Archibald leads Menan inside into a niche of the temple with a small altar and a murial of Abadar behind it. Besides the altar is the box for the offering.
"Please wait here. You can use the time for prayer. The High priest will be with you as soon as possible"
Archibald disappears through a door.
After half an hour a cleric in full ornate with white hair, and white beard joins Menan. "May Abadar be kind to you and free you of your curse."
He puts his hand on the elf speaks the divine words and gestures the complex sign into the air. His hand glows with golden energy that floods Menan.
Menan feels a divine wave and welcomes it. "Thank you, father. It feels like you may have been successful. I suppose time will tell. Are you aware of the plans to rid us of this ghost?"
"Ghosts are not easy to get rid of. And in this case it is not worth the hassle to try. If we fight it, it will just reappear. It hasn't bothered anyone, until you disturbed it."
"So we will watch it and make sure no one walks into the castle accidentally. If it stays put as it should it can haunt that ruin all it wants."
"Thank you again. I look forward to visiting the temple again." Menan heads back to the Whistle.
"What do you think? How much will they take for treating him?" Faerveren inquires.
"How should I know? I guess they won't do it for an IOU. Hopefully he got what he paid for, and not only a big fat 'sorry, you're screwed.'"
"I only had one in dog years."
Menan check on Arawyn and with a smile returns to the table. "Well, you were correct, the pouch is lighter but I feel better already. I think he was successful."
"Congratulations."
"Now if that's all, I suggest we go home." Faerveren tells Persephone.
"Why that?"
"I'm seeing the inside of this tavern often enough, Menan looks like he used his amounts of words for the day, and there might be something interesting waiting at home." Faerveren raises her hands in that 'who knows' gesture that tells well, I do.
"No, no, no, you spill the beans, now!" Persephone insists, poking table top with her index finger several times.
"Make me." Faerveren teases her and jumps up. "See you at home." she tells Persephone and waves "Bye." to the others. In two leaps she is out of the door.
With that head start the race is won. She walks with a quick pace to the house, goes inside and sits down in the kitchen.
"Oh, ahh...I have to do a magic show tomorrow. Need to rest up. I dread it but maybe I can pull it off. Good evening ladies." Menan rounds up Arawyn and they head off to the manor.
Persephone sits there baffled and annoyed. She takes a sip out of her mug. "Ok, then. Have a good time and good luck. See ya."
She shuffles right and left on her chair. Damn that b@+#%.
She gets up and leaves The Pig's Whistle and walks home. That better be no prank. She clenches a fist.
She opens the door of the house and walks straight to the kitchen where she sees Faerveren sitting with her feet on the table.
"So you did groceries shopping. That's your big surprise?"
"Someone has to stow it away."
"But that would be a lame surprise. It's something different. I spy with my little eye something that is... pink?"
Persephone looks around once, and immediately her gaze is caught by the painting on the wall. "It's, it's... you found it!" Tears start running down her cheeks. Her hand runs gently along the silhouette of her mother. She looks at it for a long time, taking in the scene - four year old Persephone sitting on her mother's hip, her mother standing next to her father, who has his arm around her shoulder. And all three with a happy smile on their face.
Finally she turns to Faerveren again and gives her a big hug. "Thank you so much. You have no idea how much that means to me."
"You're welcome." Then Faerveren takes the time to tell Persephone how she got the image and how she failed to get to know the person who had it.
"But at least we now know who does."
"I also went to Father Grimburrow to ask him about ghosts. That talk took a strange turn. He told me that ghosts are bound to a place and running away from them is a good idea. And letting them touch you, their unholy energy would suck out your life."
"But then suggested me to meet the black smith's son with the prospect of marriage! Can you believe that?"
"So, did you check him out?" Persephone inquires.
"What? No! Why would I?"
"I don't know. How many princes have you lined up at home? Can't hurt to check your market value here."
"Let's go to church there tomorrow."
Persephone puts the groceries away and decides to make a quick snack to go with the chit-chat to dawdle the afternoon away.
Another day comes to an end and a peaceful night follows. This time also Menan has a night of uninterrupted sleep.
The next morning the bell calls again. This time not to work, but to church.
Persephone readies herself to visit Father Grimburrow's service in the cemetery chapel. "Faerveren! Get out of bed. You have to get ready."
Menan and Arawyn put on their nice clothes and head to the temple for services.
"I'm not going."
Persephone walks up to the main bed room and checks on the half elf.
"Are you sick?"
"No, I just don't want to go."
"You got a trauma from church, or did you make an ass of yourself again? Or are you afraid to lose your heart? Get out of bed already. I don't want to go alone."
Persephone drags Faerveren to church. The occupied seats in the chapel are few and far between. Everyone could have their own bench.
The same handful of elderly people and one young couple there again. Besides Persephone and Faerveren.
This time no mourners are there. No one died last week from Father Grimburrow's community. But a pair of twins are born, which are welcomed to this world in a prayer.
Then the sermon starts. "Today I'm going to talk about something from the middle of the life. That is very important for the beginning of life. This is starting a family. It is the smallest community that cares for one another. And it is how new souls come into this world."
