The dead of night gave way to false dawn. Outside the tent, Lady Al-Uzza could hear people stirring. Althos regarded her solemnly. Iona awoke to begin fixing food for the three of them. Al-Uzza was too troubled by her dream from the night before and Althos's interpretation to have an appetite. It didn't help that it was traveler's bread, jerky, and tea. As the large woman eyed the small trencher with her breakfast on it, she frowned and her gaze went distant. "My Lady," said Iona, "You must eat to keep your strength as we travel." Al-Uzza waved a dismissive hand at the comment and began to pace around the tent.
The younger woman looked over at Althos. He shrugged and began eating. "If they have laid a siege upon the city, how are we to break it? We haven't an army," the priestess said. The warrior monk looked up from his trencher. "If a storm came that drove them away, it would help," she mused.
"Julara's daughters have the ability to summon storms," Althos said, "The severity of the storm depends upon their wrath at the target." Al-Uzza looked over at Iona, who nodded in agreement. "I do not know the ritual. It is a secret kept by your order, my Lady. Perhaps the librarian would have passing knowledge of such a ritual and that it why they were sent north."
Al-Uzza sat on the edge of her cot and meditatively nibbled on her traveler's bread. It was dry and tasteless. Fit for little more than keeping body bound together with soul, the priestess disliked it immensely. But, eating was a mechanical action at the time and she barely noticed it as she mentally walked through the stacks of the library. With her prolific gift for memorization, Al-Uzza had memorized most of the books of the library. As head librarian, she had a great deal of idle time that she spent reading texts. In her memory, she could see a picture of the Accounting of the Daughters of Julara.
Al-Uzza closed her eyes to concentrate more fully. In her mind's eye, she took the book from the shelf and began turning pages. Soon, she came to one titled 'Summoning Mother's Wrath.' She 'read' the page before opening her eyes. The world outside of the tent was bright with the colors of dawn. Dimly, they penetrated the canvas of the tent. Althos watched Al-Uzza's expression move from eerie stillness to something grim that he had never seen before. "Get me to where I can see Acidavia and the army surrounding it. I know what must be done," Al-Uzza said, setting aside her trencher.
"My Lady, you must eat," Iona said. Al-Uzza shook her head.
"No, my discomfort will feed the storm. Take my portion, Silent Sister, you will need it when they turn to face us," Al-Uzza said, "We should be upon them soon if the gods allow it. If not, I fast until we reach them." There was a tapping at the pavillion's door flap. Althos stood and looked out. One of his men muttered something about it was time to take down the tent and make preparations to move onward. Althos turned to say something to Al-Uzza who was already wrapping her leg warming wraps as Iona had done the day before and preparing to shove her heavily stockinged feet into her furred boots.
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