"Our Goddess Arla has responded most generously to our prayers," declared Becky, smiling as she gestured at the offerings of fruits, grains, and vegetables displayed on the floor before the altar in front of her.  Her bright robes and long, matching stole mirrored the colors of the crops, tints that swirled together in almost every bright shade, except blue – although even blue was not wholly absent, it being the color of her lustrous hair.

"She bestows her blessings upon us freely, in contrast to the older gods our ancestors worshipped who demanded…"

"Zzzzzzzz… zzzzzzzz… zzzzzzz."

"No one sleeps during one of my services, Zinbar!"  Becky strode down to the front row of pews and energetically shook the muscular barbarian awake, who smiled sheepishly back up at her.  He started to say something, but Becky frowned, silently telling him they could discuss the matter later.  She flounced back up behind the altar and tried to gather her thoughts.

"At least the bishop didn't see that," she reflected gratefully as she gestured Shira, one of the temple children who was serving as her assistant that day, to fetch the large prayer book.  "It's bad enough I get to look forward to another meeting with the old dragon today, and she's going to complain about everything, just like she always does."

She sighed as the young girl, dressed in simpler robes than hers, held the enormous book open in front of Becky to a page marked with a gold bookmark.  Becky raised her arms and, automatically, began to recite the words she knew well:

"Oh, Goddess Arla, generous Mother to us all…"

She stopped suddenly as she looked down at the prayer book.  There was a sheet of parchment placed neatly inside, a love letter from Zinbar, she realized in bewilderment.  Although the barbarian could not read or write, he had used some charcoal to write a series of heart shapes interspersed with x's and o's.

Becky looked at Shira in astonishment, who giggled silently and looked down at the ground.  Becky glared furiously at Zinbar, who looked back at her with adoration in his large eyes.  Becky struggled to regain her composure, randomly scanning the congregation.  In the visitor's section she noticed one young man, elegantly dressed who smiled charmingly at Becky as her gaze fell on him.

"I could go for some of that," she decided, hastily turning away.  "If I weren't already Zinbar's, that is.  And I may not be much longer, not after all these stunts he's pulled today!"

Becky removed the parchment from the book, placed it on the altar, as if it were a part of the ceremony, and somehow managed to recite the prayer and conclude the Harvest Service, before dismissing the congregation.  She met with a few members afterwards, but only briefly, slipping away to her private quarters as quickly as she felt decorum allowed.

___
"I don't understand why you're mad at me, Becky.  I thought girls liked getting love letters from their boyfriends."

"Yes, Zinbar, but there is a time and place for doing that, and springing a surprise on me like that in the middle of a religious ceremony is neither," explained Becky.  She gave a loud sigh of exasperation as she leaned back in her chair in her.  "Can't you understand that?"

"I guess I just don't understand civilization," said Zinbar soberly.

"And what did you mean by falling asleep and embarrassing me like that?"

"I am sorry about that.  The festival last night went on rather long and I enjoyed the autumn ale more than I should have, but I had no idea you city people could brew such a rich, heady…"

"Never mind about the beer, Zinbar."

"Anyhow, you can't stay mad at me, Becky," Zinbar declared confidently, stepping around the desk to give her a hug.

"Yes, I can!" Becky retorted, pushing his enormous frame away with her hand.  "Just go away!"

"All right, I'll leave you alone for a few minutes so you can calm down," Zinbar decided, heading for the door.

"No, you can leave me alone forever.  I don't ever want to see you again," fumed Becky.  "The big, overgrown gorilla," she sniffed after he had left.  "I don't know why I'm so crazy about him.

She took a deep breath to calm herself.  "On the bright side, at least, the bishop didn't show up today.  I'm in absolutely no mood to deal with her right now."

There was a timid knocking on the door as little Shira cautiously entered, checking to see if Becky was still upset with her for her part in the love note escapade.  The young girl stood in the middle of the small room, holding her hands behind her back.  "Priestess Becky, I have a message for you."

"What is it, Shira?" asked Becky, coming around and giving her a hug, just to show that everything was all right.  "I hope you have some good news for me, because I could really use some right now."

"You're to come right away and meet with the bishop."