"Family is too important to leave it to chance if you meet your soulmate. One needs to search. One needs to become active. Look out for opportunities to meet new people, ask your elders about their experience and their advice. There is nothing to win by waiting for later. Life has an end and you're only wasting time if you hide under your parents roof."
"Life doesn't really start, before you start taking responsibility. And the biggest responsibility you'll face is founding a family and making it last." He smiles at Faerveren repeatedly during his sermon.
Finally he closes the service with another prayer and a blessing.
At the temple of Abadar there is a rather large crowd attending the service. Most of the nobles are there, the clergy in full numbers and a lot more people, from new town and some from old town. Lady Eleanor, Lady Adelaide and Lady Margaret are among the nobles on the gallery in séparées. Also Massimo Marinelli is among the visitors in his own séparée.
The service has a strict liturgy. The choir that sings some hymns consists of talented and trained singers. The sermon is on the benefit it has on trade to adhere to the law without being forced to.
After the final blessing the people stand in small groups chatting. As a neutral observer one could come to the conclusion that this is more a social, than a religious gathering.
Faerveren took a seat in the last row near the door. Just in case she needs to flee quickly. During the sermon she gets the feeling Father Grimburrow is preaching specifically to her. Which makes her squirm in her seat.
"A slow walk to the manor where I become the entertainment?"
"That would be nice. And then we can check on my rapier."
Persephone would prefer to sit in the front, but decides to stay with her friend. She enjoys the service very much. Especially because of how uncomfortable Faerveren is. After the service she stays on her seat to enjoy the atmosphere in the chapel a bit longer.
The young couple approaches Father Grimburrow again to thank him for his encouraging sermon.
"Glad to be of service. I'm looking forward to celebrate a marriage."
He shakes a few more hands at the exit until only Persephone and Faerveren are left. He comes over. "Nice to see you again Miss Pembrooke. You brought a friend, I see."
He turns to Faerveren. "I'm Father Grimburrow, and you are?"
"I'm Miss Wheelbarrow." Faerveren replies. Wheelbarrow? You couldn't come up with something better?
"Nice to meet you Miss Wheelbarrow."
To both of them Grimburrow asks "Can I help you with something?"
"I'd like you to tell me about the son of the smith. I'm asking for a friend. If you have time you can tell over lunch. My treat, at my house?" Persephone suggests.
"What a wonderful offer. I accept. Lead the way."
And thus Miss Wheelbarrow was teased with praise of Holger the handsome son of the local blacksmith for a whole afternoon.
At the manor of Lady Eleanor the Variel's are already expected. There is a champagne reception on the terrace, that looks over a beautiful garden that blooms in the rich colors of autumn. White marble gravel embellishes the paths, and hundreds, if not thousands of flowers form colorful patterns. A large fountain with marble sculptures around it is the centerpiece of that. Sculptures of strong men and beautiful women looking at each other over the water.
Lady Eleanor meets Menan as soon as she catches a glimpse of him. "Wonderful. I'm looking forward to this event. I believe this will become a very memorable occasion. Take a glass, I'd like to introduce you to some people."
"Thank you. This terrace, the gardens, the sculptures, this is beautiful. You have better skills in decor than choosing entertainers. I will do my best."
"I hope that is only your humility speaking." Lady Eleanor replies half joking.
She introduces Menan to her husband, as well as her children. The ladies from the tea party are there too with their significant other and two more couples whose names are already forgotten again at the end of the introductions.
After some time for exchanging the newest gossip of town the butler rings a small bell made of lead crystal to call for the banquet. The large room has a long table with fine white table cloth and white china with flowers painted on the rim. There is a plate with silver cutlery for at least four courses at every seat. Large silver candelabras running down the middle, engulfing the whole scene in a warm light in addition to the daylight of a cloudy day shining through the windows.
To every chair there is a servant that pulls it out and pushes it back for the guest to take a seat. This servant also brings the plate for every course with a silver bell shaped cover on it. It is a synchronized ballet of sixteen servants marching in, taking their place to the side, behind the guest. Stepping up, putting the plate down, lifting the cover, stepping back and marching out in a line again. Four more servants take care that the wine glasses are never empty.
The first course is an extravagant variation of a parsnip cream soup with rare spices and exotic fruit.
Menan and Arawyn are placed opposite to each other to maximize contact to new people. They are all very nosy about the whereabouts of the two and fishing for exciting stories of foreign lands and customs.
Having traveled all the way from Kyonin through the River Kingdoms, the Kamelands, Five Kings Mountains and the Verduran Forest, they can both easily tell tales for hours on end.
The second course brought in by the servants ballet again, is roasted quail on a bed of curled lettuce.
The third course is beef roast in gravy served with fried roses carved from potatoes and a side of braised carrots and onions.
Of course everything with a selection of matching wines. You recognize the bottles Marinelli sells.
As dessert a layered cake with a delicious chocolate filling is served.
Finally Eleanor leans over to inquire if Menan is ready to perform.