The Chosen; Chapter 5

We all sit in silence in the War Room. High Priestess Leoni and the rest of the temple staff were seeing to the townsfolk. She had promised to be back as quickly as possible. It was fairly obvious she hadn't wanted to be drawn away, but she had to. None of us had said anything since she had left us down here. Not that there was much to say.

We had always known it was a matter of when, but now that it was actually here. . .

I take a deep breath, trying to wash away the growing doubt and fear. That's what Ahriman would want. That was probably the point of this. An attempt to scare us, to make us lose our focus. The more off balance we were the easier it would be for him to stop us from reaching the First Temple.

The First Temple. Where this all started. And where it would end along with us.

Ahriman was trying to uncage the darkness locked there. The lock had been weakening for years—no doubt his doing. If he broke the lock, no one would survive. It could be strengthened though, just like how it had been forged.

They said history liked to repeat itself, but this felt like some twisted version of it.

With the power of the Six Originals and the blood of their Chosen, the lock had been forged. Only now, the gods couldn't enter the First Temple- they couldn't even go near it; it would be up to us to carry their power into the temple. The blood sacrifice wouldn't kill us, but the draw of their power would. Unlike the first time, the gods would not be present, and their Chosen wouldn't be leaving the temple.

I look up at the soft scuffing of feet. High Priestess Leoni enters the War Room, pausing. She looks over all of us, facing growing more and more somber. Despite being Ragna's high priest, she had always been the most hopeful that it wouldn't come to this.

"I am so sorry, children," she says softly.

"We always knew it would come to this," Makazta answers matter-of-factly.

High Priestess Leoni nods. "I suppose we did, didn't we?"

"The Originals chose us for a reason," Jaromir says. I look over at him. There's no mistaking the fire burning in his eyes. "They knew we'd be ready."

"Most of us, at least," Amara mutters.

Tallulah's eyes fall to the table.

"Do not lose faith," High Priestess Leoni says, approaching the table we sit at. "Jaromir is right. You were all chosen for a reason. Trust that they had their reasons, even for Rohana."

Tallulah scratches at the table. "She said she'd find us when the time came."

I can feel my annoyance rising. "So, we're just supposed to sit and wait for her to show up?" I snap. It comes out harsher than intended. I know I shouldn't be taking out my frustration on her, it was Rohana I wanted to yell at. "Ahriman knows we're here. We can't sit around waiting for her to show up in hopes that she knows where we are. If she does come here, they'll be able to tell her where we went,” I finish firmly with a nod toward High Priestess Leoni.

"I agree with Drahzan," Makatza says as High Priestess Leoni sets a gentle hand on Tallulah's shoulder. "If Ahriman was bold enough to attack us while we were under Ragna's protection, we cannot wait. That will only allow him to grow stronger and bolder."

There are nods around the table, even from Talullah. She doesn't look happy about doing so, but she doesn't object.

"I shall have some acolytes prepare some supplies for your journey then," High Priestess Leoni says, resting a hand on Tallulah's shoulder. "You can leave in the morning after a good night's rest with a clear head."

More nods. Makatza is the first to rise. Always calm and practical. I have the feeling if she had joined our group earlier, we would be looking to her for direction. Why hadn't she been chosen first? She seems a much more practical choice than Rohana. We all certainly liked her more than Rohana.

I rise as well, nodding to the group. "We leave with the sun," I say definitively.

Amara rises as well. "Sleep well, everyone."

"As well as you can," Jaromir responds off-handedly as he rises.

High Priestess Leoni nods to them as they pass her. Talullah makes no move to rise, and I can't help but linger, watching as the other three vanish from sight down the hall. I look over at Tallulah. She's still staring at the table.

"I'm sorry." Tallulah finally looks up, blinking in surprise. "I shouldn't have snapped at you."

She gives me a weak smile. "It's alright. We're all tired and frightened."

I can see High Priestess Leoni's hand tighten on her shoulder. "Rohana is fine," she says gently, responding to the fear Talullah hasn't voiced.

But it's something we do need to address. "And if she's not?"

Now it's High Priestess Leoni looking at me in surprise. "Drahzan-"

"We haven't seen her in what, two years? When was the last time either of you heard from her?" Both are silent. No doubt it's shorter than two years but long enough to cast doubt. "Then it's something we need to consider."

Talullah shakes her head. "She can't be. She has to be alright."

I'm not sure if I want to agree with her or not. Even the part of me burning with anger is conflicted. I know she was a good fighter, so that was on her side, and as much as I would hate to see her burden passed to some other innocent kid, I can't help the bitter angry whisper that she deserved it.

"But if she's not, our mission is over before we get there," I point out.

"Rohana is fine," High Priestess Leoni says firmly, not even a hint of doubt there.

"How can you know that?" I demand.

High Priestess Leoni is silent for a moment. "Edhem would have chosen another if she weren't."

Tallulah is quickly on her feet, High Priestess Leoni's hand slipping from her shoulder. "I. . . Good night."

She turns on her heel, making her exit as quickly as she had risen. High Priestess Leoni is silent a moment longer, staring down the empty hall before she looks back at me.

"Sleep well, Drahzan," she tells me with a nod before leaving herself.

I stand alone in the War Room, letting the silence press in, and the reality sinks in. I would never see the War Room again.