The Yamani Isles- the Emperor's Palace, the Living Quarters of Kisha, High Priestess of the Wavewalker.
"Jiikira!" It was Kisha, calling wearily from the other room. The High Priestess was exhausted from the ceremonies ending the festival the night before, and she was so sore that she could scarcely move without crutches. "Come in here once you're finished with your morning prayers. There's something I'd like to speak with you about."
"Yes, Kisha, I'll be there in a few minutes. I just need to finish brushing my hair. It's-all-snarled!" The last word came out as a growl as J yanked hard on the comb to no avail. It was like one of the thickly woven tapestries Hali and she had admired at the festival, only much uglier.
"Well, if you hadn't gone swimming in the pond and then put it up without combing it properly-"
"I know!" J sighed. It was her fault, but it would have to wait. With a sigh, she tied it back in a dark blue ribbon that she'd purchased at the festival. It looked pretty enough, but she was painfully aware of the matted texture under the smooth surface. It tugged irritatingly, especially just behind the ears.
J kicked off her slippers as she approached the shrine of Yama, the fire goddess. Now that the Wavewalker festival was over, she had gone back to worshipping her preferred deity. She had always liked Yama, the passionate mother of the Yamani. The shrine was just a prayer mat, a few candles, some incense, and a bronze idol of the benevolent mother goddess.
Kisha had objected to the shrine at first, as was natural. The High Priestess of Oinomi Wavewalker could hardly worship Yama- the Wavewalker would strike her down with one blow. But after much wheedling, Kisha had decided that, so long as J also gave prayers to Wavewalker, it was permissible to worship Yama. After all, Yama would be unhappy with them if they did not worship her as well.
J liked this small, undecorated shrine much better than the extravagant, brightly colored Wavewalker shrine at the other end of the room, but it was necessary. The Wavewalker liked extravagance and brightness.
J lit the four candles and the incense, and then knelt. She put her palms flat on the prayer mat and bowed down, touching her forehead to the ground.
Thank you for guiding me to my new friend. I could not be happier. Please, great goddess, shelter and protect our friendship as you shelter and protect a new flame, feeding it until it can shine alone.
Typically she would say more, asking Yama to protect her and lady Kisha and of course, the great emperor as well, but today she just ended with, Also, please give me the chance to prove myself to Gabriel and show him I'm not an idiot.
She sat up, blew out the candles and pinched out the incense, and on an impulse, stopped and bowed again, pressing her forehead to the ground, almost in a gesture of thanks.
J walked over to the other side of the room, where the colored glass and gemstone idol of Oinomi Wavewalker glittered in the light from the window. She bowed, pressing her forehead to the ground, but could not think of anything much to pray for, except Please protect Lady Kisha. She is the only family I have, as she did every day.
"Coming, Kisha!"
The Bedchambers of the Crown Princess Halina
Hali yawned and sat up, rubbing her face to wake herself up. "Good morning, Lia."
"Good morning, Crown Princess." Lia paused to smile as she filled Hali's washbasin with warm water. "Sleepyhead. Your brother is already awake. He seemed worried about something."
"He's always worried about something. He'll forget it as soon as Master Chiko starts talking about some new book or math assignment."
"If you say so, Crown Princess."
Hali washed her face in the porcelain washbasin and brushed her hair a few strokes before tying it back in a bun and arranging her circlet so that it fit on neatly and wouldn't fall off. She picked a dark blue kimono patterned with white cherry blossoms, and because she felt like doing something new, tied a white silk scarf around her waist.
"Master Chiko will throw a fit when he sees what you're wearing, Crown Princess."
"I suppose he will, but it can't be helped." She grabbed her slippers and was about to run out when Lia spoke.
"Wait, Crown Princess! You can't skip morning prayers again! The gods will be angry with you!"
She skidded to a halt. "I'm nearly late as it is, Lia, I can't stop to pray!"
Lia looked at her with agonized eyes. "Please, Crown Princess! For me?"
