Season 01 - Episode 27

‘her temple defiled’

Pho's cell is tiny and reeks of urine. Her immaculate robes soak up the filth and are instantly ruined by it. The indignity of her accommodation is just one more assault by her enemies. They presume to shame her and so break her spirit. Fools.

Her only mistake had been to trust one of them. It wasn't one she would repeat. On the cold hard floor amid the acrid stench, Pho attempts to meditate. She tries to still her mind but the hateful words of those arrogant men intrude again and again.

The foolish boy had lost his nerve. He had told them everything, or at least everything that she had told him. Her plans exposed, they had sent their minions into her temple, defiled her sacred space and dragged her before them for 'judgement'.

“We, The Eight,” she hisses their words from memory now, seething every syllable. “In supreme dominion over all of The Innersides, judge you heretic, traitor and menace. For your crimes of treason, connivance and corruption of youth, you shall be taken to the public place and boiled alive that all might witness our wisdom and authority.”

Pho spits in disgust and defiance then smiles bitterly. Not one of The Eight had met her gaze as she stared at them unabashed, even as the sentence was read. If they think The Innersides has seen the end of her, they are even greater fools than she thought.

Something will come. She knows this with certainty. Her fury vented, she meditates truly now, slipping into peace without time. Here she remains, free of anger or worry. When the door to her cell slowly opens, Pho has no idea how long it has been. She does not move but prepares herself to face whatever comes next.

“Mother Pho?” whispers a frightened voice.

“It is I, child,” says Pho calmly.

A slender figure in a simple grey cloak slips into the cell and prostrates itself before her.

“Rise,” says Pho after an appropriate number of minutes.

“Mother Pho!” gasps the girl. “How could they do this to you ?! It is an abomination!”

“It is but temporary, child,” says Pho. “The wheel will turn soon enough.”

“As you say it, Mother Pho,” says the girl, prostrating herself again. “So shall it be.”

“Enough!” snaps Pho so that the girl scrambles back to her feet. “What do you bring?”

“Only myself, Mother Pho,” says the girl. “I am to lead you from this place. Our sisters await you and stand ready to conceal you from The Eight.”

“No,” says Pho.

“But Mother Pho!” gasps the girl. “You must away!”

“I will find my own way,” says Pho. “You will wear my robes and remain here to delay discovery of my escape.”

“But, Mother Pho...” says the girl uncertainly. “They will execute me in your place.”

“And you shall be known for all time as a holy martyr of The Innersides,” says Pho.

“Yes, Mother Pho,” says the girl, undressing. “But where will you go?”

“I will travel to the heathen wastes,” says Pho, slipping out of her robes. “And there discover the means by which to deal with The Eight once and for all.”

“But Mother Pho!” cries the girl again. “It is certain death! Why, only today, the Great Seers of The High House reported feeling vibrations of a terrible catastrophe from deep within the wastes to the Off Side.”

“Then that is where I shall go,” says Pho, standing and smoothing the grey cloak. “Disaster breeds opportunity.”

“Then fare well, oh glorious Mother Pho,” says the girl, adopting Pho's previous position on the floor. “I love you and give my life gladly to see you free.”

“Yes, yes,” says Pho absently, peering around the cell door. “Very good.”

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