The Night wind blew down from the mountains and across the rolling tundra of the steppes.

They both had been cold before but He had never been allowed to comfort her. Tonighht the realization struck him, that NOW He could! The rush of warmth it sent through his very soul scould be felt where she lay across from him under the boughs of the evergreen they sheltered under.

The customs forbade them to even speak except in formal ceremony. Why should something of such real beauty face away in the withering glare of others suspicions. But the two had. And had always felt as if they were betraying the other every time. They swore to each other they would take the first chance to break away no matter the cost.....wondering if it would truly.....ever come.

The night of Chaos onat the palace,

The new King, whom had always been a friend to the young pair, Dogun.

He had held the throne onlya hort while and so much muttering at court from the other nobles. It had not been he but his ancestors who had dealt so poorly with the land and it's peoples. As of late....the name was more important than the man. And on a particular night the priests of Zoraster had decided to holdfeasting.

The new Chieftain Dogun, well he was a worshipper of Dionysus, a somewhat more foreign deity in these parts but not unheard of. Well be a true disciple of his own, the new king had forgone attending the ceremony to the Fire God. The Friends Lady Hollie and Shazir, who also served a court councilor had decided to retire with Dogun, though Shazir was also a disciple of Zoraster.

As of late Shazir had been more concerned with the political maneuvering of the other powerful families of the tribe who manipulated the priests and the people against Dogun at every turn. They had cause dso much strife that nothing of goodness was coming from the decrees issued.

The priestess was also being leveraged as a blame, which Shazir had confessed to Dogun.The priests were mumbeling how the fields did not yield then the racle of Nyx was to be sacrificed and her blood poured to the soil. A fate he ha already sworn against to her and Chief Dogun.

As the enraged mobs , incensed by the ritual of fire they had partaken of and the Priests claims of misfortune due to the two stranger deities in the Kingdom. As they stormed the Cheiftan's Hall the bandits aiding them stopped to loot the livestock and granary. This was a blessing from Nyx herself who favored young Shazir and his beloved "slave" Her priestess. Had she not shown her touch and given her favored one, Lady Hollie, a child to bear for Shazir? Had she not made this a moonless night for the limiting of their pursuers vision, especially as the torchs born from the ceremonial fire also ruined the watchers and trackers among them.When the wine stocks of the Chieftan for celebrating Dionysic debauchuries was come across in the hall well, that all but eliminated any pursuit as the Chief Dogun, His Minister Shazir, and Prestess Hollie fled South.

The oddest thing was Dogun, being an honorable young man had thrust the crown to Shazir ...saying he had monies enough.....but maybe the young couple did not. That he would deny the mobs any victory he gave the sign of the Chieftan's office...His Bronze torque to Shazir somewhat like abdicating, they almost laughed at the irony.

Those who wished to steal the throne....were in fact being given what they wanted...no more of the young chieftain. The ironic side was that a Zorastarian would have the crown and had got it honestly......but now HE would steal it ! And as they fled he would most likely sell it for what he and his woman would need....as they traveled husband an wife.

