The next day, Ophrenet walked up the road from the village, accompanied by the two soldiers.

"Tell me," she said to them. "Do you make this journey often?"

"Many of the children of the gods have come from the window of heaven to join our great goddess in the Veiled City," the more senior of the two men admitted. "We have made this journey before, but not all pass through our village. Many descend directly into Aram."

He then paused and looked at her curiously, and Ophrenet wondered if she was meant to maintain the pretense of being all-knowing. It was a common thread among System Lords, repeated among their human slaves; but when multiple Goa'uld fought each other or even got together in one room, it was a bit hard to maintain. At any rate, there were many religions in which omniscience was not a required quality of godhood.

"We approach Aram now," he said, apparently deciding not to make assumptions.

The road had steadily become wider, now it was paved with white cobbles, and joined by roads that presumably led from other villages. Aram was the largest city on the moon Sidon, at least in terms of population. When the trees broke, she could see it in the distance, lying up against the mountains. Its buildings were white marble, and it was surrounded by a white stone wall, which was a step up from the pointed logs which had fenced the village.

They passed through a tall, box-shaped gate with turrets in the Babylonian style, and a raised iron portcullis.

The inside of the town was nothing if not picturesque. Apartment-houses were stacked up in a castle-like but clean and bright style, with lattice windows and stone buttresses spanning over the streets like narrow bridges. Ribbons hung from these arches, and from windows and overhangs, and chimes were everywhere, with the sound of tinkling coming from all round the city every time the wind blew. It was still warm and summery, despite a slightly higher elevation that made the temperature more tolerable.

Not a bad look for a Goa'uld run city, Kianna admitted.

They live here, Ophrenet replied. We keep up our own residences. As she thought this, a slave with small golden bells hanging from his neck passed them, sweeping trash from the streets.

"This is the way, my lady," said the soldier.

They walked up a broad central way which opened onto a wide plaza. In the center of the plaza was, of course, a large marble pillar. The pillar had many inscriptions written in Goa'uld, which Ophrenet could see at a glance were likely in praise of Ashtoreth. There were also many doves, in etching, relief, and even simple pencil drawings done by citizens. Atop the pillar was again the lifelike statue of the nude woman, bent very slightly in a contrapposto stance.

At the far end of the plaza was the temple. It was also made in the Grecian style, with a row of ornate columns on the porch and a sloped pediment across the top.

"We will leave thee here, my lady, unless thou requir'st aught else?"

"Naught, leave me." Ophrenet turned and began to walk up the steps to the temple.

Past the columns there was a doorway; comparatively small but still oversize. She stepped inside.

Immediately two spears crossed in front of her.

"Declare theyself."

The speech was still antiquated, but the accent not nearly so rustic. Another two soldiers stood inside the door, these ones more fully outfitted than the last. They wore shining bronze plates instead of Jaffa chainmail, and leather kit.

"My name is Ophrenet," she stated, using her full authority and command, as much as she possessed it. Her eyes lit up.

"Pardon, my lady." The soldiers uncrossed their spears, and the one who had spoken before spoke to her again. "We guard this temple at the will of the goddess and her servants. We meant thee no offense."

"Understood." She passed them and took stock of the room. More columns lined up the temple on two sides, towards a large but very empty throne. "Where is Ashtoreth? I wish to speak with her."

"She is not here. This is only one of many temples of Ashtoreth, my lady. The great goddess lives in the veiled city. It lies just over these mountains, hidden in a deep valley there. It is her sacred residence where mortals are forbidden to enter, save by invitation."

"I am no mortal—"

"Madam. The priestess."

Kianna turned and looked. There was a woman marching toward them with long strides, clad in a dark blue chiton of flowing cloth. Her hair was bound above her head in a twisted style with a gold cord, and she had a bronze medallion hanging from her neck. She was followed by a procession of younger women, who were similarly dressed except that they were wearing lighter shades of blue, and veils that covered their faces.

"Even the children of the gods," said the woman, her voice echoing around the space, "who wish to enter the veiled city, must first pass through the purification rites, under the supervision of Hecate, Aram's local deity."

So. A local Goa'uld got herself appointed an entire city. Well, doesn't quite measure up to a planet, but you take what you can get these days, I suppose.

I think these people are human. She seems proud enough, but would have announced herself by intonation if she were a Goa'uld.

I agree. Let us attempt to meet with Hecate.

"I wish to meet with your goddess," said Ophrenet, matching the woman's tone with equal pride.

"Very well," said the priestess. "Follow me. Hecate will judge your purity and intentions. Her wisdom and insight are great. If you are a true god, she will allow you to pass into the veiled city."

"I am a true god."

Hey!

What?

"And therefore I fear not her judgement," Ophrenet finished.

