“When William and his sister were growing up, she taught them both to worship the Goddess. His father passed away when William was young, but I can tell his mother was always a strong force in their family based on how he spoke about her. Apparently, his sister was destined for the temple, but she fell in love early with Lyra’s father and married young instead.
“William told me he participated in the rites when he was a young man…” Her voice trails off while her eyes flicker over my face in recognition and mild surprise. “With…you…?” she breathes.
I can only nod in answer, my cheeks unexpectedly burning.
“Now I know why you’re familiar!” she exclaims. “I spent days standing at the bow of the Bartered Soul in prayer with that figurehead. She was a kindred spirit for me when I was lost.”
Her confession makes me swallow the bitter tears that threaten to fall at her words — I know about being lost. I spent what seems like an eternity lost myself, before making my way to the House of Starlight and then pulling myself back into the form I exist in now. Although it is a sad memory, it brings me joy to know I was able to soothe Siobhan during her time on the ship, even if it was merely my likeness doing so.
“I don’t understand what this has to do with other priestesses?” I admit. I am eager to know more about Lennox, but cannot understand what his backstory has to do with others like me.
“Oh, yes, well… I’m sure he told you he was pressed into service on one of Blackwell’s ships when he was away from his village? It was shortly after the fighting started, and he wasn’t able to escape them. They forced him to labor on their ship while other men fighting for the King murdered his family just because of his mother’s past.
“Lyra’s father sent Celeste and Lyra away when he heard the King’s army was on the move. His mother, Marie, had fled earlier to set up a home for them all, but things didn’t work out as planned. Lyra’s father and Lennox’s mother never made it to Artemisia. When he found out, William went wild.
“He killed the Captain of the ship while it was under attack by pirates, then joined them until he could get back home. That’s how he met Erik. When he got to his village, he saw what they did to his mother and the nearby temple, and it drove him mad. Erik told me Lennox was a beast afterward.
“Any man wearing Blackwell’s colors, or preaching the new religion, was cut down. From that point on, he sought out former priestesses to rescue, and spirited them away. After a few years, our number dwindled, so many of us were…”
“I know…” I won’t make her speak the words: burned, beaten, broken.
“He began working with Celeste to find young girls in the Houses that wanted to escape. I’m sure you know they’re targeted for their purity — these men who preach about women being sinful sure seem interested in ruining that which they see as pure,” Siobhan snarls the last words and my stomach churns. I have seen how so-called “Godly men” act in the presence of beautiful girls, and I know why she is bitter.
She continues, “He would buy them, make it seem like he was deranged and evil. That he planned to use them for his twisted pleasure and then discard them. It solidified people’s fear of him, making them believe in his cruelty while allowing him to smuggle the girls to safe places across the sea, or to teach them to sail on his ship dressed as men.
“I think a few may have wanted to go back home, but they knew they had to remain silent about their experience, to protect the others, so Lennox could continue his work. The opportunities for young women are endless if they are offered an escape from bondage, but no one would fear a pirate who was saving women, would they?”
“No, they would see him as weak,” I nod in understanding. “He needs to be a fearful legend, a true monster of the depths.” His ruse had worked well. Almost too well. Had I, myself, not expected him and his crew to use me and discard me the day he purchased me?
“And he is, to those who deserve his wrath. I saw what he is capable of on my voyage here.” She shudders at the memory. “He isn’t someone I would want to trifle with, even though I trust him with my own safety.”
Siobhan’s eyes are haunted. I am certain she witnessed something similar to the attack I was present for, but where she was appalled, I was entranced by Lennox’s brutality. It matches my own.
“I’m glad he found you finally,” she says, glancing at me from the side of her eye.
“What do you mean?”
“He spoke to me of a priestess from the Western coast with coal-black hair, sapphire eyes, and flesh as white as a pearl. It was one of the first things he asked me about when he rescued me and saw what I was. Whether I was from the temple nearby; if I had a sister such as you. He has looked for you since the beginning,” Siobhan confides quietly, cutting her eyes to look at me again. “His heart has been yours since you took it at the rites years ago.”
My heart stutters in my chest and my eyes burn. I look up toward the sun, hoping I can blame the moisture in my eyes on the bright rays.
“I told him he would find you. I saw it when I pulled cards for him. I hope you don’t mind that I did a reading for you as well?” she cautiously adds.
“Excuse me?” I look up from pulling a stray weed from the bed I stand over.
“I did a reading — well, I scried for a sign actually,” she admits. “I’m trained in divination, I’m sure you knew that?”
“I did, but I confess I didn’t learn much about the art beyond the very basics,” I confide.
“I saw such sadness in you when you came to the shop with Lyra. I know you have suffered great loss, but I could feel that you have so much spirit. I just had to pry a bit.” She twists her hands together as though she is embarrassed at having inquired about me from the universe.
“I usually get feelings about people, and since you were asking about work, I wanted to see if I could glean anything from my crystal. I see such great things for you, but so much hardship.
“It isn’t clear pictures or anything, but I saw blood and a crown, a dagger striking out, flowers falling. So much power. I’m not sure if it was your past or a glimpse of your future. But, if you stay here with me I can’t imagine it is your future… unless war is brought here.”
She swallows hard at the admission, and I can understand her nervousness — but a crown, and blood, and flowers? That sounds like my aunt, not me. Plus, I couldn’t possibly bring war here. No one knows who I am.
Except they do.