Indriana: The Making of a Priestess - Chapter 2

An hour later a cloaked Indriana walked into the Temple of Allorn. As she passed through the entryway, she made the sign of the 'A' and bowed shortly. A young woman dressed in white robes seized her by the arm and led her at once into the Temple. Down a staircase, through a door, then another staircase and then through several more turns they went. Indriana lost track of her way, and then, suddenly, she was in a room with a beautiful, and nude, woman.

“Hello, Mother.”

“Your memory is faulty for one so young.”

“My apologies. Hello, Tessa.”

Indriana noticed the Tessa's nipples were pierced, something she had only rarely seen. The High Priestess walked over to her and handed her a glass filled with a red liquid. Indriana took a sniff and identified it as wine. “I probably should have dressed, but most of my time in the Temple is spent out of sight, so why bother with clothes. Please, get comfortable and have a seat. We have much to discuss tonight.” Tessa took another glass of wine and sat in a chair.

Indriana set her glass down, dropped her cloak and sat in another chair, facing the Priestess. Indriana's breasts stood out, also unfettered by clothes. “Hmmm, what made you dress, or rather not dress, like this?”

Indriana shrugged, “This was how I was dressed the first time we met. It seemed appropriate for the second. Do you approve?”

“Hmmm. I am more certain than ever I have chosen well.”

“Chosen for what, exactly? How am I to help Korath?”

“We will get to that soon enough. Now, your wine contains a simple potion. Please drink it all now.”

Indriana did not hesitate. She downed the rest of the wine in rapid swallows. Tessa nodded her approval. “Until about noon tomorrow, if you say the word 'no' at anytime, anything that may be happening to you will stop at once, and you will forget everything from the last three or four days. You will awaken back in your house safe and sound. Do you understand?” Indriana nodded. “Then remember to pause before speaking, for if you say the word, there will be no returning.” Indriana nodded twice, quickly.

“The Church of Allorn requires you to serve as a High Priestess. But before you answer, and before I give you a chance to act on your answer, there a few things you need to know.”

Indriana spied a bottle of wine and rose to get herself a glass. “May I?”

“Only if you refill mine as well.”

Done and done, Indriana sat in her chair, leaning forward and paying close attention to Tessa.

“I became a High Priestess one hundred and seventy two years ago, and yes I know how that sounds. The first great secret is that a High Priestess does not age. You see me now almost exactly as I was then, except for three things.”

“I would think immortality would be a very small price to pay for serving Allorn.”

“The price is not immortality, but a life of service. The townspeople depend on us to provide the elixir and you must do what is necessary to provide it.”

“And that would be?”

“The answer to that would be the second and third great secrets. I have a little more to tell you, but first, are you willing to go forward?” Indriana nodded and Tessa downed another mouthful of wine. “Do you have any questions?”

Indriana smiled, then reached out and gave a brief tug on the small metal loops that pierced Tessa's nipples. “Why did you get these? I've only met two women with piercings. Did it hurt badly?”

Tessa gave an intake of breath at the tugging, but it did not sound like pain. “That was two questions. To answer, I have them because they are, well, functional. And yes, it hurt. But only briefly.”

Indriana nodded, fascinated by what 'functional' meant.

“I sense there was another question you wanted to ask?”

“Why me, Mother?”

“Because you have what Allorn needs. Do you have any other questions just now?”

Indriana shook her head rather than say the word.

Tessa smiled. “Very good, you answered quite well. Now, stand, and I will show you to the sacred chamber where you will meet Allorn.”

Indriana's draw dropped. “Surely you don't mean--”

“That is precisely what I mean. Allorn, in the flesh.” When Indriana did not reply, she continued. “There is much you do not understand right now, Indriana. But do not fear.” They walked out of the room nude, arm in arm. “I almost forgot. There are a couple of other important things I should tell you...”

Continued in Chapter 3