"Run, run away" were the first thoughts that came to my mind when I heard about the overthrow. One never knows what a hungry mob is able to do and Dogun, or at least his precursors hadn't been too polular. The news caught me in the late afternoon, a messager had been sent to our sanctuary. As soon as I had finished my prayers, I returned to my diminutive room and took my poor belongings. It wasn't much, I never had more than my blunt knife, a pair of sandals and a strangly shaped stone, which ought to have a meaning, I did not yet understand.
Acoording to some older priest, it had layn next to me when I was found at the front door one morning.
My parents propably had abandoned me due to the malformation of my right arm, which had become a lot better over the last 5 years. It actually didn't affect my physical constitution any more.
I shifted back to reality, no time to lose! Throwing a last view at the place where I spent my last 15 years, I left in the protection of darkness.
Rushing eastwards, I noursihed myself with some fruit and corn I stole from the fields. Luckily acolyte's didn't wear a robe yet, so I merely drew attention. When I stopped in Atalaia, I had traveled for about 2 weeks with little rest and so I wanted to spend a day or two in the town to gather new strength. It happened on the second day, Berun, the priest who had told me about the story of the stone stood on the bazar and his grey eyes sparkled as he recognized me. He was a scraggy old man with thin hair and a grey beard, but nevertheless one could feel vitality in his aura.
It turned out, that he was here to get a special herb which did only grow in the mountains a little more south. Already being on the way back Berun told me, that the political situation had stabilized and that Shazir, a priestess of our belief would now lead the fortunes of our nation.
I somehow didn't think, it seemed like the only right action for me to return to Kilika, just as if the deities themselves had chosen about my destiny. In contrast to walking, the journey on the cart was much more comfortable and we returned in about 5 days.
Back at the sanctuary, I humbly went down to my chamber, being ashamed of my illoyal behaviour, but what I had awaited least was the message of Shazir, that she wanted to have a duel with me the day after tomorrow...

My foot struck out and down raking the shin of the Acolyte before me. His woven white rope band now around his brow soaked with sweat. He yelped in pain and barely danced back as my practice axe went for his head. The Shock and discomfort in his eyes was not yet cleared.

This young man had come seeking a Priestess. Well she was here but she was not the one who had summoned him. Shazir Heart of the Flame a devoted MAN of the followers of Zoroasterian Faith was here to duel. He smiled for the acolyte and stepped back circeling.

That one was taught me by Tigrania. She is much quicker than even I am. But it works for me often too. Good defence "soft hands." One day I will stop calling you that here on dueling field. Not Today!

The man was recently returned and was welcome. Yes he was a good blood. His heart already sought the truths and wisdom of our world. Now, could he find the heart of a warrior in him and his legs for the biremes being built now. The next blow nearly caught me but I stepped aside and as he overbalanced my counter fell on his back. Picking himself from the ground he motioned that he was done. Silently I was glad but he needed to truly know his limits, he hadn't yet met them and it made warriors better to know how far they truly could push their bodies.

Instead of relenting I backed away but then reversed and charged him with a flurry of quick blows, that Zeri had showed me. The man managed to block half of them but then he fell over his arms shaking too bad to catch himself. I knelt down at his head and offered him my waterskin.

Now we are done. Welcome to Cillicia. Soon you will learn the purifications and rituals of our Faith. A faith gained in self knowledge of our own truths. We will also work this again sometime. You cannot neglect martial training young acolyte. The faithful but dead cannot enlighten others or make us greater paragons of the Faith.

Taking my water skin and Helping him up I introduced myself.

I am Archon of Cillicia And the woman over there is my wife, Priestess Nyx, she is Oracle to Nyx and Archon of Cappadocia. She and I honor many but in our forms at home, chiefly Nyx. Aphrodite and Ares are within our household there in Cappadocia as well. I myself practice the faith of your namesake Zoroaster and so will the Cillician population. It sounds impossible but My wife and I know we have their blessings.

At that my little son comes toddeling toward me, his mother walking bent behind him. Ready to catch him should he fall.

That little boy, Aether, our offspring, is proof of that. We will speak of your position in the services of Zoroaster while we dine the Hellene envoy.

she sat in the corner while her husband showed off his skills she sat with her son in her lap softly teasing him his newly found laugh was what made her day she had to leave soon to her own land again to rule them and make sure every thing was safe but she had spent to meany mounths apart from her husband and her son Aether so she will make a reason and that reason was the Hellene envoy that was to visit her husband.

Aether please behave get here now

she chased after him he had learnt to walk and he wanted his father he had seen him fight and allready had the lust of the gods for a good battle he walked to his father and laughes as he hit his fathers head and i laughed picking him up spiining him in a circle and looked to the new comer and she bowed her head to him and with her son in her arms sucking his thumb she leaned to her husband and kisses him gently and allwoed him to carry on with his work