Hali groaned and ran back into her room. She took off her crown and her slippers and placed them on the bed before kneeling before the Sakuyo Trickster shrine. She pressed her forehead to the ground and thought quickly, Um, prayers, prayers... Oh! I have one! Help J not to be so timid. It's getting on my nerves. And help Gabriel with whatever he's worried about, will you? And since I'm going to be late, will you make Master Chiko not mad at me? Thanks, got to go!
She grabbed her stuff and ran.
The Bedchambers of the Lord Prince Gabriel
Gabriel wasn't happy. His sister, his twin who he had trusted everything to, had left him alone and gone to go cheer up an opinionated brat. He knelt, forehead pressed to the ground, in front of the Oinomi Wavewalker shrine. She smiled kindly at him from where her statue rested on its plinth, calming like the waves lapping peacefully against the shore.
Offer me guidance, Wavewalker. How can I get that Jiikira girl to stop nagging at me in my head? Why did Hali forget about me and our bond? Why can't I think straight... Oh. That's probably because I'm tired... How can I prove to Hali that I'm more worthy of her friendship than J?
His thoughts drifted, and he didn't notice until the maid, Lia spoke.
"Lord Prince, are you well? You have been sitting like that for nearly an hour, and I was beginning to think maybe you'd drifted off."
"I'm fine," he said with a smile. "Really, Lia."
The Divine Realms
Yama smiled warmly as she looked upon the snow-haired girl in the orb. The prayer was heartfelt and warmed her like embers burning bright in the coals. The best prayers always did.
"Hmph."
Yama smiled sweetly at the other goddess. "Miffed, Oinomi? I know you wanted this one for yourself, but it seems she just wouldn't have you, would she? And she lives with your High Priestess of all people! She's raised by one of your most devout followers yet, but what does she want? A shrine to me. How sweet, don't you think?"
"She prays to me, too." Oinomi was in the form of a gazelle-like woman, dark skinned, with kohl lining her eyes in a seductive manner. Her dress was silken and a beautiful deep blue that accented her sapphire eyes.
"Only because she has to. You know that as well as I." Yama was in the form of a small but beautiful little girl in a scarlet kimono, maybe four or five, but with terrible knowing eyes that glowed like coals.
Sakuyo, in the form of a handsome, if slightly impish, young man, sidled up to Oinomi and smirked. "Well, Sister Yama, you wanted the little girl Hali, too. But she's got the spirit of a trickster, no doubt about it. Just look at the prayer she sent me today."
Yama looked as disdainful as a little girl of five possibly could. "She's just so scatterbrained. I don't know how you can put up with her."
Sakuyo laughed. "None of my worshippers are very devout. That would defeat the purpose of being the Trickster god."
"Shh! Don't say that name where Kyprioth might hear. You know he's jealous when it comes to that title."
Feeling left out, Oinomi put in, "Well, Yama, I got that cute little Gabriel. He'll be so handsome when he grows up. Those eyes. I always did love pretty things. He prayed to me for nearly an hour this morning. It seems he's had his little heart broken over that sister of his. Poor thing."
Sakuyo winked. "Tough luck, having a sister chosen by the Trickster."
"Shut up! Kyprioth-"
"Kyprioth is over in the Copper Isles arguing over some silly little thing with Mithros and the Goddess. He won't bother us. Besides, he owes me after that incident with the-"
"You fool! We're to keep that quiet! Do you want Mithros on our tails, too?"
Sakuyo sulked. "Fine. I was just going anyway. I have some lives to interfere in."
Oinomi nodded. "Me, too."
The little scarlet-clad girl sat gazing into the orb a moment longer before disappearing in a sudden burst of flame.
Gods all bless, Jiikira of Xiala, she thought with a quiet laugh, Gods all bless.
(A/N: This chapter just came to me as I was writing it. It wasn't supposed to be here at all. J is insecure, Hali is late, Gabriel is having abandonment issues, and there's something sneaky going on in the Divine Realms. What next?)