“I hope you have a good reason for having left your post,” Sparrow turned to Sarah.

“Um, I thought that my post ended with dawn...”

“Wrong.” Sparrow glared. “Dawn is a good time for attack, when your sight is adjusting from the night to the day. You were to stay at your post until called for breakfast.”

“Well seeing as the Great-Grand-Moyther was talking to me...” Sarah stopped short as the Sergeant snorted.

“You’re as bad a Phoenix was when he was a Hopeful. I’m glad Griffon took him into his Troop.”

“You trust him now,” Sarah countered.

“He’s proven himself.” Sparrow’s glare did not abate.

Sarah opened her mouth to retort back.

Save it Sarah, Jason warned. She is the Sergeant and you are the Scout. You left your post. You must take the punishment.

“Fine.” Sarah frowned. “I left my post. I’m sorry.”

“And since the Grand-Moyther seems to have healed you as well,” Sparrow wrinkled her nose in disgust, “you are to shovel the snow from the Pairents house. We will be moving ourselves there so we do not continue to desecrate the Gods’ Cavern.”

Sparrow strode away from Sarah in the direction she’d sent the two men. Heaving a sigh Sarah picked up the shovel and started to work. Clearly Hermanus and James had begun the task, but it was far from complete.

Sarah, Jason’s mental voice interrupted her solitude. Why did you leave your post?

Plopping a handful of snow in her mouth Sarah rested slightly. No one had come to offer her water or food and the sun was approaching its zenith.

Well James went in to wake Charles and Kevin to go scout the path to the road, then when I got to the Dogwood tree, I climbed it and...

You did what? Jason’s exclamation almost made her drop the snow on her shovel.

I climbed the Dogwood.

Climbing a Willow is bad enough, Jason’s voice sounded strained, but the Godwood?

Sarah explained to him, as best she could what had transpired. Each sentence she thought to him was punctuated by her shoveling and dumping of snow. When she was done she stopped. Her shoulder ached and her leg didn’t want to hold her weight anymore. Plopping another bit of snow in her mouth she waited for a response.

Sarah was shoveling again when Jason finally broke the silence.

Promise me you will not climb a Willow or Godwood without my permission.

Ever? Sarah swallowed.

They are the symbols of our religion, sacred trees, he told her. Godwoods are only found inside the Willow Temples. Climbing a single Willow is one thing, but to do so in a Temple...

His voice trailed off and Sarah bowed her head. She stood there for a moment, head bowed, her hands resting upon the shovel. She had forgotten it was a Temple. It was easy for her to do. After all in her world, Gods were worshiped inside buildings. All the religions that had worshiped outside in nature were nearly extinct. Even if they hadn’t been she was raised Christian, so she worshiped inside a church, not a Willow Grove.

“Goodwoman Sarah?”

A voice interrupted her thoughts before she could apologize to Jason. Sarah turned to see Lady Miriam. She smiled at the girl.

“I saved some lunch for you. S, Sergeant Sparrow says you can come in and eat now.”

“Thank you.”

Sarah picked up the shovel and walked with the young woman back to the Temple. At the entrance to the Gods’ Cavern Sarah set her shovel down where the others were. As they started down the spiral stairs Lady Miriam leaned into her.

“Did you really climb the Godwood tree?” She seemed awed.

“Yes,” Sarah sighed.

“And the Gods didn’t strike you down?”

“No,” Sarah sighed again. “I think the Great-Grand-Moyther understands how homesick I am.”

RATE THIS CHAPTER!

Author guidance for This story

Introduction
Here is the third and final book of my Phoenixes of Vervell trilogy. If you're new to this series feel free to skip the first books as I have tried to write them so they stand independently of each other, but I do highly recommend reading them in order. So without further ado the links!

Phoenixes of Vervell
Here's the Cover Art by Gabriel Morrison and the Map by me.
Book 1, Sarah's Phoenix is posted at: http://www.protagonize.com/story/sarahs-phoenix
Book 2, Phoenix Rising is posted at: http://www.protagonize.com/story/phoenix-rising
Book 3, Phoenix Triumphant is right here!
(Note: clicking the "Vervellian Phoenix" tag will bring up more than just these three stories *wink*)

Dedications: This book would not exist if it wasn't for...
- my entire family who have been very supportive of this crazy idea that I might publish something one day, like this trillogy
- to NaNoWriMo and the pact I made with Spook and Del that allowed them to read the very first draft and comment on it
- Sarah's loyal (and sometimes squealing) fans here on Protagonize: DruidX, and Moonwalker, as well as SpookOfNight and Delorfinde
- And everyone who's read and commented on my previous two books . I'd list you all but it's a long list so have some *HUGGLES* and know you will ALL be listed in the book dedication *grin*

Posting Rate: The plan is to post two to three chapters a week. I've got a good head start on editing. Pray that it stays that way as it looks like there will be over 100 postings *grin*.

:} Elorithryn {:

APPENDIX
Here you can find information that might help you in your reading. Unfortunately, the link to my map of Vervell and Azure didn't want to work in the guidance so you have to go to my profile for it.

Pronunciation Guide (as best I can)
Nigiri: ni-gear-e
Moyther: moy-ther
Fayther: fay-ther
Pairents: pair-ents... (it's a very subtle difference)
Jesus: hey-zoos (essentially the Spanish way of pronouncing Jesus.)

Definitions
Dowry: the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage to help them set up their household. (Thank you Wikipedia)
Sir and Madame: The proper title for a Knight and his wife.
Master and Mistress: The proper title for the priests and priestesses in training.
quillings and quinnies: Vervellean money; roughly equivalent to the English 18th century shilling and penny.

Other Notes
Character Names: I have a tendency to use the same names over and over, so to help break me of the habit I've started using names of people I know. If you see your name it's a complement, please do not be offended by who that character is or what they get put through, that has nothing to do with how much I like you. If your name is there, I like you! If your name is not there, I just didn't get a chance to use it! *giggles and grins*
The Skathians: Yes, in Chapter 69 Jason's "contingent of men and women sent by the Gods from an unknown land " are indeed from Spook's Aeserion Trilogy. Gwythryn, Alara and their Skathain company decided they wanted to help rid Vervell and Azure of General Jackobus Wholawski. This was a character driven cooperation between my Phoenixes of Vervell and Spook's Aeserion. There is no continutiry between Spook's Exile & Legend and Phoenix Triumphant. But, friends will be friends and these two groups have definitely become friends... as much as imaginary people can. As Spook's Duet fortold, they've invaded each other's plots!"

updated Oct 7 '11 by Elorithryn