Marissa knelt in the quiet main hall of the temple. She finished her final prayer for her husband's safety. She opened her eyes and slowly stood up, smoothing the dark blue fabric of her skirt. She turned to walk toward the waiting room to meet Beatrice.
As she walked down the long, cold stone corridor, she noticed a sudden change in the atmosphere. The peaceful silence was broken. Two young temple workers ran past her, their sandals slapping loudly against the floor. Their faces were pale with panic.
"The dowager has collapsed," one of the workers whispered loudly to a priest. "In the waiting room!"
Marissa stopped walking. Her heart skipped a beat. She froze for a second, processing the words.
"What?" Marissa murmured to herself. Her eyes widened in shock.
She did not wait for an explanation. She reached down and grabbed the heavy fabric of her long skirt in both hands. She lifted the skirt above her ankles and began to run.
