Lykaios has moved to a strategic point, close enough to watch over me, but far enough away to give me privacy. Turning around, I look towards the shrine. There is another there that I had not noticed before. Lykaios also takes note of the other person paying her respects to the goddess. I remain at a distance to allow the priestess, as I can now see she clearly is one, to finish her own meditations.

"Lady of the Isles, you may approach and join me," the priestess calls to me.

She has not even turned around. How chould she possibly know who I am? I am not even dressed appropriately. With some trepidation, I approach.

"For what purpose do you seek the goddess? And why is your own priestess not accompanying you?" she asks in a non-threatening manner.

"My priestess does not accompany me here because she was recently injured in an accident at Phaistos during the recent storms. I have come here on her behalf, and for my own purpose also."

"Then I shall pray for Maiandra's recovery. May I assist you with your offerings?"

"May I ask you something first, Priestess?"

She turns to face me and nods her head in the affirmative. It is then I see the resemblence to my own priestess. She notes the stunned look on my face and smiles.

"I am her twin sister, Amarante. She has often described you in her messages to me. I saw you approaching. It took but a moment for me to realize who you are, even dressed as you are."

"Would the goddess disapprove do you think?"

"Not at all. Now come, let us make offerings to please her and hope she will bestow her wisdom and kindness upon us," she says, opening her arms and motioning to indicate our island home.

I open the bag Maiandra has given to me and begin to hand the objects to Amarante. She puts them in their proper place saying words over each item. The last two items I hand to her are a couple of small figurines of a man and a woman. I look at them curiously.

"These must represent you and your man. Maiandra seeks the goddess' blessing for your relationship. Is he a good man?" she asks, as I hand them to her.

"He is a good man. He is a very good man."

"Yet there is fear in you. Are you afraid of him?"

"No. I have no reason to fear him."

"Well, whatever it is that troubles you, speak to the goddess so that she may comfort to your spirit. I will leave you now to do just that." She says another quick blessing, then moves away from the shrine to give me privacy.

I know not what to do but to open my heart and mind as I kneel before the alter, placing my hands on the front edge of it. I offer prayers for the people of this island, and for the safety of my family and those I love. All I pray for myself is to have the strength to face what I must face and make the decision that must be made. I stand and pull my wedding ring on its chain out of my top. I look at it for some time. Enclosing the ring in my fist, my eyes then fall on the two human figurines on the alter.

"Letting go of the past is never easy," Amarante says, rejoining me.

"It is not the letting go that is the problem. It is the fact that my past is about to be very much a part of my present."

I settle the ring on its chain outside my top for now. My actions, and the meaning of what I have just said, are realized quickly by her.

She is quiet and we both offer our short, parting prayers to the goddess. We move away from the shrine, towards Lykaios.

"Do you wish to make your own offerings to the goddess, Lykaios?" I ask her as we approach.

"Yes, Lady. I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you."

As Lykaios heads towards the shrine, Amarante says simply, "It is true then." I nod my head. "May the goddess give you strength," she says softly, voicing exactly what I had prayed for moments before.