"Hmmh." With a groan of contentment, Jasper slouched deeper in the hot, bubbling water, his eyes shut tight as pure ecstasy took over.

He'd done his best to distract Ihra from heading to the pools. First, they'd investigated the bamboo forests and the ridiculously friendly foxes and deer that populated them. They'd played with the kits and fawns for a while and checked out a few of the shrines scattered throughout the forest before heading back to the small market and feasting on some of the finest shish-kebabs he'd ever tasted. But there was so long he could delay her interest in the pools, and as Nīla and S̆ams̆ādur's absence lengthened, he'd found himself dragged there.

Undressing for the spring was awkward as hell, and it wasn't helped when Tsia, Erin, and Nissilât decided to join them - the scout as clearly uncomfortable as he was, but unwilling to admit it in front of Tsia. But as he slipped beneath the warm, slightly salty waters, all other concerns faded away.

This was no simple pool; a positively overwhelming amount of essence infused the azure springs, a revitalizing, rejuvenating mixture that wiped every ache and pain away and replaced them with a feeling bordering on outright ecstasy. "Holy crap," he murmured, sinking lower until his mouth was just barely above the surface. "Nobody said this place was heaven."

"Hmmmh," was the only response he received from the others, as the group basked in the endless warmth and energy of S̆ams̆a's light.

And then the visions started. Memories of home, of family, of Jenny played before his eyes, so vivid, so solid, he could barely tell they weren't real. He lost all track of time as his mind wandered through the past, recalling memories he'd forgotten about altogether with pristine precision.

"I wouldn't advise lingering long in these pools, Hand," a voice broke through his reverie. "Not for one with your memories."

The priest's words brought him back to himself, and realizing his face was wet and not from the waters of the pool, Jasper quickly ducked his head beneath the water to wash the evidence away. Resurfacing, he kept a straight face as he stared up at the priest looming over him. "Where are my friends?" he asked, ignoring the priest's words.

"They'll be along shortly," the fat man rumbled, "but it's time for you to get out of the pool." He extended a meaty hand toward Jasper, which he accepted with great reluctance. Skinny-dipping with his friends was already uncomfortable enough; holding hands with another man while nude was a step too far. The man tossed one of the linen skirts at him, and he quickly pulled it on, grateful for any sort of coverage as the priest smirked. "A bit skittish for your kind, aren't you? But then, you're not really one of them. Things must have been different where you came from."

"Lord S̆ams̆a tell you that?" Jasper asked, irked by how much the man seemed to know about him. That god is a bloody blabbermouth.

"Didn't need him to," the priest replied. "The feeling of something other practically oozes from the two of you," he jerked his head toward Erin, "though from him more than you. He's a summoned, I'd guess, but you…I can't quite tell. There's more of this world in you than him, but something unfamiliar mixed in. If you weren't so obviously embarrassed by our customs, I'd think you were a child of a summoned rather than one themselves."

"Pardon me for not having been raised by nudists," Jasper replied irritably, fussing with the all-too flimsy skirt to make sure it covered everything. "Some of us prefer to save our birthday suits for private venues."

The man raised a brow, clearly not understanding the idiom, before shrugging. "You have nothing to be ashamed of, young man, but I suppose confidence is one of those things that comes with age. But I did not come here to discuss your customs. Come, we must speak before the others return."

Jasper hesitated, casting a glance back at his friends, whose eyes were still closed in reverie, apparently completely unaware of the conversation they'd been having. "What about them? You said I shouldn't stay in the springs."

"The springs are a blessing from Lord S̆ams̆a, a way to relive the memories of those you have loved and lost, but they can be dangerous for those who have not yet learned to let go of the pain." He fixed Jasper with a knowing look. "None of your group should linger long in their waters, but a few more minutes will not do any harm." He gestured for Jasper to follow and led him toward the relative quiet of the bamboo forests.

A small horde of foxes rushed out to meet the priests, crowding him around in a frenzy of fluff as they fought to rub their faces against his legs, and he bent down with a smile, scratching their ears before he waved them off. "Not now, little ones, but I shall return…" he promised. They let them reluctantly, ears down and whining, as he led them to a small alcove with a shrine beside a still pool. The priest sat down beside the waters, crossing his legs and bidding Jasper to do the same.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Jasper let the curiosity get to him. "I've got to be honest, you gave me the impression earlier that Lord S̆ams̆a doesn't like me very much, so I'm a little surprised you want to talk now."

The priest chuckled. "It's not you the Warrior dislikes, but your patron. I'm sure you can understand why there is little love lost between the Lord of the Sun and the Lady of Last Light."

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"I think the feeling's mutual," he responded drily.

"Undoubtedly so," the man agreed. "But, as it stands, you share a common goal. For too long, the Abnâs̆û have desecrated my lord's land."

"The who?" Jasper blurted out.

"The stoneflesh, as you would call them," the man explained. "Lord S̆ams̆a desires his temple in the capital to be reclaimed and yet," his face darkened with anger, "his children seem poised to prevent that goal, despite his many warnings to them."

