“You will be honored this day, Maiden of the Sun! Rejoice!” I said, as the sun set upon the horizon.

“My Lord, I am not worthy, I am not!” the girl gasped in surprise. “Last night, you said I was most pleasing, and lovely, and fair, My Lord!”

The girl pulled her cloak tight around her. She was slender, with dark hair and eyes like most women of the kingdom. I heard the call of a night bird, from the trees near the Temple of the Sun.

“This day you will dwell in the Hall of the Sun. You will be envied by all the other acolytes!”

The eyes of the girl grew wide in fear. “My Lord! No!” The High Priestess entered the marble surfaced plaza of the temple. She held the leash of one of the temple baboons, a servant of the Baboon Faced Lord.

“Theophanus! The procession is ready. May we enter?”

I nodded. The woman walked over to the gong, and struck it with a leather-bound mallet. From the temple anteroom we heard the chanting of the Maidens of the Sun.

In a moment, the first of the girls appeared in the entrance way. Followed by the other girls, she slowly walked to the columns on the side of the courtyard. They were all skyclad, and each with a graceful form and bearing.

The chant continued.

“Lord of the Sun, hear us! Hear your handmaids!

“Banish the darkness,

“Chase the garish stars from the field of night!

“Come, Lord…”

The Favored One had begun to sob, and to edge backward. The High Priestess moved to her side and grabbed her arm tightly. “Silence!” she told the foolish girl.

“Lord of the Horizon! Grant victory to the King of the Two Lands!” I said in a loud voice.

The War Lord had decided to lead his legions into the interior. He had called on me to seek the favor of the gods. He also desired me to read the future from the holy entrails of sacrifice.

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