So this is why she was summoned here.
Bait.
Denemika was to be used as bait here.
Oh, but she was fine with that for she had given all that was expected of her. Denemika had honoured her peoples, smiling now even with a Face of shame. Of course, she should feel more slighted but certain things she realized in these few moments of disappointment and disillusionment, most of which revolved around an epiphany that snuck through her thick skull; this was not Denemika's Nation. But one thing stood paramount amongst others; love it or hate it this was her new home now.
Denemika was Motherless, for this queen did not accept her as an esteemed daughter so why should she serve Rhysln? But Denemika had given in only to spite the Faceless queen-sworn, this... this Swift, Calm and Powerful Posing Male. How disrespectful and arrogant to enter and not even give Face to commanding words. But at any rate, the Huntress' sword was a gift of subordination; Denemika of the Bellady Nation was now a queen-sworn Huntress of the Silverspring Family.
But as a Priestess? No, she would never bring her shame to Ol' Mother Moon and the Voices in the Ground as a Priestess. A Priestess only dances for the worthy Matriarch. And as it stood, the worthy royal in her mind was the younger one. Arrogance and entitlement; it is how a young Matriarch acts. In time, tempered to one that knows how to earn and command respect.
As a Priestess, she could only uphold her beliefs and her rites. And that was her right to protect and appease angered and insulted spirits. And that meant dealing with Jolu for that Whisperer was not like a Sister a Priestess of the Bellady Nation would consider an ally. In fact, Jolu's way of manipulation, trapping spirits was antithesis to what Denemika believed in.
Denemika had found her first true enemy on the outside.
But this was not Denemika's terrain and so she had no right to deal with Jolu the way that was necessary. Here, the Priestess had given full respects to another channeller. Neutral grounds really. But into the woods? Into the places where the spirits called Denemika by name? Oh, but there was the terrain that gave Denemika full right to deal with Jolu.
But as of now... they were on the same side and so she would abide with the other spiritualists command over the ravenous spirit.
<<I take no part, I do not speak, you are not my burden>> she chanted in her native tongue as she stamped down, rattling her fetish items laced to her boots, <<your favour returned, your release, when you we are worthy to speak...>>
Transluscent vine-like spirals and swishes spread away from her boot and dissapated into the ground then Denemika made several motions in the air as the mist over took her. Then she turned and uttered under her breath to the other departing group: “Queen, fight well, die with honour, Denemika sees you on Other Sides one day...”
She stood before Winter and Radiant and patted each one's shoulder simultaneously, “We die for woman unknown... but this is honourable, this is worthy. You live, always ask more, find answers. In fight, no more unanswered questions. No regret. Till end. We sisters in death.”
~~~~~
A whirlwind of actions and reactions took place and out of nowhere, Radiant found herself dressed up in someone elses' cloak and herded together with half the group. Her green eyes bulged in confusion as they made their way to the entrance. She was supposed to pretend to be the princess? And this other exotic looking healer beauty was supposed to be Queen Rhysln? What was going on? Where were they supposed to go? Wait, who exactly were all these people and how could she trust that they would protect her?
All she knew was that Denemika was the only one she could trust; she would have to stay close to her. But the Queen, who was actually quite polite and pretty, was going out the back door. How would they know where to meet up again? It was quite obvious that Radiant had mistaken Nautica for the Queen earlier, but she never got the chance to apologize. All the tattoo headed teen could do was give a look to Nautica-- well it was a rather cold and catty up and down look with a her lips all pursed together as if she'd eaten a lemon... and maybe just a little hiss of disdain when Nautica sassed Radiant with sarcasm.
'Weird? Priss-ess, puh-lease... we're here to protect you sorry arses.' Well... not that she thought that at the time.
But at any rate, she finally got to meet the Queen! THE QUEEN!!! And the teen's eye lashes had fluttered when Rhysln had said her name: Sister Radiant! Ohhhh... swoon! And she could swear that those gorgeous sapphires glinted when she said she was pleased to meet you. Radiant had pleased the Queen... just by meeting her. Well, people always said such things, aye, but oooohhhhhh.... ayyyyyyyyyye... she could swear that Queen Rhysln meant it, she did... for she stood up for Radiant! She would not take such insults from her kid sister given to one that pleased her so...! And such a smile from a radiant queen... it was only a matter of time before the Queen fell for her and soon that smile would touch her own and--
--a firm pat on the shoulder brought her back from her heart-red ribbonny thoughts. The words Denemika sobered her up to the gravity of the situation and she rocked back and forth, from heel to toe nervously.
“Aye, 'Mika...” and suddenly the madness of the situation seeped into her head; people were going to die. People were going to get killed. “but knows ya, I do. And pleased to know ya, Priestess. We're sister no matter what. Aye, I swear.”
As the others gathered round for the oncoming exodus, Radiant began to tremble a bit. She swallowed a few times to moisten her dry throat then she sought comfort in the words 'Mika spoke and took it to heart. But little did they do to calm her for the Priestess was right. The Queen was someone they did not know, in fact, they had absolutely no idea who each other were and that was rather frightening.
The teen shook her head vehemently against the thought. But it was true. Back in the carnivale, her troupe had to trust each other with every single move and routine; people could get hurt or worse. And out here worse was the more likely result. And they were all strangers. Take for instance this dark haired woman beside her, how did she know that she would not push Radiant into a blade to save herself--
“Naaaahhh, forget it...!” she said and turned to Winter and smiled brightly yet shyly, “What is your name?”
It was not much but it was something at least. A beginning. The trembling of her lithe body and clamminess of her palms receded. A beginning so brief aye and perhaps superficial, but it had been so long since she performed with others.
“Call me Rai, if it pleases ya...” she said with a true smile now, “but my name is Sister Radiant and I am pleased to die with ya...”
~~~~~
Long powerful, yet eerily soft strides took her to the front of the group, the sounds of her trinkets and baubles clicking and clacking together, seeminlgly jangled to the beat of a drums unheard. From her pack, she pulled her battle mask and stared at it with forlorn amber eyes tracing its familiar curves, battle marks and weathered fur and trinkets lining the edges.
<<My son, my sister, my love-partner, my mother, my grandmother, a worthy sire... you will see my Face one day again...>> she muttered as she touch a tiger's tooth lining her mask with each person she mentioned. A single deep breath she took and donned the proud item. She was no longer just a woman of the hunt and of the ground. She was the Ground. She was the Hunt.
A spear she pulled from its tether, brandished and readied it, sharp, full and deadly just like the being that wielded it.
Just before the spiritual mists swallowed them whole, she nodded in turn to each Rand, Ilsibin Alniyat and finally Jolu and intensity reverberated in her voice as she spoke to them in her native tongue, <<Ready to kill with you, kill for you, die with you. I am so honoured and worthy. No more unanswered questions. No regrets. To the Others Sides! To death!>>
Denemika let out a guttural war cry to her ancestors and kicked open the doors to battle.