Invasions are Tiring

Aliana watched Ferich arrive then retreated to the Secretaries' Hall where she sat with Cosmas, Mirissa, and Ormato. The four of them were quiet together, each lost to the privacy of their own minds as they slumped at their desks, absently fingering old missives. It was a relief almost. The Temple was no longer a temple and no longer any business of theirs. The barbarians would take it over and it would run smoothly or not.

"I have family," Mirissa said. Aliana looked up, surprised. She had assumed that they, like her, had stayed because they had no better option. "I could learn to be a farmer again." She looked at her hands. They were not fine and soft, but they bore only the callouses a pen would make and the small wounds of paper.

Ormato snorted. "My Da was a rat-catcher. I'm too old to learn that business even if I wanted to." He shrugged. "Still, they always need someone to help settle accounts at the docks."

Cosmas wrinkled his nose in distaste. "I think I'd rather be a rat-catcher. Or a farmer," he added like an afterthought.  The three of them turned to Aliana. She blinked, unsure what they wanted her to say. She had no where to go, no plans for herself.

The door to the Hall opened before she could answer them. One of the barbarians strode in. His braids were short and underneath his beard and the dirt, he looked young.

"Who here has understanding of the Tribes?" He spoke in his native language and glared as if he expected cowering.

Aliana was too tired to cower. She glanced at her compatriots. It was a bit of an open question. all of them had some understanding of the Tribes, spoke at least a little of the language. Still, of all who were left if seemed that she was the only one without immediate recourse, so she stood. "I have understanding of the Tribes. What do you need?"

"Come." He strode from the room, clearly expecting her to follow. Aliana waved of the vague noises of concern and strode after him.