Haldir was sitting right over there and talking to the Shaman when she entered the main office of the temple. Anastasia met the Shaman who was very cordial to all of them. Haldir said that more guards would be stationed around the temple.
"But it is not needed," said the Shaman. "The spells around the temple are very powerful and ward off any intruder." He stopped short of saying about the powerful energy he felt from Anastasia.
"We know that," Haldir replied. "But has there been an instance whereby you have had a royal member of the palace as your guest? Anastasia will be staying here for three days and we don't want trouble from the people. You will open the gates of the temple for the general public for a specific hour every day. And who knows what is going to happen in that time? That's why we are going to place more royal guards around the temple."
"As you wish, Haldir," the Shaman said politely, not wanting to argue with the military general of the wizard kingdom.
Ileus intervened, "At the same time, as I have already mentioned, Anastasia shouldn't get hurt physically in the temple premise. If she does, you know it would sit well with me." What he meant was that if his wife was hurt, then he would take it personally.
The Shaman nodded. "I assure you Your Highness, we are going to take special care of the fae princess." He glanced at Anastasia's wings that were tightly tucked behind her with only a small arc projecting over the shoulders where they folded. Then he tilted his head to see the High Priestess who was standing behind them and instructed, "Please take the fae princess to her room and help her dress in the robes of the temple."
"Yes, Your Holy Highness," said the priestess. She smiled sweetly at Anastasia and said, "Shall we?"
Ileus held Anastasia's hand. He picked them up and kissed them. "Be well." His golden eyes were intense as he stared at her.
She bobbed her head nervously and smiled. She was just as anxious as him and her head felt lighter. When she turned to follow Tamara out of the door, she knew that Ileus was standing and watching them.
"Please don't worry, Anastasia," said Tamara. "Your room won't be as luxurious as the one at the palace, but I hope you won't feel uneasy."
Cool gusts of wind rustled her hair. Anastasia was wearing a white sleeveless tunic with brocade on the shoulders and silver pants that billowed at her ankles. The gold tiara over her head and gold armbands were deposited in the locker in the main chamber. The walk through the corridors was once again an ordeal as the women out there watched her going—a fae princess with bright golden hair with white and silver dress and massive wings behind her back. She looked ethereal, but dangerous.
"Faes look naturally deceiving through their beauty," said one of them.
Anastasia exhaled heavily. Only three days and she would go back. Though she wondered whether Adrianna would be able to contain the rumor.
They rounded the corner and came across a long hallway. It ended in a landing. They climbed the stairs and walked through a narrow corridor that had dim torches burning on the walls. There were rooms on either side of the corridor. "This is where the priestesses live… the junior ones. They undergo rigorous training for two years before they can actually help during the ceremonies."
Tamara took her to her room, which was very small. A fire heart burnt opposite the bed, which had a soft mattress on it. Tamara pointed to a small door on the right. "That's your bathroom. Your robes are hanging inside. Once you take a bath and change into them, please come out to the courtyard. I will assign you your duties."
As soon as Tamara left, Anastasia plopped on her bed. She wanted to run out of the temple and her eyes went to the narrow window. "Too small to escape!" she breathed. She pulled herself out of the bed. Half an hour later she was in the courtyard, wearing the same robes as the other women. She noticed that now there were some men too, who were wearing white loose tunics and pants with a silver armlet on their right arms.
"Anastasia, you have to wipe the statues clean," said Tamara, giving her the necessary equipment. Saying that she left her and climbed the stairs of the main temple.
She carried the wet cloth and a broom to the nearest statue. However, she felt the hateful glances of the women out there behind her back. Her skin heated but she focused on her work.
"You shouldn't have been here," said one of the men. "Why did you come from Vilinski after sending you troops to kill our people?"
"Exactly," a woman said. "You are a stain, a disgrace to this holy place, fae princess."
Disappointment sank its claws in her. She felt that she was so foolish to want them to accept her. They loathed her to the extent that despite knowing her, they were so acerbic to her. She turned to see them and her mind numbed when she saw the whole group behind her. It took her entire will to suppress the magic that thrummed in her chest. Lowering her hand to her dagger, she said, "I am here only for three days. And I don't know what rumors you have heard, but I am not—"
"Shut up!" the vokudlak snarled. "Faes are deceitful. We know that you have cast a spell on our prince. He wouldn't have chosen you as his mate, otherwise."
So, they all knew.
The hair on the skin of the neck behind her braid rose as dread tingled her skin. "I haven't deceived anyone," she defended herself.
"Shup up, you whore!" the man snarled again. He had peeled his lips back to show his fangs that were lengthening.
Anastasia froze. She blinked, stunned at the way he spoke.
"We won't let our prince suffer," he said. "You think that by marrying him you would conquer Draoidh too? Don't think that we don't understand what you are looking for, bitch!"
A woman stepped forward. "You may have captured the heart of the prince, but we won't let you capture Draoidh. Because of you Iona was kidnapped. You are the one who is now hiding the little princess!"
"You are mistaken," Anastasia said. "I haven't done anything to Iona." She fisted her robe to the extent that it wrinkled. Her palm became sweaty.
"Really?" said the woman. "You lie! Tell us where the witch princess is."
Suddenly the courtyard that was until now bathed in sunlight became dark as dense gray clouds gathered in the skies. She hoped that the weather wasn't getting affected by her mood. She hoped that it didn't rain. However, thunder boomed in the skies as a bolt of lightning flashed with a loud bang.
"Who knows that you are here as a spy and that you will lead your fae army to kill us and seize Draoidh?" yet another man said.
Anastasia stared at the vokudlaks in front of her. Anger pierced her heart and soul.
