Kothos (prime)/Meridiem
The late morning in the swamp was constricted with thick bands of fog, and the steam was already carrying the full force of the days's heat. Brother Blud ran his fingers across the surface of his glowbark runestaff until a few scarlet-hued plumes of smoke spiraled toward the sky. He was waiting for his morning Service to finish dressing, so he could walk her back to the Landing. Within his mind, the peals of Dreaven's impending offerings sounded out, and he looked forward to joining the crowd at the inn table, as well as the divertment of hunting and exploring afterward. On top of those, he had some other mysteries to pursue, as well. He was in for a lush, full day.
A flash of movement caught his eyes; the temple's door had begun to swing out into the courtyard. He grinned to himself, and stepped quickly over to the archway. He leaned against one of the stone columns, in the path of a blessedly timed beam of sunlight, and smoothed out the illuminated silk of his kimono across his chest. The pose worked, he nearly grinned again as the woman caught her breath upon seeing him. Instead, he stilled his face into a serene expression, letting the warmth of his smile grow as she approached him. Nessa had been coming to see him for a few months, now, and she still blushed rose pink in his presence. He gave her an admiring gaze as she reached out to take his extended hand and kissed her fingers before drawing her beside him on the flagstone path.
Daylight was striving to spear through the mist, and as they walked he watched the dappled sun playing across the silver and steel in her hair, showing her beauty to him in little flickers. They spoke casually during the short hike; Nessa was an acolyte in Lady Winter's temple, and missed little, so the conversation was one of her perceptions. It was gossip, but all of it born from curiosity, rather than ill will, so he enjoyed it, pulling his fingertips across her careworn, lined hands as she spoke. Upon reaching the palisades, he asked permission to give her a parting kiss, and she received it with a heated whisper about what he'd do to her upon her next visit to the swamp. Kothos allowed himself one more moment of satisfaction at her responding flush, her pale blue eyes crossing his hair, his mouth.
“And what about you, Brother?” She turned back from the postern gate long enough to catch his gaze again, halting her parting for her questions. He smiled back, careful to modulate it to simple appreciation. Surely it wasn’t too manipulative to make it seem like it was her idea to begin with. “You never ask for anything for yourself.”
“That’s not true, Nessa. In fact, I’ve been wanting to ask you for something all morning…”
A few minutes later, he turned from the gate and headed north, toward Wayside and the warmth that beckoned from the heavily-crowded common room. It was still so bizarre to him, how cold it became just a few miles away from Her Temple. He crossed his palms on his chest in a brief gesture as he walked, thanking Her for the many gifts he had received and given in turn. Nessa would carry word to Lorminstra’s disciples of the need on Mist Harbor. Kothos had many, many other pilgrims that owed him a great deal of grace and fulfillment. Loremaster Rohese would have ample stores for whatever crisis was brewing, and who knows, perhaps he could find another shade of blush on her sublime face, telling her just how he came to get it all.
Brother Blud smiled. Glory to Ivas; She provides.