Ruling The Present, Helped from the Past

Dreams intermingled with memories, many of which were not her own, occupied the woman’s night creating a strange mixture of things that had never occurred. Gathered around a fire with Alexis and Gonyaul but in the desert against the backdrop of an oasis. Septs all around. An old olive-skinned man with kind dark eyes, whose hair had turned the color of ash long ago, sitting next to her - her Aji but one of a different Prophetess. She dreamt of having a child, of Fang, of Ostiarium, of the Skara, of Madaya, of the Ebony Hand, and on it went until the light shone from the window and the new day welcomed the redhead.

Once again the odd feeling of that which is familiar, yet not, came over her as she got her bearings. Looking around, Kaithak was off his perch, probably out hunting. There was some refreshing water to welcome her which she made use of.

It seemed that the deluge of voices from the past that had overwhelmed her last night, had somewhat settled. It was now as if she just knew when they should take over and now was one of those times.

There was a small tray of fruit and bread awaiting her as well, which she partook in but ate little of it as her stomach would need to be readjusted into eating more food after the weeks on the pilgrimage and then the trials.

Instinct took over, wardrobe, her outfit, and then moving forward to where the new Prophetess was supposed to go. People knelt as she passed, which Islana was still having a difficult time getting used to but the rest were very used to. Long-held doubts about herself had dissipated into the sands and were left behind with the trials. The redhead now carried herself with a sense of purpose, a direction in life, and like someone who carried with her the wisdom of the ages.

As the chamber doors awaited, there was no questioning what awaited, Islana already knew. Her thoughts drifted to Madaya. It would be best to visit later with the girl anyway as it was still a little early. With that though, and an opening of the doors, the sight was a familiar one; her council and seat, right in the middle. She gave a nod to the Ascendant and took her place, sitting in what would be her chair for many years to come. The others followed suit.

“I hope everyone had a restful night. Are we ready to get started? What’s first?” It was likely that the Ascendent would start catching the returned Sister Locust up on what she had missed but there might be more pressing issues, that needed attending to.

Aji = grandfather