Ceres PoV
Today was an important day, the Harvest Festival of Heket.
Caleb had already left for scouting, he did that a lot these days, and Amdusias’s surviving network confirmed that Leshy was going to be there, not only that, but Leshy was marked as hiring tailors for a custom robe, marked for tomorrow, so that meant his favorite mortal could be in attendance too.
Definitely useful for information.
Of course, this was also an ideal event to get a variety of foods, both for the farm, and for the whole cult.
Gethel actually left late yesterday with Maty, they were going to sell more necklaces, as well as shearings from me and Gethel sewn into various apparel.
We also just had raw yarn to sell.
I, myself, obscured my scent with a mix of mushrooms and flowers, and zoomed at max speed.
It took me about half a minute running straight west, then I stopped, and then found a line, thousands of people were in line, of course, this was the biggest festival of the old faith, and most already arrived earlier in the week.
I saw Gethel and Maty being let in at the front gate, Gethel nodding at the guards, that goat kept surprising me with how connected he was.
After about an hour, I finally was let into Anurai, that was surprising, no investigations, no searches.
This was a lot less secure than somewhere like Deephaven, though I guess they couldn’t check absolutely everyone, otherwise everyone would miss the festival.
I entered and the scent of fresh bread hit me, the city was vibrant.
Banners with the yellow crown hung from a bridge over the street.
The sun shone overhead, causing reflections that made the falling orange leaves glow as they fell on the silverbrick pathways.
A smell of honey shot through my nose as I saw kids running with kites of the Bishops.
The streets were lined with merchants, I bought a loaf of bread, and felt a presence beside me, it was Shamura.
I remained calm, and pretending not to notice the massive bishop, and hoped she wouldn’t notice me.
“Three loaves of bread, please.” Her mandibles clattered as she spoke, her presence was overwhelming.
The Merchant was nervous, but made the transaction.
Shamura put her bread in a basket and moved off, a breeze following her.
“Sorry, there, lady, but we need to do the bishops first.”
“Oh, don’t worry, that makes perfect sense, I definitely wouldn’t want to be on their bad side.”
I bought my bread and then some butter from some cow’s station.
That merchant was nice, and was there with her husband.
Honestly, her white and black hair hide pattern was cool to see.
I walked through and saw Gethel again, his stall had a lot of people around.
I saw Shamura coming from that way, it seems she got her necklace, it was made from a lot of hair… how on earth was Caleb not bald, even with ascendant regeneration.
I saw Kallamar, he was visually large, leaning on a building and waiting for Shamura, like his sister, most of his body was covered by his robes, he also had ocean blue skin, that seemed shimmery, as though wet.
One of his tentacles kept reaching out of his robes, holding a haunch of meat and eating it in one bite.
He apparently had a few haunches.
He kept examining everyone who passed.
I hear your mind… Lamb.
I’m surprised you’re here, though I shouldn’t be… How irritating I can’t find you, if I did, your execution could be the main event.
Kallamar’s voice intruded, it was dark and calm, like he was aware.
I doubt he actually knew I was here, he was looking for a reaction, a mind reader.
Clever, if I didn’t know that you had to be aware of the person to hear them, I would have fallen for it.
He’s projecting it, mild enough it won’t cause common panic, powerful enough that no one who could read minds could miss it.
As expected of the Bishop of Blight, his intelligence was only matched by his cowardice.
Still, the biggest concern, all four bishops were here, the whole force of the Old Faith was in one city, even for the Harvest festival, all four Bishops was not a normal party.
“Brother, Sister, it’s wonderful to see you here!”
Behind me was Leshy, I genuinely could only hope he didn’t smell me.
Against Valefar, the biggest threat was collateral damage, against the Bishops, there was no worry of collateral.
Of course, I kept to a corner, mildly secluding my scent, but not too much that there would be an absence.
I looked, and next to Leshy was an ascendant, cloaked in full robe.
He dwarfed everyone around him, he was still vastly smaller than the bishop, but this guy was still large.
He may be close to Caleb’s height.
… So, that’s the favorite mortal of Leshy.
He certainly was strong, his energy being somewhat comparable with Amdusias, but there would be no risk if me and him were to fight.
He grabbed Leshy’s hand and pulled him, that was audacious… he bought something, and gave it to Leshy… a muffin?
There was no way Leshy would take that.
“Thank you, that’s so nice. I need to get you something now.”
The Favorite’s voice was too quiet, but… what in the world?
I looked around and others were as visibly confused as I was.
Kallamar rubbed his face as he approached Leshy, “Brother, please don’t make a fool of yourself.”
“Oh, please, what fool takes gifts from his friend?”
“Kallamar, I smell spice on your skin, and you’re lecturing me about casual?”
The Favorite seemed to snicker, which Kallamar glared, but Leshy held a pod in front of the Favorite, “Anyways, is Heket around?”
Shamura spoke, reaching with lower arms from under her robes to pat Leshy and the Favorite, the Favorite twitched, but Leshy accepted it happily.
Okay, the Favorite wasn’t stupid, he was still scared of Shamura, but still, the comfort in being close to Leshy was vastly interesting.
It seems Favorite wasn’t just a rumor… that was almost terrifying.
“No, our sister is not present yet, she remains in her temple, finalizing preparations for the feast. How has your order been, brother.”
“Chaotic,” Leshy sighed, “I lost a commander, and Valefar was stricken from places of honor.”
Kallamar looked mildly worried.
“What of Barbatos?”
They were really having this conversation in the street?
Though, I wasn’t expecting Valefar to have been struck from honor… I guess even the Bishops couldn’t stand him.
“Barbatos is fine, don’t worry, brother. The Lamb is strong, but Barbatos is a whole other level.”
“Whole other level?”
“Yes, he’s massively more powerful.”
“I know that, but that was an odd way to say it.”
“Really?”
Leshy seemed to not think of that but indeed it was an odd way to say that.
“It’s no worry, either way, Kallamar. Well, I’ll see you two at the feast.” He wandered off with the Favorite.
Kallamar looked at Shamura, “That was weird, right? I’m almost certain that was not normal Leshy behavior.”
“He seems far younger. Is it not nice? To see what he once was?”
Man… that was almost sad… I’ve been in one spot for too long, but that was incredible information, Leshy genuinely cares… about someone…
Why couldn’t he show that kindness to those I loved?
I wandered the market more, and bought a lot of seeds.
Cauliflower, hop seeds, beetroot, grapes, and even some pumpkins.
I didn’t need berries, I already have a lot of those.
… ….
I couldn’t drop it from my mind… To see what he once was.
What did that mean, for people like the Bishops?