Viher's embrace

Tamazzalt nodded. "He has received Viher's embrace. Yther's water no longer flow on this one." Came the man's words as he bowed to her for the first time. Of all that would had bowed to her a would ever bow, none would do so less deeply than the Ascendant as befitting his position.

He walked to the stone plinth and drew the stone from the pedestal taking into the folds of his robe.

"The Herald betrayed you in the end. He could not see past the origin of your vessel." Came the words. "A new one must be appointed." He said offering his arm to steady her as he started to escort her towards a corridor at the back of the Temple.

Islana blinked the confusion and daze from her mind. Two thousand years of memories and of forty generations kept flashing behind her eyes. Her vision would swim sometimes and she felt she would fall or pass out, or think she was elsewhere. She could hear the distance sound of two voices, trying to speak to over over the buzzing in her mind. The Twins welcoming their champion back, maybe, or something else, she could not tell yet.

Part of her new that the ritual had taken less time than ever before, but than again it was only second time someone not of Ozainae blood had become a vessel. And the first for an Helian. The foreseen enemy come from across the seas.

When she returned to the present and hwr surroundings, she saw Tamazzalt had escorted her into a balcony in east side of the temple overlooking the square. Behind her he raised his staff and in the night air a cloud of dust and sand started to form, spiralling above the dome of the temple. Small at first, but growing larger and larger as her heart pounded in her chest.

He was signalling the end of the Trial. Announcing that Sister Locust was risen once more. Soon everyone in the city would see the cloud and converge into the heart of the city.

She gripped the stone banister with her hands.

This was truly happening... It was not a dream...