SIXTY-FIVE

Preparing to hear from the goddess was a lot of work. It intrigued me at first but after three hours of cleaning and meditation, I soon lost my intrigue. I had to be 'clean' both in my mind and body hence the washing and meditation. I had to empty my mind of everything that disturbed me, which was easier said than done.

Everyone in the room excused me so I sat alone in the room, trying to clear my mind enough to accommodate the divine words of a goddess.

"Aysel." I heard the voice. It was more intimate than my wolf's and at first, I assumed I was conjuring it but it called again. "Aysel, my child." I was so startled that I opened my eyes. "My child, it has been tough, hasn't it?"

"Is it – is it really the goddess?" I could have hallucinated her.

I felt as if she wasn't really there because when I looked around, I saw nobody. Her voice was too calm, too human. It sounded intimate, like the voice of a mother, rather than a divine being. Yet, I felt the presence of something ethereal