The clerics at the temple of Eos tried to keep it within their circle but the news began to spread like wildfire. Rowan had entered Syryn's name as a candidate in the choosing ceremony. It was the most absurd piece of news they'd heard in years.
"Have they gone mad?!" A concerned nobleman said to his wife around the dinner table.
"The goddess Eos will be most displeased," their daughter of marriageable age declared as she took a sip of hot lemon water. Her friend had told her it would clear up the acne on her face. Her younger brother was equally endowed with the dreaded skin blemishes and he also began to drink hot lemon water with his sister.
"A curse will fall upon Elysium if they don't stop this nonsense," the noblewoman said to her family with a sour frown on her face. "Rowan has certainly gone mad. Such a handsome young man with a lovely personality. It's such a shame that he isn't thinking about passing on the Windwalker name with a wife of equal status and power."
In another part of the neighbourhood, a few girls were delighted by Rowan's decision. They were the jealous few who were happy that Lillith wasn't getting the man she wanted.
"Oh to be Lillith," one of them sarcastically said to the others and it caused giggles to erupt in the room.
"Oh to be Syryn."
A dreamy sigh. "I've seen them together. They look good."
"Can you imagine the scene of them, ahem, naked!"
The others made shocked gasps but they were all thinking the same thing. They wanted to see the exchange of affection between Rowan and Syryn.
Aside from the disgruntled folks and the ones who welcomed the interesting twist in the story of Rowan, there were a select few who absolutely loathed the idea of a union between the champion and a male priest. It was a breach of tradition, a change that was not welcome. The worshippers of Eos were vehemently against it as were the supporters of Lillith. A cult-like following had developed around the couple but now Rowan had smashed all their hopes and dreams. There was no more Rowan and Lillith Windwalker if Syryn was allowed to have his way.
And thus began their sinister plans to harm the mage. A possibility feared by Rowan was coming to life.
____
When Rowan had left for the temple with Red, a spy had been lingering, watching for just this to happen. He quickly sent a bird to the Sanguine HQ and they acted in haste before the anti mage arrived home.
Syryn had been helping cook dinner when the anti mages arrived. A confrontation broke out between them and occupants of the manor but under duress of law, Syryn was compelled to go to the HQ with them. He sat there, imprisoned in a room, and a little anxious about his situation. They'd told him that he was being investigated for allegations of spying on Sigil. The anti mages told him they even had eyewitness testimony of his crimes. The mage rolled his eyes at the blatant fabrication of lies against him.
"Whatever. Call Rowan and tell him I'm here," he had replied.
"Rowan can't save you, Syryn Nigh'hart. Such a grave crime cannot be overlooked."
Syryn laughed to himself because it hadn't been so long ago that this had happened to him. How many times in a month was he going to be imprisoned with false allegations made against him? If Rowan really couldn't save him then he would just have to exercise his rights and kill all the anti mages like he had killed the idiots in Silisia. Having come to that decision, he was mostly at peace with his detention.
It was to this situation that Rowan and Red returned home to after their trip to the temple. The blond was furious the moment he was told that the Sanguines had taken away his fiance. He had been expecting them to make a move but this was playing too dirty.
"What do we do?" Red asked the blond who looked to be on the warpath.
"They probably expect me to negotiate with them," Rowan replied as he started coming up with a counter plan. This was a civilised society and he couldn't just start killing people and destroying the HQ. He had to play by their rules and beat them at it. He knew just what he was going to do. Nothing.
____
It was morning. The citizens of Elysium who had been waiting for the latest in the curious case of Rowan and Syryn weren't disappointed by the new development that had taken overnight.
"Imprisoned by the Sanguine?! Good! Good!"
"He had it coming to him."
"Regardless, he would never be chosen as the champion's partner. They should just have left him alone and watched him embarrass himself at the choosing ceremony."
This was Lillith's belief as well. She didn't think that Eos would ever choose Syryn of all people. The world would end before that happened.
"Lillith darling, don't worry. That seductress of a man would never become Rowan's partner. Eos only picks the pure and holy ones. You know that right?" Guinevere told the young woman who had been absolutely morose since the day that Rowan had coldly repeatedly her.
"Why can't he see that then, Guin?" Lillith sadly asked. "It seems that everyone but Rowan understands that."
"That's because men think with their lower parts," Guinevere counselled. "They're already living together so Syryn is giving it to him. Just you wait. Rowan will get sick of that seductress after he's had his fill. Then he'll realise that it was just a phase. That's when you have to be tough, Lili! Let Rowan know that he has to grovel and please you if he wants you."
Lillith listened to the honeyed words that normally cheered her up. But this time, she was uncertain.. Rowan seemed so in love with Syryn. Why else would he take such a controversial step?
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