Sireen nodded slowly. "Many. And not many. No fewer than one, if I recall. But as many as wanted to swear themselves in. Much less taxing than long ago."
"How do you mean?" Ruli asked. 
She responded with a wrinkle of her nose at first. "Long ago, it is written that anyone who joined must cauterize their bodies to prevent temptation. But there was a priest some time ago who decided that it was a greater worship just to resist such desires willingly. He was cast out for his thoughts, but they did stop the mutilations."
Mortified, Ruli glanced at Kire again before looking back. "So, there are texts somewhere?"
"Once." Sireen nodded. "Within the temple catacombs, deep beneath Ziad's earth for protection." She shrugged her withered shoulders as if to announce she didn't know what had become of them. "My sister perished in the attack. But there were others. I know not where they'd have gone. The Goddess dwells within the desert, they may not have desired to leave her embrace."
"But Ziad is empty." Ruli pointed out gently. "I have been back there, there is no one else."
Sireen sighed, shaking her head sadly. "No one declares themselves her children here. I do not know."