Catt and Lemmy had sat in a corner of the Great Sanctuary, among the other invited guests from the smaller temples of the city. Catt had enjoyed the show. The sermon was a lot more negative than anything Lemmy ever delivered, but it was still interesting.
Catt had taken special interest in the collection of alms. She didn't believe for an instant that all that money would end up in the hands of the poor, but she was intrigued by the execution of the scam. She was sure they would have switched the horse's saddlebags, but how was it done with so many witnesses from every angle? Perhaps the baskets were part of the trick. She would have loved to examine one of them and see if it contained some sort of a hidden mechanism or enchantment to separate and retain the more valuable Shmouds while letting the copper Thorbs pour out.
After the service had ended, Lemmy was distracted with handshakes and greetings to various other high priests, so Catt had wandered towards the front of the sanctuary.
Catt peered over the corner of the partitioned off area.
"Huh," Catt said to herself, surveying what passed for blasphemy in the Unchurch.
She looked up, and realized that a familiar face was looking in from the far side of the partitions. King Segna was standing there, eyebrows raised, her dark cheeks faintly blushing.
Segna looked up, seeing Catt, and their eyes locked together.
Catt had carefully avoided staring at the King throughout the service. As much as she had wanted to, it had been easy to avoid staring because of the fact that Catt's own seat had been nearly as far away from the King's throne as it was possible to be and still be in the same sanctuary.
Catt hadn't wanted to think about how beautiful Segna was. She hadn't wanted to think about splendidly Segna's body filled out the blue gown. She hadn't wanted to think about how Segna had held her hands on that day– how long ago had that been? More than a month– but she could still remember the softness and warmth of Segna's hands, and now they were looking directly at each other from across a square of moving skin and clouds, and it was no longer possible for Catt to avoid thinking about the feelings she had been avoiding.
Catt became aware that she was still staring into Segna's eyes, and Segna was still looking back, as if they were both frozen in time. She felt embarrassed and tried to think of how to retreat with her dignity intact. She wanted to run away without literally turning and running away. All that Catt managed was a lurching step sideways without breaking eye contact.
This motion did seem to unfreeze them, and a moment later, somehow Segna was walking towards Catt, coming around the side of the partitioned area. Segna was still looking at her, and… she was smiling.
In the time it took to draw three breaths, they were standing so close that if Catt had reached out her arms, she could almost have wrapped them around Segna. The thought sent Catt's heart beating. Catt felt happy that she had not run away, but she also had no idea what to do or say next.
"Hello, Catt Zago," said the King.
"Hi," Catt said, biting her own lower lip.
They were now standing close enough together that staring into each other's eyes felt awkward. Catt's eyes wandered, trying to find a place to point.
And then they were standing shoulder to shoulder staring at the pageant of blasphemy again.
"What do you think?" Segna asked.
Catt thrilled at the sensation of their arms brushing together, but she managed to focus on the question. "I think… I wouldn't want to be in there, it's not my style, but I respect their… enthusiasm," Catt answered carefully.
"I agree with you entirely," Segna replied warmly. "It's not what I expected to see today… but it has a certain artistry to it."
The sound of Segna's voice talking so casually made Catt feel more comfortable.
The clouds and their attached bodies moved in the sunlight.
"I wonder why," Catt speculated, "Why do they assume that the rain god doesn't like this?"
Segna glanced upwards at the skylight and giggled.
"Maybe he's into this. If he is Nameless and silent and doesn't respond to prayers, how would they really know one way or another?"
After a moment, they both turned away from the blasphemy, and looked at each other again.
Catt suddenly felt a lump in her throat.
It must have shown in her face somehow, because Segna's expression radiated gentle sympathy, and she said. "I'm sorry I left you so suddenly last time we met."
The sensation in Catt's throat intensified and she swallowed with difficulty.
"I'm glad to see you again," Segna said.
Catt couldn't get any words out, but she managed to nod vigorous agreement.
Their moment was interrupted as an important-looking person approached from behind Segna.
"Your Majesty, it is time to withdraw from the sanctuary. To linger would be unseemly," the person said. This last word was delivered with a scowl towards Catt.
"Of course, Visor, thank you," said Segna, and then to Catt, "Please excuse me, Ms Zago, I must go, but I would love to see you again. If it would please you, come to the palace sometime and dine with me. You have my royal invitation."
Then she turned and walked away. The Visor raised an eyebrow curiously at Catt, but then followed Segna without another word.
Catt watched the departing King's hips swivel. She closed her open mouth, and breathed deeply, thinking about what had just happened.
After a moment, she looked around the room for where Lemmy might be. She didn't see him, but she did see an acolyte of the Unchurch approaching, already making shooing hand motions as if trying to brush her towards the door.
"Unseeeeemly!" the acolyte whispered loudly.