”
I shake my head, and he looks at me with intrigue, his eyes taking in what I’m wearing beneath the cloak. A small, thoughtful frown creases his forehead.
“This temple belongs to the one who shall be touched by Zeus himself.”
“Shall be?” I ask, feeling a sudden pull.
It takes me a second to realise my time is up.
“Yes, child, within these walls we protect the treasures of the-”
I gasp as I sit up in bed. The sun is shining through the window, and Shahira is sitting on the floor watching me.
“Are you ok?” she asks.
My heart is thumping as I realise the entire night has gone by.
I nod, sighing heavily as I massage my temples. “Why are you sitting there?” I ask, placing a hand on my forehead.
“You were talking, not that I could understand what you were saying,” she says, a flicker of worry in her eyes.
“Oh, thanks for being concerned.” I sigh as I drop back onto the bed, my mind spinning and feeling a little defeated. I was so damn close. If that golden man didn’t take me away, I could have heard what the priest was saying!
Gods, I’m so annoyed.
But he said, Zeus. That’s a start! We need to find answers linked to Zeus, then, right? The only issue with our knowledge is that we only learn snippets of the real happenings of the past when something happens. So much knowledge is lost to us. I wish it wasn’t…
All we have are the distorted versions that have morphed through the passing of time into versions so far from the truth that we really know nothing.
“Did you get what you were looking for?”
“A start,” I admit. “Thank you for the herbs. Mind if I could trade you something for the rest?” I ask sheepishly.