"Thank you, Shira, for bringing me that message," said Becky.  "You run along and play with the other children now, okay?"

"Okay, Priestess Becky."

Becky quickly arranged her colorful robes, and headed for the door.  "Well, let's get this over with.  Maybe the old harpy will be having one of her good days, and it won't be such an ordeal this time."

___
Becky collected her wandering thoughts as she walked slowly through the nearly empty temple, heading to the room allocated for visiting dignitaries.  "Well, the sooner I get started, the sooner I'll be finished dealing with that horrible harridan," she told herself as she paused before a set of ornate doors.  "Horrible harridan," she repeated, liking the sound of the term and feeling a bit refreshed at calling her superior such a thing, even if only in her mind.  "Horrible harridan."

"Greetings, Your Excellency," said Becky as she entered, and then gave a little gasp of surprise, for the bishop was not present, but the handsome young man she had spotted among the visitors earlier that morning was.  If she weren't already firmly committed with Zinbar, she just might…

"No, my sister, not Her Excellency, just me, her humble servant, Cassio," he replied, standing up immediately and taking one of Becky's hands in greeting.  "A former officer in the Congregation for the Preservation of the Faith, until Bishop Murlata quite rightly decided I needed some lessons in humility, and thus relieved me of those particular responsibilities."

"I thought the Bishop was waiting for me," replied Becky, filling in the gap as Cassio's voice trailed off into an indistinct mumble."

"Perhaps the child I sent with the message misunderstood.  Her Excellency is indisposed, so she asked that I come in her stead for the review."

"I'm very pleased to meet you, Cassio," said Becky, who truly was.  She tried to take in his features without being too obvious about it.  Here was a man who knew how to comport himself in public, she reflected.  Zinbar could learn something from him!

"The pleasure is all mine," Cassio replied suavely, gallantly helping Becky into a chair before seating himself gracefully, rather than collapsing into it in a heap, as Becky observed.  "I was quite impressed with your performance, Becky, especially your handling of that uncouth wanderer.  I trust you charitably provided him with a meal (which was doubtless the only reason he attended today) and then pointed him on his way.  I hope he will not trouble you or this sacred building with his presence ever again!"

"Actually, he's going to be around quite a lot," Becky informed him a bit uneasily.

A frown of concern flitted across his perfect face.  "How is this, my sister?  Even if this brute…"

"Zinbar is not a brute!" interrupted Becky hotly.  "He has a few rough edges, but I'm working on that, and besides, all the temple children just love him; he's like this great big bear who came out of the wilds to play with them, and um…"

"No doubt sullying their innocent minds with his heathen beliefs," shuddered Cassio.  "I insist you send him away."

"I can't do that.  You see, Zinbar is my boyfriend."

Cassio's frown returned, tenfold in intensity.  "I cannot permit you to see this individual any longer.  Send him on his way, as I have said!  I have some Church funds at my disposal.  I suppose I could supply him with a few odd coins to hasten his departure, if that is the difficulty."

"I will not send him on his way, nor do you have the authority to order me to do so.  You are here to determine how I am fulfilling my duties as a priestess, not to concern yourself with my personal life."

"As a servant of Arla, those two are wholly intertwined.  The bishop will agree with me in this matter.  You must send Zinbar away at once, or I will be forced to do something!"

___
"I can talk to the bishop, too," Becky informed him, her face flushed with anger.  "I can tell her how one of her assistants has decided to grant himself some of her authority."  And Becky was prepared to do so, for she was never afraid of a fight.

Cassio was not afraid of a fight either, but he preferred to do so under his own terms and at the time and place of his choosing.  Therefore, he forced himself to relax and worked a charming smile into his boyish features.  "My apologies, sister," he said stiffly, raising his hands in surrender.  "I only ever saw Zinbar this morning, under circumstances that perhaps did not show him in his best light.  And my attention was only drawn to him because of your actions.  It is clear there are subtleties to his character that elude me, but that are obvious to you.  Therefore, I retract my earlier words, and beseech your forgiveness for my behavior, which was prompted only by my sincere concern for your well-being."

"I accept your apology, brother," said Becky in a flat voice.  "Was there anything else you wished to discuss today?"

