Shadewood quam beningna

@Malice

with each passing day, it seemed that eshamun grew in size with her pregnancy. the nausea lessened, and her appetite grew, with her small band bringing her all manner of morsels on which to feast. the rich food would strengthen the children, of which eshamun attempted not to think of as her own, but belonging to molech, for they were destined to be embraced by the great one.

the divine god was upon her thoughts as she went out at twilight to pray, leaving behind the priestess, the acolyte, and their consort. arunik'ra would soon come to flower, the woman knew, and ar-khalba would turn his attentions from asherah to the res-drunak, as it was meant to be.

beneath the cover of night she moved, until she reached a great wood that spread out behind an aisle, and she crossed the shallows to be swallowed by the darkness therein, her whispers to molech all but muted by the moonless black of the thick trees.