"You mean the durgū?" Jasper asked, vaguely recalling that the sun god was supposedly their creator.

"Aye," the priest agreed. "Though the Warrior does not wish to take sides between his children, the durgū's plans displease him greatly, and he also fears that his consort's creations - elves," he answered before Jasper could ask, "will cause an untimely division."

"He did not share his intentions with me, but I believe he has given a blessing to Lady Selenīlat, something that should keep her alive. And for you…" Despite not having pockets, the priest somehow produced a golden medallion out of thin air and handed it to Jasper.

Taking it, he turned it over in his hands, marvelling at the obscene expense. Judging from how ridiculously heavy it was, the ornamental sun was likely solid gold and studded with dozens of crystal clear rubies, a deep, rich red.

"While the elves honor their Mother above all," the priest continued, "There are many among them who honor her consort as well. This emblem is only given out to those who speak with the Warrior's authority. Do not abuse it," he said warningly. "All is revealed beneath the light of the Sun's rays, and he shall know if you misuse it, but his lordship believes the time may come when you have use of it."

"Okay, but why me?" Jasper rolled the emblem over in his hand slowly. "Shouldn't you give it to Nīla?"

"She has her own way of showing his favor, but…" the priest's eyes glazed over, and a different voice spoke through him. "You know the saying, Jasper: don't put all your eggs in one basket."

He went still, realizing the god himself was present. "Of course, my lord - I will only use it if I must."

Jasper twitched nervously as the god didn't bother to respond, but judging from the corpulent priest's still whited-out eyes, he remained present. "Is there something else you wanted, Lord S̆ams̆a?"

The only response he received was the priest slumping as the presence abruptly vanished. Alright, be a cryptic ass.

"Ugh, that gets harder every year," the man grumbled, straightening up with a grimace of pain. "The human form is not meant to contain the divine - make sure you wring a high price out of her, if your lady ever asks the same."

He frowned at the insinuation, not liking the idea that Kas̆dael would try to possess him. "She's never asked anything like that of me."

"Not yet, perhaps," the priest replied, stretching his arms back and forth as he shook the tension out of his limbs, "but you're her Hand, are you not? And what is the Hand if not part of the body?"

Yeah, but she's not a dick like your god, he thought silently, but a kernel of doubt wormed its way into his mind. After all, he'd seen Selene possess her priest back at the fort, and she seemed pretty nice, so maybe he was wrong. He trusted Kas̆dael - mostly - but the idea of letting her control his body, even briefly, was still a bit icky. I guess we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

Lost in his thoughts, he followed the priest back to the pools in silence, but perked up as he saw Nīla and S̆ams̆ādur waiting for them.

The ambassador had never looked more lovely, her skin practically glowing with a radiance that was not her own and practically bouncing with pent-up energy as she waved at him.

S̆ams̆ādur, on the other hand, looked like he'd spent the last week on his deathbed. His face was pale and clammy, his forehead beaded with sweat, and there was a nervous stutter in his step as he quickly moved away from the priest, not looking the man in the eye. What the hell did S̆ams̆a say to him?

"I take it your audience with his lordship went well," he said, smiling.

For a brief moment, her energy faltered, and she looked down. "Well…not at first," she admitted. "Lord S̆ams̆a found me lacking, but he still offered me something to help our mission," she perked up at the end.

"And, obviously, you and his lordship were instant friends," he turned his question toward S̆ams̆ādur, with a slight grin.

"I don't want to talk about it," the durgu muttered. "But the sooner we're away from this place, the better."

"Perhaps," the priest interjected, "but I'd not recommend leaving now. Night will soon fall, and the temperatures will plummet well beyond what the more fragile members of your party can handle. I'll have rooms prepared for you tonight."

"Thanks," Jasper replied, surprised by the man's sudden burst of generosity, but the fat man waved him off.

"It is no bother - I'll leave you to enjoy yourselves, but if you'll heed one last suggestion," his eyes fixed on Jasper, "don't enter the springs again."

As the man departed, Jasper turned back to S̆ams̆ādur. "Seriously, what happened, dude? You look terrible."

The man shuddered. "It seems Lord S̆ams̆a is not a fan of my father's plans, but I don't know what he wants me to do about it," he shrugged helplessly. "The man's already trying to kill me - does he really think I can talk him out of it?"

But you wouldn't have to talk him out of it, would you? Not if you embraced your mind magic. Guessing at what S̆ams̆a might have asked of the man, he patted him sympathetically. "Come on, let's get you an ale and some of the best damn shishkebabs you've ever had. I'll even throw in an emotional-support fox," he added with a chuckle.

"I'm not a bloody child," the durgu scowled. But he didn't resist as Jasper dragged him off to the market, Nīla in tow, and when a particularly bold kit leapt onto his lap and shamelessly stole a skewer, his pallor was replaced with the healthy flush of amused outrage. "You bloody scamp!"

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