Jessa sat in the vestuable of the throne room. Her long brown hair pulled and her green eyes sparlked with unshed tears. She wore a loose dress that exposed her back. Not what the king would have chosen for her but it was the traditional garb for one such as she. An older woman entered momentarily.
"It is nearly time Jessa - you are truely blessed." the woman glanced at the girl who sat trembling. "Why on earth are you scared? You will soon serve your king and be with the gods."
As the woman left Jessa shook her head. 'Blessed? I am doomed to die so the king can keep his powers.'
She was not a small girl - at 18 she was short but plump. The god Agun would not accept a poor skinny girl. Every twenty years a girl was given as sacrifice to Agun. She had been breed and raised knowing of her great 'honor'. She knew her duty and would follow it through for the good of her king - as was expected of her.
A pounding on the door announced the arrival of the guard charced with delivering her to the Great Temple in Hamphis.
"It is nearly time Jessa - you are truely blessed." the woman glanced at the girl who sat trembling. "Why on earth are you scared? You will soon serve your king and be with the gods."
As the woman left Jessa shook her head. 'Blessed? I am doomed to die so the king can keep his powers.'
She was not a small girl - at 18 she was short but plump. The god Agun would not accept a poor skinny girl. Every twenty years a girl was given as sacrifice to Agun. She had been breed and raised knowing of her great 'honor'. She knew her duty and would follow it through for the good of her king - as was expected of her.
A pounding on the door announced the arrival of the guard charced with delivering her to the Great Temple in Hamphis.