"Xan?" I called out as I walked through the garden.
"Right here Mida," a voice whispered in my ear. I smiled as my fiancée ran his hands along my arms. "Can you believe we are to be married in a week?" Xan asked, kissing my shoulder.
I slowly turned around to face Xan, "That is actually what I came here to talk to you about,"
"What's wrong?" Xan asked, worry in his eyes.
I looked away and a single tear ran down my cheek. I turned back to my love and said, "The Gods have come for their once a century hunt."
"What does this have to do with our wedding?"
"You see, I am to be sacrificed to them."
"What? You can't let them do that!" Xan shouted.
"Why?" I asked, "Are you so selfish that you won't think of our Gods; you only think about yourself?"
"My love, you know that is not want I meant; I love you," Xan said and he kissed me on the neck, "Do you think the Gods would mind another sacrifice?"
I pulled away and looked at Xan with shock, "What did you just say?"
"I just asked if there was a chance that the Gods would let me be a sacrifice, so we could be together even in death."
"You can't ask to be a sacrifice, the Gods choose you."
"Well, can't I prove myself to them; prove I'm worth enough to be a sacrifice?"
"You would have to go to the High Priest," I said, "He will take you to the Gods and you can be judged."
"We'll go together," Xan said and wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
We stood before the High Priest together as he thought over Xan's request. "Are you sure that this is what you want to do?" I watched my love nod his head, his face serious, "Then you must present yourself before the Gods and be deemed worthy by them," The High Priest said.
I placed my arm around Xan's shoulder and tried to comfort him as we walked down the hall to the judging chamber. I could feel him shaking under my hand and his nerves started getting to me as well. Finally, we entered the large hall and stood in a straight line in front of a stone alter. The carvings behind the alter depicted a masked God holding out a long straight object in front of it. The side wall opened and three large figures stepped out.
The only time I had seen the Gods was in the various artworks that covered the walls of our pyramids. But the images didn't do the real thing any justice. I was blown away by the pure beauty of our Gods. They all wore full armor protection and each carried a set of weapons. The first one that came forward had to be the leader; he had a helmet with a symbol on the forehead. The rest of it was covered in deep gorges. I also noticed several ornaments hanging from the dreadlocks on his head. The other two were slightly young looking; they had no marking on their helmets and their armor looked relatively new.
I stepped back as they got closer as did the rest of the priests; leaving my fiancée alone. I could see him shaking as the Gods approached him. The two younger ones stopped and let the first approach my fiancée. He reached into a holder at his hip and pulled out a small, straight object. I couldn't see what he did next but suddenly, the small staff became a large spear. I inhaled quickly as the God placed the tip of the spear on Xan's chest. I could see Xan take a deep breath too as the God seemed to think for a moment. Then the spear retracted and the God stepped back. I realized that I had been holding my breath and I let it out slowly as the Gods left. Xan turned around to me and smiled; he was obviously excited about the news. I just wished he knew what he signed himself up for.
