The Name on the Stone

Posted on by Louise Bunting
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Photo prompt © Yarnspinner

The Name on the Stone

Kaeri murmured a prayer and dropped the stone into the urn, calmly meeting the gaze of the priest on the temple steps. He watched her with narrowed eyes, his attention unwavering until she moved out of sight.

She’d performed the ritual every day for years. Each stone had borne the same name, inscribed in uneven script: Hoenn – the man who’d caused her life to disintegrate.

But Jia, goddess of the downtrodden, had yet to deliver her promised vengeance.

Unsurprisingly.

Everyone knew it was the priesthood who judged the guilt of those named, choosing the punishments they deemed suitable. Only a few names were ever offered for the divine Lady’s attention. And no matter what crimes lay at his door, their own high priest would never be included in that number.

Kaeri had grown tired of waiting for her prayers to be answered.

Finally unobserved, she entered the temple and began her hunt, dagger concealed in the folds of her skirt. Soon high priest Hoenn’s blood would coat the blade.

Today she’d claim vengeance for herself.

Word count: 175

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This post is for Priceless Joy’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers challenge. This week’s prompt was provided by Yarnspinner. Thank you, Yarnspinner!

20 thoughts on “The Name on the Stone”

    1. I contemplated several different options when it came to his crime, and then decided to leave it open to the reader’s imagination. Whatever he did, it’s not something she’s ever going to forgive him for. Thanks for reading, PJ. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

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  7. Kaeri is a very patient person to have waited so long, but eventually a person’s patience can run out and hers did. I am curious about the priest and what he has done for her to go after him… to hopefully feel what she does to him is justified and may give her a bit of peace or satisfaction. Very interesting story.

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    1. Thank you, Kiwi. I’m glad you enjoyed it. There are many dreadful things that could have happened to her, but I’ll leave that up to your imagination. Thanks for reading. 🙂

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