Learning About Prayer

JP with Omni and Lorem:

After everything was explained, Voah was convinced she could properly construct and decontruct the tent in the Atsigani fashion, she even had the confidence to improvise as she had to do many times before.

While Gonyaul was blindfolded in his meditations, she went inside the structure to set up the interior to be as comfortable as she could with what little materials they had.

Voah unfolded the leather roll that served as both a tarp wrap during travel and a bed liner during camp. When unfurled and unfolded, the hide was wide enough for two to sleep side by side, or it could be used to create an angled half tent structure that kept the rain off of an indivual sleeper with one side exposed. She spread the liner out across the tent floor and over the top she laid a thin blanket of wool and second cloth of linen, making sure to fluff any uncomfortable parts with extra tufts of dried grass. If they wanted pillows, they would have to use their clothes or packs.

It was not be lavish by any means, not yet. But it would at least do well to protect them from inclement weather and provide slighlty more cushion than before.

When she was satisfied with her efforts, Voah sat crosslegged, lit some incense, and prayed silently to the Pillars as she awaited Gonyaul.

Gonyaul could smell the incense before entering and equated the scent with Voah’s worship in his long term memory. He came in quietly as not to disturb her and smiled at how well she had prepared the interior for them. He took a seat directly in front of her and waited patiently while admiring how beautiful she looked while praying.

When she finished he asked a question which had just popped into his mind. “When I pray to Hoi and Cambena and tell what we do? Do you also need do? Or they now already know?”

She may have heard his prayer outside the tent, since he prayed out loud as if talking face to face with the gods.

She pondered the question. It wasn’t something that could be answered easily.

“At the very least, it certainly doesn’t do any harm to repeat prayers to the Pillars. They hear all prayers. Talking to the Gods is as much for you as it is for those you pray for. It shows your faith in the Pillars and opens your spirit to allow them into your life.

It is believed that certain hallowed places, states of mind and atmospheres such as this…” she gestured around the smoky tent.

“…created by the euphoric incense, acts as a conduit through which our prayers can travel easier as they transform into the language of the Divines. …but the Gods do not always answer in our tongue… or any any tongue… often it isn’t when we expect a response.”

Not exactly a comforting thought.

“Also… you don’t have to pray with words, you can speak with your heart… I fear that where we are headed, we will have to keep our prayers to ourselves… at least until we know more about this Holy City and their gods. I don’t want to have two religious orders converging on either side of us.” she said as a caution.

Gonyaul nodded in understanding. It was good to know that the gods did not mind redundancy. As she spoke he reached out his hands and placed them on her knees.

“I can speak inside?” He replied with his left hand moving to his heart. He closed his eyes and prayed to Cambena without saying it out loud. His hands though began signing. He opened them and grinned.

“It work. Now I pray safe for us.” He was in complete agreement that they didn’t need danger on multiple fronts.

Gonyaul took a deep sigh. He felt very relaxed, more than usual after a meditation session. Voah appeared as an ethereal beauty in the smoke filled tent. He breathed deep the air, whimsically daydreaming she would draw closer with the inhale alongside the incense; close enough to drink her smile.

“What is this word oofourick and condooit mean?”

She watched his eyes in wonderment as he signed his prayers to the Pillars. Then she tried her best to answer his questions, which was nice because sometimes you can find new meaning when explaining what you think you know.

“Euphoric. It is a sensation like happiness or bliss.”

She took his hand in between her own and set it with the palm up.. “And a conduit… is like a river or a channel… it helps the prayers flow…” she traced each finger from tip to palm.

“…like water to crops, nnn?” She closed his fist and smiled.

Gonyaul felt a shiver run up his arm and down his spine like tingling salmon swimming through the river Voah was explaining. Her explanation made sense to him and he was grateful to have a better understanding for both new words and how to rightly apply them. His head bowed to her teaching in respect.

He looked up from his closed fist in her hands and smiled. His eyes drifted to her new hair color. His other hand reached up and ran through her hair as he admired how it felt against his skin. His artistic gaze was examining how it altered her appearance from her natural blonde tresses.

“I think you make color lovely.”

“Really?” she said, running her fingers through its length and combing out the tangles. She had no good way of knowing if it turned out good or not as there was no reflective object at hand.

“Thank you… I wasn’t sure it would even work.”

Gonyaul leaned back. He retrieved his hand from her hair and it came down to join her hands, still holding his fist. He inches closer, his knees touching her own.

His smile increased in measure and his speaking paused to just enjoy this physical contact. It was simple, but felt intimate.

“We most fortune to now have escort to the west. Very proud how you speak with our hosts.”