For the last few years, visiting the shrine had become something of a weekly ritual and this morning was no different. Avery rose before dawn to bathe, eat, and pick out an offering, and then he was out of brothel and on the path to Sanctuary while the sky was brightening in the east and still dark in the west. Outside the brothel he looked little like the kept 'Peach' he was with his long dark hair pulled back into a simple braid and bare of its usual ornaments, and with him clothed in a pair of breeches and a tunic instead of the sleek robes he wore when he was working.
He liked it, though. It was days like this when he felt closest to who he really was. He didn't have to put on any airs, he didn't have to impress anyone. He could be simple, plain, and normal.
Oh yeah, and a lot of the priests had that whole celibacy thing going on. That was a bonus.
A few times in the past he had actually considered asking to be taken in. He could leave his life at the brothel and be some monk living out his days in the serenity of Sanctuary. A life of humility and helpfulness, a life devoted to his spirituality, a life of celibacy. He wouldn't have to worry about his debt, about pleasing patrons, and--most of all--he would have a place to stay, since he didn't know the first thing about fending for himself.
He'd quickly reconsidered. If he didn't pay off his debt, it would follow him into the next life. And if he surrendered himself to Sanctuary, he'd have to give up on some dreams that just weren't worth giving up for anything.
The weekly pilgrimages were enough.
By the time Avery reached Sanctuary, the sky was bright and the air had warmed up pleasantly. Before him sprawled the vast, haphazard gardens that Avery had loved since childhood, and like every week he made a beeline straight for the shrine--or, well, as straight as a beeline could be in Sanctuary, which wasn't very straight. He knew the way by heart, though, and it wasn't long before he found himself standing before the shrine beneath the shade of that old dragon wing and the ivy that grew all over it. As a child those massive dragon remains had sparked his imagination, and they still did--though now there was respect there.
Avery fished around in his pocket and pulled out a small honey cake, wrapped in a cloth, that he'd swiped from the kitchen, then unwrapped it and set it down on a low, flat boulder. It was kind of squished now, but he'd never heard a faerie complain about it. From his other pocket he removed several colorful and shiny beads and placed them next to the cake before kneeling in the grass and bowing his head.
Or, at least, he tried to, but a backwards tug on his braid made him snap his head back up and turn around to glare at the small, colorful faerie hovering behind him.
That particular faerie was no Sanctuary native.
"What?" he snapped and waved a hand at her to shoo her off, but she dodged nimbly out of the way with a little giggle and back-winged gracefully to land on the rock near Avery's offerings. "What do you want now? Must you follow me every--get away from those!"
The faerie lowered the piece of honey cake she'd broken off and brought to her mouth, then gave a little pout and stomped her foot. "Ishtaq's hungry," she said, and then took a large bite from her piece and flitted out of reach when Avery swiped at her again.
"That's not for you, you little beast! Argh...fine...fine, but that's it, no more." Avery took a deep breath and reined in his aggravation. This was supposed to be relaxing and this was a place of non-violence. The offering was for the fae and other spirits, and she was a fae. Fine. Deep breaths. He could deal with his leech when he was off of holy ground. "Just...leave me alone for five minutes, please and--stop picking at that!" he snapped again when Ishtaq zoomed back over for seconds.
"It's for faeries. Ishtaq's a faerie," she answered with a firm nod and stuck out her tongue at him. Avery just sighed.
Whatever...just ignore her.
Wasn't like she could eat the whole thing, right?