Blackfeather Woods blind to this impending fate

It was all new to her, even the word 'fecundity,' although she got a sense from context what it could possibly mean. Interesting that only the men were allowed to worship. She thought of her problems with the Brotherhood, the very naming of the institution she was once to join. It excluded her, indirectly. One of the many reasons why she had left.

Parvati's tales were strange and fascinating, and Maegi listened with a keen ear. None of it sounded like anything she was interested in from a practical standpoint—but she had a head for lore, and she soaked it up.

Do you remember any of the prayers? she asked. I know you weren't allowed, but maybe you heard them, picked them up. . . It felt sacrilegious to even bring it up here, but Maegi was nothing if not unorthodox. She had abandoned Mephala, after all.