Shadowdance 01 - A Dance of Cloaks

the rows of pews arranged before the giant statue of Karak. Veliana looked around as subtly as she could, doing her best to appear unimpressed. In truth the praying men unnerved her, their ululations stretching too loud and too long. The very air seemed thick with energy. It felt like magic.
    “Who have we come to speak with?” Veliana asked.
    “For matters of such importance, we must speak with the high priest. His name is Pelarak, and the name he carries is a great honor, given by Karak himself when he ascended to his position.” Zusa gestured about the room. “Every man here would throw himself upon a sword to protect Pelarak’s life. Do not fight him, and do not argue, even if he kills me.”
    “
Kills
you?”
    “Hush,” said Zusa. “He approaches.”
    An elderly man approached from the front of the temple, having just prayed with a young, overweight acolyte. He wiped away a few tears from his eyes and then smiled at Zusa. From the chains he wore, and the way every other priest turned his head and nodded in reverence as he passed, Veliana knew he could only be Pelarak.
    “Welcome,” he said.
    “Thank you for accepting us, my glorious high priest,” Zusa said, offering a quick bow.
    “It is good to hear your voice, Zusa,” Pelarak said.
    Veliana found the comment unintentionally biting.
    “We must talk in private,” Zusa insisted. “Our time is short, and our matters urgent.”
    “I can imagine,” Pelarak said, his kindness fading away as if it were a mirage. “Who have you brought with you?”
    “That is part of what I wish to discuss.”
    Pelarak gave Veliana a look that froze her blood. He was dissecting her with his eyes.
    “So be it. Follow me.”
    He led them to his meager chambers, holding open the door for them like a gentleman. Once they were inside he closed the door and crossed his arms.
    “You have done much without my approval,” Pelarak said. “What madness has come over you lately?”
    “How so?” Zusa asked. She ushered Veliana toward a seat, but no one sat.
    “Attacking the Gemcroft home? What part of my orders to remain neutral and apart from the shadow war did you not understand?”
    Zusa shrugged her shoulders.
    “The Kulls offered land for a temple in Riverrun. They have connection to neither the guilds nor the Trifect.”
    “Do you think Maynard cares?” Pelarak shook his head. “Karak made it clear as night that we were to remain indifferent. You have put our entire temple in danger because of your recklessness.”
    Veliana would have given anything to see behind the white cloth over Zusa’s face.
    “What did you tell him?” Zusa asked.
    “With him threatening to send the starving masses after us? I offered to aid him, but only if we admitted his daughter as a priestess to ensure he made no such threats again.”
    “Alyssa Gemcroft is under our protection,” Zusa said, her voice steel.
    “You answer to me, faceless,” Pelarak said, his voice rising to match her intensity. “I don’t care what you’ve done with her. I don’t care who you’ve promised her to, and I don’t care what you have to do. Bring her here.”
    “As you wish,” Zusa said. She seemed to be staring down the high priest, even though he couldn’t see her eyes.
    Pelarak broke his gaze from her and finally moved behind his desk to sit. Veliana sat down opposite him and crossed her arms. She hoped that the conversation didn’t last much longer. The sooner she left the temple the better. She felt oddly comfortable among Zusa and her faceless sisters. Inside the temple, however, she felt like an intruder waiting to be caught.
    “I come to ask that Veliana may be admitted into our order,” Zusa said. Pelarak raised an eyebrow.
    “Women are not ‘admitted’ to the faceless, Zusa. It is a punishment and a dishonor. What has this woman done to deserve such treatment?”
    “She has sworn her life to me, and to Karak.”
    “Then let her join the temple, if her vow is to Karak. You hold no position to accept a life into your hands.”
    Zusa took a step forward.
    “My priest, with her talents, I feel her place would be best…”
    “I will decide what is best,” Pelarak said, his voice nearly shaking with a cold intensity. “Your kind has functioned far too long without supervision. If you cross my orders again I will disband the faceless and send you into exile. Your place is one of penance, not command, Zusa. If you value your faith in Karak, you will learn this