...
The Cleansing Rite Ceremony symbolized the Cleansing of the old and the start of a refreshing new.
The Temple of Dorom was large, it was big enough to house the people in their thousands.
The Cleansing Rite, was performed in a separate chamber from the Sacred stones.
The bell rang to indicate the start of the ceremony, at the third chime Ajab arrived at the side of his father and together they entered the chamber, some royal officials along with them.
Getting inside, the already prepared chamber. A chamber big enough to house a hundred people. Specific areas were dressed with sticks of incenses.
The High Priestess, sat legged crossed over a prepared altar, where she would minister from, as the people paid their respects, from a designated area.
Following closely besides the King into the Chamber, Ajab almost immediately could notice a peculiar figure.
This figure still had her veils on, but right away he could tell it was the dancing flower.
Elmah wore a proud smile where he stood. (The perfect attendant indeed)
The Dancing flower sat amongst the other priestesses, providing dutiful assistance to The High Priestess.
The incense, light and sweet, swept through the room, washing over those present as the rites demanded.
Our Dancing flower had a peculiar aura, it was impossible to miss.
Her hands, swung in elegance, would pick up or drop back necessary items as the Rites proceeded.
The movements of her hands felt like the sway of the morning breeze.
The tiny bracelets she wore gave off entrancing chimes, with lovely tunes, in resonance with her movements. Everything serene and unclouded, like something out of a painting.
It was at this moment Ajab realized, he may have forsaken his purpose for being in the chamber.
He closed his eyes to concentrate and fully observe the rites. But...
As if in total disagreement in letting him concentrate... Ajab's nose caught a scent.
It spelled 'otherwordly, outrightly' lovely. It made one think they were imbued in winged fantasy, were flying things flied the atmosphere and everything looked possible, where one could float and probably sing and life's problems would go away with the breeze.
Was that her scent? he thought.
He snuck a peek and realized she was very much away from where he was.
Ajab nodded his head, it dawned on him,but not like any ordinary dawning, it was like a piercing knife, a sword to be precise, it slashed through his skull.
He realized it was just the incense. It would really seem that someone or something out there was pulling his legs and making a mule out of him, either that or he might have to go visit the Palace physician.
He wasn't and didn't feel sick, or maybe that was the problem; he was sick but didn't feel nor knew about it, or he was messing with himself... because the day really was no longer funny.
After few moments -that seemed like an eternity to His lovely Highness- of silently observing the rite(while his mind was anything from tranquil), and having the incense run it's course, the High Priestess spoke, her voice calm, and fulfilling.
"And so the old be washed and the new be born"
Everyone opened their eyes as it signaled the end of the ceremony, they took a slight bow and made their way out the chamber.
At the same time those words of the High Priestess resounded outside in perfect chorused unison as the rest of the priestesses echoed it throughout the temple, and like the Royalties inside, the people observing the rites out the chamber, all opened their eyes and gave a slight bow, all the people of Izz. Mostly family heads as the temple would not be able to house the entire Kingdom populace, so only family representatives could attend at the temple whilst the rest observed it at home,and despite this format the temple remained overly crowded.
As the rites came to an end. The High Priestess walked up to meet up with His Majesty the King to walk him out the chamber and probably discuss whatever it was they discuss when they meet like this.
The Dancing flower walked closely behind The High Priestess, followed by the other priestesses.
They bowed to the King and His Prince besides him in royal greeting
"Your Majesty"
His Majesty the King nodded,his smile warm and comforting "High Priestess, it is always remarkable seeing you" he said, his eyes locked on her
"The pleasure is all mine your Majesty, if I may...." she said as she gestured for the Dancing flower to come even closer.
"..this is my daughter, Jezreel, my right hand, and the future," she said as she presented her before the King.
Jezreel bowed deeply, lifting her veil to reveal her face in a sign of respect.
In that moment the Heavens seemed to shatter.
His Highness the Prince found himself in a trance, Ajab couldn't put it in understandable words, but the sight before him was heavenly and like something out of a vivid imagination.
Her hair cascaded down, it's polished black braids glittering, and it looked like they were floating in wonderment, dangling around her already perfect being, and it was as if the heavenly winds were rejoicing cause in that moment it looked like the cool breeze came to dance with her, she looked more magnificent than could be described, with lights radiating all over her.
In that moment Ajab felt the sun would really be honored to be able to provide her light,he felt the earth would feel delightful and delighted having her walk on it, at this moment also he felt the goddesses would even feel good having her as a priestess, her was magnificent, and she was floating(was she though?), at this point his imaginations were really getting the best of him.
At this point, Ajab's description should not be trusted, he was becoming overly delusional, and at moments like this, not that there's been any of this sort before, but at these sort of moments, only Elmah could be trusted. And he probably would say, His Highness was really delusional.
There was no floating and no breeze, no dangling and not even a light, the chamber had no such thing as floating breeze in it, from where... On that note, his highness needed help... But then all these are delusional trances, nothing to worry about.
Bowing to His Majesty she said "May His Majesty remain Mighty and Glorious" they were just words of greetings to the King but again, once again, Ajab could not be trusted with his trance madness...in his ears her voice was like and sounded like Jasper (not that it made any sense but), it sounded like it could take away all troubles and leave them at the flowing river, and left the soul dancing in grace...
His Majesty the King, laughed happily hearing Jezreel's greetings, she really was on another level.
The King: "Well I am honored by your blessings.
Having you completed now is a blessing in itself" The fastest and youngest Future High priestess to become a full Priestess, was before him, not only that, but she was also special, in ways only The King was privileged to know. The Kingdom really had a brighter future up ahead.
Giving off a graceful smile with heads still bowed she said " Well it only goes to show forth your Majesty's greatness, a lifted dynasty"
Wow, his Majesty thought, be it a greeting or blessing, this damsel should not stop.
