<HTML> 12/24 - 6pm The temple hall was more crowded than Merai had ever seen it before, and as she looked over the assembled acolytes and townspeople she could scarcely believe that they could all fit in the room. By her rough estimate, about four hundred people filled the long, vaulted chamber, and there was still space for an aisle leading down the center to the altar at the back. The acolytes had decorated the hall with red and green curtains and bunting, and the wall lamps cast the whole room in a soft, warm glow. There were no chairs; people stood or sat on the floor in small groups, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Raven walked among the visiting lay-people, welcoming them to the temple and generally playing a cordial if reserved hostess. Acolytes stood to either side of the large double-doors, which had been opened wide for the occasion, greeting people as they came in. Behind the altar another group of acolytes were playing music on lutes, woodwinds and lyres, filling the hall with soft and peaceful music. Merai walked back through the doors into the corridor that led out of the temple chambers, watching as the acolytes collected cloaks and weapons from the townspeople and placed them in one of the adjoining storerooms. "Exciting, isn't it?" Merai turned to see Celine smiling at her, green eyes dancing. The senior female acolyte at the Keep, she had become one of Merai's best advisors and most trusted friends. "It is for me," Merai admitted, moving out of the doorway to stand by the wall. "But I would've thought you've seen this before. You've served here ... what, twenty years?" The seeming-girl nodded, turning momentarily to greet a pair of women as they entered the hall. "Twenty-two, i'truth," she said. "But I've never seen this many people come for a ceremony before. Usually most of the laity leave it to us to deal with the gods." "Mayhap it has something to do with Father Hough being here," Merai suggested. "It seems like his presence has awakened a sense of faith in Metamor. Perhaps with the Followers having their own service tonight, our people thought it right to be here." The blond-haired girl cocked her head. "'Tis possible," she said. "On the other hand," she laughed, "it may have had more to do with Yajiit's little performance last July." "There is that," Merai admitted with a grin. "Maybe they're expecting another show." Celine made a look of mock despair. "My god, sister! We've become a tourist attraction!" They were still laughing at that when the acolyte gestured towards the entrance at the far end of the corridor. "Look there, Merai -- you have company." Merai looked up, smiling broadly as she saw a group of very familiar faces come in. She saw her father, Dana, and her mother, Sandra, along with little baby Thomas cradled in her arms. Missus Caitlyn, one of Dr. Coe's assistants and a longtime family friend, was close behind them, and bringing up the rear... "Merai!" "Daria!" Merai called back, running to embrace her best friend. The young warrior-woman was dressed in her squire's uniform, which marked her as a knight-in-training with the Knights of the Red Stallion, Lord Thomas's personal chivalric order. The outfit was largely ceremonial, far too impractical for the daily work of a field scout, but it made Daria look noble and mature beyond her years. "Hello, Merai," Dana said, stepping forward to give his daughter a huge bear hug. "You're looking lovely this evening." "Thanks, Da." Merai felt herself blush a little, but it was unlikely anyone saw it -- her short, tawny fur had a tendency to hide such things well. Merai greeted her mother and Caitlyn in turn, and after they'd turned over their winter clothes and weapons they made their way down the corridor to the temple hall. "Where's your da tonight, Dari?" Merai asked, suddenly noticing the big lion-morph's absence. "Guard duty, if you can believe it," Daria said, sounding disgusted. "What?" Merai half-laughed in surprise. "Apparently, a few members of the mages' council have expressed concerns about the storm," Caitlyn explained. "They judge it unnatural, and say something foul may be afoot. Unfortunately Saroth and Electra are both away visiting Magdalain Island, so there is no way to be sure. Master DeMule asked Leon to serve on the first watch -- it seems that the guard on the wall is being doubled." "How strange," Merai mused. "Do they expect an attack?" "A general would be daft to order an assault in this weather," Dana said over his shoulder. "He'd lose twice as many men to the blizzard as to the guards." "Still, it can't hurt to be cautious," Sandra observed. "Nasoj has surprised us before." "Well, he won't surprise us tonight," Daria declared. "Nothing is going to get near a double-guard without being seen." "â€¦ Danger ..." "I'm sorry, what did you say, Daria?" Merai asked. "I said that Nasoj wouldn't be able to get an army that close without us spotting it." "No, I heard that part," the young priestess said. "Didn't you say something about danger?" Daria frowned. "No, not a thing." Merai cast a suspicious glance around her, her catlike face soon wearing a frown of her own. "Mum? Missus Caitlyn? You didn't say anything about danger, did you?" "I didn't," Sandra said. "Mayhap it was someone behind you," Caitlyn suggested. Merai looked behind her. There were, indeed, a fair number of people still crowding in behind them. But she felt certain that the voice had come from close by... She shook her head. "Aye," she said. "Aye, that must be it." They made their way inside, to a place where the people weren't crowded in quite so tightly, and took seats on the floor in a reasonably straight row. Merai sat closest to the aisle, which had been marked out by a long red carpet. "Will the Lightbringer be needing your assistance tonight, Merai?" Caitlyn asked. Merai shook her head. "No, 'tis a simple ceremony, and she prefers to do it herself. My presence is all that is required of me tonight." "â€¦ Danger ..." The cat-woman's ears pricked up, suddenly alert. She _knew_ she had heard the voice that time ... and it was close. _Very_ close. Close, and somehow familiar... "â€¦ Danger is coming. Be ready. Danger is comingâ€¦" Suddenly, it clicked. "Kyia?" Merai whispered. She had only heard the voice once before, during the confrontation with the daedra last October, but she recognized it now. "Merai," the voice came back in acknowledgement. "Danger is coming, Merai. Be ready." "What sort of danger?" the priestess murmured, not wanting the people around her to hear. "Not right now," the nymph answered. "I still have to warn others. Trust Raven, she knows." "Knows what?" Merai asked, feeling frustrated. But the voice did not answer again. End part 7a </XMP> </HTML>