Sun Mote Copse o quam sancta

asherah's words softened eshamun somewhat, so that she was able to relax in the presence of her sister. the girl was wholly devoted to the malkaria, and while surely khalba was to thank for that, she recognized the verve of a true acolyte within asherah. but she knew not the role that the children would play, and the canaanite knew she must reveal this.

"i do not feel them, not yet, but i know they grow strong. an herb to ease my sickness would be welcome indeed," eshamun said lightly, keeping radiant the mood as she sought the words to explain to asherah the purpose of her children. "we belong to molech, asherah, all of us. including these babes," the woman went on, pained by the girl's enthusiasm for the new life she carried.

"when they are born, i shall offer them to molech, all of them. they shall set the evil eye away from us and make fertile our land." she felt the tears rising again, and fought against them as she waited for asherah to make the dark realization of the babes' fate.