They walked, trailed by the line of young priestesses, behind the throne and into the back courtyard of the temple. There was a garden, and in the center of the garden, a fountain pumping clear water, surrounded by a ring of stones.

"Who is this?" said the voice of a Goa'uld. Hecate withdrew from examining one of the large flowers, her dark-polished fingernails catching Kianna's eye. Her chiton was the barest wisp of clothing, a sheer fabric that was only able to conceal her modesty because of its folds and dark color. On her head was a crown made of the branching antlers of some large beast. It looked very heavy; Kianna wondered how she was able to hold it up.

Now that, thought Ophrenet, is a style.

"My name is Ophrenet. I have come to pledge service to Ashtoreth." She tried to retain her manner, but it was slightly more difficult in the face of another Goa'uld.

"Circe, leave us," Hecate commanded.

The priestess nodded and left the courtyard, trailing her acolytes.

"I do not know any Goa'uld named Ophrenet," said Hecate, her dark eyes narrowing. Her voice was sharp and cutting. She walked around Kianna's body with a measured pace, looking it up and down. "Where do you come from?"

"From Malkshur, my lady."

"Malkshur? It does not surprise me, then, that I have never heard of you. It is a place of low birth and lower reputation."

"Did I come here merely to be insulted?" Ophrenet could not hold her tongue, but it was unlikely that she was expected to.

"No, but to be judged. Queen Ashtoreth's security protocols are very strict. I must perform tests to weed out spies from that thrice-accursed sect, the Tok'ra."

"You will find that I am not one of them," said Ophrenet, not without a trace of amusement.

"Then you will have no objection to a DNA test to disprove your relation to Egeria."

"None whatsoever."

Hecate blinked, almost as though surprised, but not unpleasantly. She nodded.

"I have been previously in the service of Ba'al, but was discovered while on a covert assignment and held prisoner by the Tau'ri. I have recently escaped, only to find the galaxy in its… current state. Despite my new host, you will find my name in Ba'al's records. I hope this identification will be satisfactory."

Hecate turned away. "Perhaps. I shall have the records retrieved. In the meantime, accompany me to my laboratory."

Hecate withdrew the blood sample from the scanner with her fingernails. "Congratulations." She had dropped the intonation in private, so Ophrenet did as well. The woman's voice was still brazen and cutting, though.

The laboratory, hidden deep within the recesses of the temple, was much more similar to the common Goa'uld design. "I am free to go, then?" Kianna sat up slightly from the reclining chair.

"I see that you also have a small scar at the back of the neck," remarked Hecate. "Excellent."

Kianna flinched. Though Netty had entered through the back of the neck, the scar was from the surgery where the symbiote had once been removed.

"Yes, you check out, so to speak. It is not as effective as our old test, but of course, that had its flaws as well."

"Of what do you speak?" she climbed down from the chair.

"We have heard the Tok'ra refuse to use the sarcophagus. Requiring Goa'uld on their way to the Veiled City to use the sarcophagus proved effective at weeding out such spies, however, ultimately had to be discontinued."

"Why?"

"Its immediate aftereffect of heightened aggression was… less than ideal when introducing groups of unfamiliar Goa'uld to each other in close proximity."

"Ah."

"Now it is time for you to choose a lotar."

The twelve priestesses knelt before Ophrenet in a line. Their senior, Circe, stood behind them, walking back and forth appraisingly.

"I assure you," said the woman, "Each of these here has long sought an invitation to the Veiled City. Any of them would be honored to serve the sacred calling."

The girls kept their eyes on the ground. Their veils had been pulled back for Ophrenet to better examine their faces.

How are we supposed to make this decision? Kianna complained. Netty could feel her stress. Do we choose the person who wants to go the most? She doesn't know what she's signing up for. Or the one who wants to go the least – look at her, she's shaking! She's probably a good person, but that would be cruel.

"This one," said Ophrenet decisively, pointing to a girl in the middle who seemed in most ways unremarkable. She was not the prettiest, the youngest, oldest, or tallest of the batch, but she had perhaps been paying the least attention. She seemed suddenly startled to be chosen.

"Marian?" even Circe seemed surprised.

"You question my choice?"

"No, my lady. Marian, rise and follow your goddess."

"Rise and be blessed," said Ophrenet. "Come."

Marian stood uncertainly and followed her back to the courtyard.

Do we even have to have a personal slave? Kianna complained.

Yes. It is Goa'uld custom. To refuse would be to break our cover entirely. Do not worry, it is temporary.

All right. But we won't be cruel to her, even if custom demands it.

Do not worry. A lotar is a trusted servant. Custom does not demand this.

Then we should at least strike up a conversation, right? She might have valuable information.

I agree.

"I see that you have made your choice," said Hecate, upon their re-entry to the courtyard. "I shall put together a party for your journey to the Veiled City. You may leave on the morrow."