Heart Fire (Celta Book 13) Read Free Page A

parts to one divine being.”
    “Yes, it is a religion based on good to others, also. A religion that is a derivation of a major religion of old Earth but developed in the starships during the long voyage here.”
    Lady D’Sandalwood finally smiled with great approval, the smile everyone near her wanted to see. Tiana relaxed.
    “We teach of the other religions in our programs, and most people, including our priests and priestesses, understand, intellectually, what they are. But you, Tiana, have an open heart in this matter, and truly understand and accept those who worship in other ways than our own.”
    This was no idle conversation; the woman was leading somewhere.
    “Let us proceed to my office,” D’Sandalwood said.
    Office for official business. Tiana’s back, her whole gait, stiffened, but the High Priestess didn’t seem to notice as she picked up her pace and Tiana matched her. And hoped that the birdcalls overrode the gurgle of her stomach. She’d been too nervous for breakfast.
    They entered GreatCircle Temple through the huge eastern doors of rock quartz carved with designs of wind and air. These doors were the closest to the city and the ones most people used.
    There was a short hallway the depth of the priests’ and priestesses’ offices with walls covered in a mosaic of crystals that caught the light from the armorglass ceiling and reflected prisms in the small space. Tall, pale pine doors led to the corridor that curved through the round building.
    The High Priestess turned left, toward the southern curve of the circle. Just beyond the due-south door, they entered the High Priestess’s suite and passed through the sitting room and into the office, an inner room with no windows.
    Tiana sat with the High Priestess in the gloom for only an instant before the woman waved a hand and the roof glass thinned to nothing, letting in the scents of turned earth ready for flowers. A slight breeze ruffled the stray papyrus on D’Sandalwood’s desk, nearly lifted the covers of the thick deep turquoise of Tiana’s personnel file and a new, thinner folder of heavy cream-colored papyrus edged with gold. Did that cream and gold indicate her next position? Tiana’s eyes sharpened. What did those colors mean?
    The moving air swept around her head, lifting her hair and cooling the perspiration on her neck. It felt good. The sun slanted in, touched a wall lined with plaques of their faith—a pentacle within a leafy circle, the green man, the antlered Herne, the face of the Lady. Those soothed Tiana. She was still in the Temple, the place she loved, a building imbued with positive energy.
    She sat in the deeply cushioned seat with just the right amount of springs to keep a person comfortable and watched GrandLady D’Sandalwood sink into her comfortchair, one that conformed to her body.
    “FirstLevel Priestess Tiana Mugwort.” The woman’s voice plucked chords of obedience and deference in Tiana, no mistake, that. “You have stated that you will abide by my and High Priest Lord T’Sandalwood’s decision with regard to your next assignment.”
    Tiana bowed her head. “I will.”
    She had no choice if she wanted to continue in her career, and she knew now that what they asked of her would be tough.

Two

     
    T he duty we assign to you must be fulfilled in an acceptable manner for you to continue to rise in the ranks of the priestesses of Celta. Of course you can choose to stay at your current level and you will be assigned a permanent temple of your own.” The intensity of the High Priestess’s gaze had Tiana looking up and matching it.
    D’Sandalwood smiled. “We would be pleased to grant you the CircleTemple and Sacred Grove in Landing Park.”
    One of the premier small temples in Druida City, the temple nearest to the great starship
Nuada’s Sword
, a gem of a temple, a plum of a job. Tiana’s until she retired. But it wasn’t GreatCircle Temple. It wasn’t here.
    She swallowed with a dry throat.
    “If