Another sleepness night in Boldhome
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 11:32 pm
Week 3, Middle Fire, 1631
Ondurga had barely slept for three nights now. Not since the Trickster’s Summer Feast. She turned over and glanced at Sartarina lying naked in the bed they shared. She was casually, mercifully, irritatingly asleep and seemingly without a care.
Ondurga turned away again and sighed. Her path had been so clear, so straightforward, so simple.
Follow. Follow in her mother’s footsteps. Become an initiate of Orlanth. Join the Candle Dancers. Do what her mother had done. Follow. Keep to the line. Obey the rules. Duty. Do what is expected and what will earn righteous honour and what will eventually earn an appropriate resting place for her ashes in the family burial field.
All so easy, so clear, so straightforward, so simple. And yet...
And yet, on the advice of the great man who was fast becoming her mentor and patron, Erik Stargazer – God-talker of Orlanth, Aide to the City Lawspeaker, Lieutenant Warlord of the prestigious Mularik’s Company - she had attended the Trickster’s Summer Feast.
And everything changed.
Absolute abandon, absurdity, and magnificent madness had swept away all of her pre-laid plans like so many cobwebs in a neglected corner of a forgotten tomb laid open to the storm. All that was left from that night was an overwhelming longing for freedom from expectations, orthodoxy, and conformity which had kept her tossing and turning for the last few nights.
For the first time, in her young life, she wasn't sure who she was anymore, not sure what her path was, not sure what she should do, or even what she wanted. Who could she talk to about this new compulsion within her? Brear? He seemed to be madder than Elusu (shocking, compelling, fascinating Elusu!) but somehow false and empty. Erinestra? Possibly. She had been friendly, at least as far as Ondurga could recall before the wildness of the Feast had completely taken hold. Perhaps she should seek out Erinestra.
Ondurga had barely slept for three nights now. Not since the Trickster’s Summer Feast. She turned over and glanced at Sartarina lying naked in the bed they shared. She was casually, mercifully, irritatingly asleep and seemingly without a care.
Ondurga turned away again and sighed. Her path had been so clear, so straightforward, so simple.
Follow. Follow in her mother’s footsteps. Become an initiate of Orlanth. Join the Candle Dancers. Do what her mother had done. Follow. Keep to the line. Obey the rules. Duty. Do what is expected and what will earn righteous honour and what will eventually earn an appropriate resting place for her ashes in the family burial field.
All so easy, so clear, so straightforward, so simple. And yet...
And yet, on the advice of the great man who was fast becoming her mentor and patron, Erik Stargazer – God-talker of Orlanth, Aide to the City Lawspeaker, Lieutenant Warlord of the prestigious Mularik’s Company - she had attended the Trickster’s Summer Feast.
And everything changed.
Absolute abandon, absurdity, and magnificent madness had swept away all of her pre-laid plans like so many cobwebs in a neglected corner of a forgotten tomb laid open to the storm. All that was left from that night was an overwhelming longing for freedom from expectations, orthodoxy, and conformity which had kept her tossing and turning for the last few nights.
For the first time, in her young life, she wasn't sure who she was anymore, not sure what her path was, not sure what she should do, or even what she wanted. Who could she talk to about this new compulsion within her? Brear? He seemed to be madder than Elusu (shocking, compelling, fascinating Elusu!) but somehow false and empty. Erinestra? Possibly. She had been friendly, at least as far as Ondurga could recall before the wildness of the Feast had completely taken hold. Perhaps she should seek out Erinestra.