That certainly seems... in character. Ellie reads over it several times and does her best to get what seem like "major details" memorized.

Several hours later, she runs through the highlights in a murmur without peeking and gets them all correct. She does it again, just to be sure. Then, in a louder voice: "Maeverine? Are you there?"

"Of course, child. Are you ready to relate what you've memorized?"

"Yes." Ellie makes sure the book is firmly closed, and sets it aside. She runs through her summary: barbaric tribes, cut off by dead-god mountains, Maeverine picked the strongest tribe and made them stronger, conquered the area, kept the useful people, discarded the useless.

"Excellent job! you're quite a clever girl, aren't you?" she says, delighted, and then a tray with breakfast materializes next to Ellie. It's ordinary; bread, butter, water, but for the three strawberries innocently accompanying it.

It was probably unreasonable to expect the quality of the food from yesterday to continue. Ellie is still very hungry so she doesn't mind too much. She starts eating.

Oh right. Respectfulness. Chew, swallow. "Thank you for the strawberries."

"You're quite welcome." A fourth strawberry materializes. "I'm glad you enjoy them."

Ellie continues eating. It doesn't take her long to finish.

"What should I do with the tray?"

"For now, I'll take care of it. Later, you'll be expected to take it to the kitchens to have it cleaned and put away." The tray disappears.

"Okay. What do I do now?"

"I'll have someone show you around my temple, and give you a schedule to follow. He should be here shortly."

Ellie looks down at her torn and travel-stained clothing.

"Can I have something new to wear also?"

"You may," says the goddess, and a simple black robe materializes on the bed. It's simple and made of rough material, but in Ellie's size.

Probably a message in that, somewhere. Whatever, it's not as smelly as what she has.

She changes, kicks her old clothes into a corner of the room, then sits on the bed to wait for her guide.

Her guide arrives; a thin, slightly older boy with distant eyes that are firmly pointed downward. He wears a matching black robe.

"I'm to show you around," he says, hoarse.

...What's wrong with him? And how can Ellie avoid having it happen to her?

She stands up. "Let's go, then."

He doesn't exactly expand on what's wrong with him. He doesn't talk much, actually; only when he has to, and only the smallest sentences possible. This is the cafeteria, where they will go to after Maeverine has said they may eat. This is the training ground. This is where to get a chamber pot and this is where to leave it when it's full. This is the fountain where you get water to drink.

"The baths are down there," he says, pointing down a hallway. He turns to leave it at that, and -

"You are forgetting something." Maeverine's voice is louder now, echoing through the temple, instead of whisper-soft and directed to one.

The boy flinches as if burned. "And, and you shouldn't go down there without permission, it, wouldn't do to waste water."

Maeverine doesn't comment further, but the boy speeds up his gait and spits out his customary four to seven words a bit faster. It seems he's afraid.

Stay on Maeverine's good side. Noted. Ellie does her best to memorize the major hallways and relative positions of things.

Why, why, why is she here she wants to go home

They run out of hallways and rooms eventually, and the boy leads her back to her room.

He goes to flee, then hesitates.

"Do you, know the temple?"

"I think so. Unless I'm going to get hurt if I make a mistake."

"If you have questions, ask now."

Ellie tries to run through the walk they just went on in her head. She clarifies some of the turnings.

"And is there anywhere else I shouldn't go?"

"Don't try to leave. Do what you're told. Don't leave your room after dark."

"Okay." Fun stuff. At least the inside of her head still seems to be her own. Can gods read minds? Hey Maeverine, you stupid annoying murderer, if you can hear this, send me home.

Maeverine doesn't reply.

"Any other questions?" wonders the guide, edging away.

"Uh, no? Wait. Weren't you supposed to have a schedule for me or something?"