He responded" well I'm honored, Please rise"
She straightened with a graceful smile on her lips
"Thank you,, Your Majesty, the honor is all mine" she could not at the same time help but notice the intense gaze from The Prince, slightly turning to meet his gaze she gave a graceful slight bow to further appreciate his presence.
"Your Highness" she greeted.
His eyes were still the same, they were like rich chestnut, also warm and gentle, but also distant. He didn't seem to have changed much from when she last saw him, only that he had gotten better at seeming aloft or maybe he had gotten better at seeming gentle, she never quite got it, but then time seemed to have given him height and manly features, he definitely was the King's Heir . Also he could still not be muchly differentiated from his counterpart attendant , who was standing not too far from his side, well except for the eyes of course.
Ajab gave an acknowledging nod to her greeting
"Priestess" His voice was as it always is, deep yet smooth and refined, it took lots of burnt aeons to get it there.
But Honestly he was glad he could recognize his voice, he had thought with all the messes his head had been feeding him with today, his voice would come out crispt and he would give himself away, giving Elmah another reason to be on his neck with his bickering, not that he really needed reasons.
He could tell his body wasn't listening to him today, or rather his mind wasn't, this really was out of character.
The day was becoming a long one and the wonderment before him was at the center of it all
When had seeing someone made him this flustered, it was scary but at the same time just lovely. Even in this moment his heart rate increased and his blood seemed to either be flowing real fast or not flowing at all, but something definitely was going on there.
But looking at her he couldn't help but adore her, she was just outrightly everything, even for a goodly Prince that he was, this type of creature wasn't one that normal standards could measure. There was something about her that made him want to pause the moment and feast on her elegance all day( as if the moment hasn't already been paused with all this his descriptions).
Was it cause she was of divinity, was it cause she was a priestess or cause she was to be high priestess, but he wasn't getting this feeling from the high priestess or any of the priestesses, this wasn't even his first time in the presence of priestesses, The royal family took the temple business real seriously so he's been here more times than could be counted. But with her here today, it was different. Maybe, just maybe, he'd finally met the one.
But then he had to keep his composure, and when had he not, he was a Prince(funny how he had to remind himself).
With all this going on in his head, it happened only between the moment She gave her bow and the moment he gave his responding gesture, in all this, his facial expression didn't change nor did he show his thoughts, except that his hand was twitching, but luckily for him they were clapsed behind his back giving him a quiet confidence pose, this was his normal posture in public places and when having his strolls,it gave him the pose of a learned scholar, and it would have remained so if not that Elmah was directly at his back and could notice, (so much for his treasured demure pose and composure. But of course no one else was going to know).
After his responding gesture and the priestess finished her greeting, she slowly rose from her slight bow, her movements fluid and deliberate.
Her eyes now cast downward, she turned to return to her mother's side, her fashioned robe whispering softly against the floor. Her mother's eye's shining with pride and warmth welcomed her to her side, her shoulders squaring slightly as she faced the king once more.
After returning to her mother's side she lifted her chin her gaze returning to the king, who was now on his way to the outter chamber where he would again address his people..
The King's voice boomed through the hall, his words echoing off the stone wall. The Prince stood a few meters away amongst the royal officials. And the rest of the people in a surrounding fashion, giving ears to the King.
Amidst the lively crowd two figures well blended moved with purpose, weaving through the crowd with ease. Getting closer to their target. In the hit of the King's voice resonating with the loud cheers of the people, they made their move. In an instant with their coated daggers, they plunged in for their targets. The dagger flashed as a glime of light , it's blade a mere whisper from the King's throat .
The King's eyes widened, his gaze locked on the assassin's masked face, a faint sweat etched into his forehead, a subtle sign of tension, but his jaw remained set, all his time on the battlefield wasn't for fun, in that moment is eyes seemed to hold a thousand midnights. His hands instinctively went for his belt to get his tucked blade, but it wasn't there, Kings don't get into the temple with weapons.
But he didn't have to, Instead with his eyes cold and calculating, his sword Sir Halh who had been staying at his side all through but maintaining a safe distance, with an instant movement missed by common eyes,appeared in front of the King his weapon crashing into the figures dagger and the sound of steel on steel rang out.
Meanwhile the other figure had also gone for his target. Elmah's instincts kicked in as he immediately positioned himself between his Highness the Prince and the incoming swift figure . The figure struck with deadly precision , his dagger flashing in fading light, Elmah drew his own weapon it's blade shimmering with a faint blue glow, he parried the figure's attack, his movement swift and practiced.
But that wouldn't be the end as the figure seemed to have expected as much. With a deadly swiftness, his dagger tore through the air, it's blade biting through the slight space between Elmah and the Prince, aiming straight for the vulnerable flesh of the Prince's neck, as Elmah adjusted his blade to parry the move, standing as a shield for His Highness, the figure dashed past them.
Positioning himself again between the figure that just dashed past and the Prince, the figure withdrew, and stopped his attack, it all happened in an instant, seeing that his partner had withdrew, the other figure after a feint slash did the same. In reverse direction, and swiftly releasing chocking white fogs they both dived into the now chaotic crowd, they seemed to use their surrounding too well. In fear of another attempt or a hidden surprise, this two attendants couldn't leave the side of both the King and the Prince, and as the fog vanished so did their quarry.
But with the vanishing fog, a realization was meet. the intense scream of the Priestesses caused those present to turn their gazing, upon doing so they met the pale, frozen shocked look of the High Priestes.
The last attack of the figure that was after the Prince seemed to have been intended for someone else, it seemed to have been a feint, and his assassination was a success, cause clothed in now bloodied robe was the young priestess, daughter of the High Priestess, laying with her throat opened by a clean cut, with her lifeforce gushing out...