"I understand this temple is a very ancient building," he replied, rising to his feet, so Becky did likewise.  "It was built in the misty past by our less civilized ancestors, who worshipped less benevolent gods than our merciful Arla.  In fact, I understand some portions of the temple are preserved from this earlier era, for historical purposes."

"Yes, we do not use all the temple; their old offertory room and a few other such areas are in the back.  I don't go there much.  It's all too creepy for me."

"But, you do know of them?  You could guide me through that region?"

"I suppose," sighed Becky.  She had been about to refuse, but then reflected it would be better than remaining in this room, for she hoped it would deflect the conversation away from Zinbar.

As they walked through the nearly deserted temple and entered the older section, Becky recited a monologue, repeating the information she had heard about the various rooms they passed, until they finally reached the very rear of the building.

Cassio pushed on a massive stone door.  It opened slowly and loudly, echoing down the long corridors.  The pair stepped into a spacious room, nearly empty, except for an ominous gray altar.

"This was the offertory room.  Supposedly, the walls were adorned with tapestries depicting grisly scenes of their gruesome rites, but they are all long gone now, thank Arla," stated Becky.  "There are no pews, of course.  The assembly would stand to watch the horrible ceremony of human sacrifice.

"The victim would be placed on the altar, one restraint holding each limb.  At the appropriate point in the ceremony, the priests would wind this."  Becky strode over to a large wheel on the wall.  "Once the priest finished, the victim could watch it unwind.  Once it finished unwinding, he knew it time was over, for a series of spears would shoot down from the ceiling."

"Quite impressive," murmured Cassio.  "And very well designed, from what I hear.  However much we may disapprove of our ancestors' beliefs, we cannot fault their craftsmanship, for I understand the mechanism still works perfectly."

"I've hear that too, although I haven't had occasion to find out," agreed Becky.  "Well, brother, that concludes our tour.  I'm sure you need to hurry back to the bishop to inform her all is well here, so…"

"But I don't understand," interrupted Cassio.  He stood by the altar, deep in thought.  "These manacles seem much too large to restrain anyone.  My hand comes right out again."

"They would be fastened, of course," said Becky impatiently.  She slid a hand into a manacle and used her other hand to fasten it.  "There," she announced, tugging on a short chain and then bending over to open it again.

It was an act she never completed.  With one hand restrained and her back to Cassio, Becky was unable to stop his next move.  She gave a shriek of surprise as he grabbed her body and lifted her onto the altar.  Although she clawed and kicked, she could not stop him from shackling her other arm and leg.  As Becky gave a loud cry for help, Cassio stepped back and observed her helpless position with gleeful triumph!

___
"What do you think you're doing, Cassio?!" demanded Becky, yanking furiously with her arms and legs on the manacles.  "I told you this sacrificial device still functions.  It's much too dangerous for anyone to be here.  Release me at once, and pray to Arla that when I report your behavior to the bishop that she decides to be lenient with your punishmpfff!"

Cassio slipped Becky's stole off her neck, twisted it lengthwise, and inserted the center between her wide-open jaws.  He then ran the ends under her neck as she lifted her head to glare venomously at him and knotted them together.  This did not completely silence Becky, but it prevented her from making loud noises or speaking distinctly.

"And now you are going to attend to my words!" announced Cassio, panting heavily as he stepped back.  A fervent gleam came to his eyes, and Becky realized he would not listen to reason, even if she could speak to him.  "How dare you sully the blessed church by making an alliance with a filthy outlander?" he demanded, proceeding to lecture Becky in length about his attitudes on the matter.

Becky continued struggling with her arms and legs as he spoke, but the manacles were meant to contain a victim for an extended ceremony, and had lost none of their effectiveness in the passing of the years.  She worked her jaws and tongue as well, in a desperate bid to loosen the gag.  Cassio seemed as though he were going to talk forever.  Well, good!  Let him talk!  That would give her the time she needed so at least she would be able to call out for help.

Cassio, however, suddenly paused.  "I can see my words will not dissuade you from the path of folly," he announced, stepping over to the wall.  "But I can think of one way to put an end to this!"  He grasped the wheel and turned, slowly, slowly, pausing a couple seconds, then turning some more.

