“Excellent my dearest, that is what I had hoped to hear. Now listen carefully and do as I command. First of all, you are going to accept the position in the Holy City. You will “welcome the challange” and show Scarlet how to run a temple. I shall arrange for an assistant. His name is Grok, and like you, he is being denied his love. He will surprise you but you will take him under your wing and teach what I want you both to know.

“Before you leave however, there are certain truths that you need. First, the rituals that are inscribed within the holy Karian that feda-ghazi Faisal has and that you have, have been corrupted and changed by Scarlet. She did this to make you look foolish and weak in the eyes of feda-ghazi Faisal. Use these scrolls and follow the instructions when you are blessing the shrine and the Holy City. This will not be easy for you – the rites contained herein are long, complicated and demanding – but I feel your strength and with MY aid, you will succeed. You must gather the blessed materials yourself as well, telling no one of what you do or why. In this way you shall prove your devotion to ME and demonstrate to feda-ghazi Faisal that you are a better follower than Scarlet. Once you have finished the blessings and consecration, you will need to incorporate the teachings if these scrolls into all of the copies of the Karian that are in the Duchy. This way, you will begin to undo that damage that Scarlet has wrought.

“Next, you must demonstrate to feda-ghazi Faisal that you have the heart of a loving and caring woman and to do that you must hide all of your feelings for Scarlet. To that end you will assist Jonas when he undergoes his Tazkiah. Tend his wounds, and by doing so, demonstrate your womanly arts and charms. Show feda-ghazi Faisal the passion and power that burns in your breast. Show him so he will see and know and understand.

“Finally, there is Scarlet. You must mask your feelings for her and indeed, aid her in the coming trials. You must convince her that you are NOT on to her plans and that you are as devoted to her as you are to ME. In order for feda-ghazi Faisal to know her for the base, incestuous, venal creature that she is, you must first show him what true love is and then how she is the antithesis of this. Like the Rose, you must appear fragile and conceal your power behind an innocent facade. For what is a Rose without a Thorn? You, my blessed pretty, will be MY Thorn in Scarlet’s palm. You will prick her again and again with your sweet smell and gentle demeanor until her ugliness is revealed. For that to happen my Thorn, you will need my help and that requires a special devotion on your part. In the scroll that i have given you is a ritual that you must perform and in doing so, bind yourself to ME. It is a simple ritual, requiring nothing more than you adding a small tattoo of the red Thorn in a yellow flame onto your body. You must do this yourself however and use the thorns of the yellow winter rose to do so. The ink is to be made from the crushed petals of red roses. While you perform this devotion, you will chant the prayer contained within the scroll and above all, keep in your foremind the reason for your devotion. Dedicate the Thorn to the destruction of Scarlet and to bringing feda-ghazi Faisal into your loving embrace. Do this and feda-ghazi Faisal will be yours.

“I must go now. You need to prepare to leave for Abu-Al-Bazit and there is much that remains to be done. Fear not my child, when you have completed your devotion to me, I will be with you and be your guide. You will have your revenge and your hearts desire, just heed my directions and remain vigilant.”

With that, the flames roar up, scorching the ceiling before bursting into 3 yellow scrolls that land at Deirdre’s feet. She picks them up and hugs them to her chest.

Soon Scarlet, soon I will have my revenge!