Becky energetically worked on her gag.  If only he would stop to lecture her some more, she was sure she could loosen the cloth.  It already felt less snug around her face!

Cassio stopped turning the wheel.  "At the end!" he announced.  "Have you made your peace with Arla, sister?"

"MPFFF!" Becky screamed at him.

"I didn't think so," he answered, releasing the wheel, which spun in the opposite direction, accompanied by a grinding noise that indicated the device appeared to be working.  "However, as you descend into the underworld, know that I will pray daily for your eventual redemption, my sister."

Becky called out for help through her gag, one last time, just as the wheel stopped spinning.  There was an ominous moment of silence, and then a new, different, metallic sound!  The sound of the mechanism controlling the spears!

___
Becky twisted helplessly on the altar as the noises continued.  She was thankful she had a brief reprieve, that her information was incorrect and that the spears did not descend immediately once the wheel stopped rotating.  Still, she was certain that she only had seconds left!  Yet, the manacles held her as tightly as ever.  She simply could not escape!

Cassio's grin of triumph turned to a sudden snarl as he raced from the wheel past Becky.  As she turned her head to follow him, her face lit up with hope.  Zinbar was running into the room towards her!  The gigantic barbarian knocked Cassio to one side with an enormous hand, sending him sprawling, unconscious, to a corner.  Zinbar hurried to Becky's side.  He knew she was in danger and did not delay, but snapped the manacles open, one!, two!, three!, four!  The noise from above abruptly stopped.  Becky saw the spears emerge from the ceiling!  Just before they crashed onto the altar, Zinbar swept Beck into his arms, where she remained for a very, very long time.

"I'm sorry, Becky," he mumbled when he finally released her.  "That's what I wanted to say.  I was looking for you to apologize, but then I saw you go down that old hall with that guy over there.  I didn't know what to think!  I walked up and down and finally decided you had been away a long time so I sent the girl, Shira, to take a peek."

"Hi, Priestess Becky," said the small girl, coming into the room and getting a hug from her mentor."

"And what she told me didn't seem to make any sense," continued Zinbar, "so I came in!  Anyhow, I sor…"

"Okay, you can stop apologizing, you big lug," interrupted Becky.  "I more than forgive you.  However, we are going to have to do something about Cassio.  He deserves a really terrible punishment for what he tried to do."

"I believe I can take care of that matter," came a new voice, soft, high-pitched, and reedy, but still filled with authority.  An elderly priestess was standing quietly near the entrance.  She had sparse, gray, hair and wore a robe identical to Becky's.  In one hand she carried an elaborate staff, the only item that marked her rank as bishop.

"Your Excellency, I have something I must tell you about your servant, Cassio," announced Becky.

"Yes, yes, I thought I could trust him with this simple task, but it appears his rehabilitation is not as complete as I hoped.  Well, let me see… my Goddess!  Aren't you a handsome young specimen!" Bishop Murlata exclaimed, eyeing Zinbar in admiration.  "My, if I were only a couple years younger… ah, well.  Hold on tight to this one, Becky."

"I fully intend to," Becky replied.

"Yes, Zinbar's really nice!" exclaimed Shira.

"And now for you," sighed the Bishop, walking over to Cassio, who was trying to sit up.  "Dear me, boy, what a mess you have made of things."  She poked him irritably with her staff.  "Well, don't sit there, stand up, come along, now.  I must fetch you back and see to your punishment."

"No, Your Excellency!" he howled in alarm, looking to Becky for her intercession.

"Please, Your Excellency, show him leniency," she said.  Not because she wanted to, but because, as a priestess, she felt she had to.  "I don't think he's entirely responsible for his actions."

"Oh, he knew what he was doing well enough," said the old woman, leading Cassio away with a grip on his wrist that appeared loose but was still quite as inescapable as the one of the manacles on the altar.  "But you can be assured he will not receive more than is good for him."

"I don't quite understand," mused Zinbar, when he was alone with Becky again, "but it seems everything is going to be all right now."

"Yes, and… oh!  I almost forgot the most important thing!" exclaimed Becky.

"What is it?" asked Zinbar, looking at her in concern.

"After rescuing me like that, you deserve your reward!"  And with that, Becky moved her head towards his.