Champion

Chapter 21

"I am honored to help," she said with a smile of her own. "It was only a few winters ago that I was their age, and I recall how difficult it was to imagine the greatness of Eros' love without having experienced his Blessings."

Hearing this David decided it was high time he figure out what the hell was up with this worship service and Eros' Blessings. Laurena had made it sound like it was an emotional sharing event, but after hearing that kids couldn't participate; it was starting to sound like something very different.

"Astinus, could you explain what happens at a worship service and what Eros' Blessings are," David asked.

"Looking at him, and then Laurena in confusion Astinus asked, "Why? Are they different where you are from?"

Laurena answered him quickly before David could respond, "David is not from here. He is from another realm, and knew nothing of our lands or ways before I met him. I have tried to explain as much as I could, but it has only been two days and he has had many questions.

"I have also been hesitant to discuss the details of worship services, since I am an acolyte and could not have given him any manner of demonstration if he requested," she added with embarrassment.

"I understand child, it is fine. I was just surprised. I knew he was not from Erosius given his strange weapons and manner of dress, but I just assumed he was from one of the other lands of the realm," Astinus responded.

Turning to David, Astinus began to explain the details, "Our worship services are an opportunity for the faithful to share the love we feel for Eros, and for each other. Eros commands that we love all things, and his faithful try to do that. But it is difficult for most to accomplish on their own. How can you love a tree, and still cut it down for fire wood? How can you love an animal, and still s*******r it for food? How can you love your neighbor, and still allow him to be punished when he commits a crime? So we clergy ask Eros these questions, and share his answers with the faithful so that they might better follow his commands and still live their lives.

"We also help them to strengthen their magic. Priests and priestesses lead discussions where the faithful share with each other the love they have for the land and its people. These talks are done to strengthen their love, for the stronger their love, the stronger their magic.

"Eros' Blessings are the culmination of the service, where the faithful physically express the love that has grown between them during their worship. It is an event where s****l love is shared between the faithful. At the beginning of the service it is my task to group those attending according to their preference, so that they will gain the greatest enjoyment, and thus feel the greatest love from the act."

Holy crap, David thought to himself, it's a giant orgy! A religiously approved orgy!

Turning to look at Laurena, a different thought roared to the front of his mind. She wants me to participate. I get to have s*x with her. I'm going to have s*x with HER?

Realizing he was staring at the beautiful young woman like he had just won the lottery, David grew self-conscious and turned back to Astinus before he could see the look of triumph on Laurena's face. However, the priest saw her expression clearly and quickly divined its intent.

"David, normally I would read the auras of all faithful as they entered in order to determine their groupings, but since you have never attended a service, and you are here now, would you permit me to read your aura? It will save me time later," Astinus explained.

Still a little shocked at the idea that he would be able to have guilt free s*x with the incredible hottie that had teased and annoyed him for the last three days, David was caught unaware by the question. Not seeing any harm in it he agreed.

Extending his magic to David, Astinus began to read his aura. What he found was not good. David would not understand Eros' Blessings. He came from a world filled with pain, loss, greed, jealously, deception, and mistrust. He had completely misunderstood what the Blessings of Eros were, because nothing even close to it existed in his world. He instead compared it to what did exist in his world, but that was a tawdry affair of lust and degradation. He also had mixed feelings about the woman next to him. He was more than willing to use her body for his s****l gratification, but he had convinced himself that he had no love for her. David must not attend a service until he better understood Eros, and his own feelings.

"Laurena, can you go to the worship room and begin preparing it for the children's service? I need to speak with David alone for a few minutes," Astinus requested of the young woman.

She nodded in agreement, and reluctantly left the kitchen to do as he asked.

Once she left, Astinus turned back to David with a heavy heart.

"I am sorry Champion, but I must ask that you not attend today's service, or any service until you better understand our faith and Eros' love," the priest told the soldier.

Stunned by the request, David displeasure quickly became apparent, "Why? Just because I am not from this world I'm not good enough to sleep with her? I'm supposed to be the Champion of your god. Shouldn't I experience as much of your faith as possible?"

David was pissed. He hadn't had s*x in six months, and had just spent two days with that miserable, high-maintenance princess. Hell, he had saved her life. At the very least he had earned the right to have the same s*x that everyone else was about to get.

Astinus sighed. He knew this was going to be hard, and he also knew that Laurena's presence would have made this conversation far harder.

"The way that we approach love and s*x is different than in your world. For example, if you found a woman that you loved deeply, you would marry her correct?" Astinus began his argument.

"Of course, "David said. "Well, eventually. Once I knew that she felt the same way, and we had spent enough time together to make sure we were compatible. Marriage is a big step, and not the kind of thing you just jump right into. But if I really loved a woman of course I would want to marry her."

"Our realm is similar in that regard," Astinus replied. "But once you were married, would you allow another man to lay with your wife?"

"Hell no!" David responded. "She's mywife. I would never allow that, and if she loved me she wouldn't want that."

Astinus nodded his head, as though David had just made his point for him. "Many of the faithful that attend our services are married. But they do not always lay with their spouses during the Blessings. Some lay with other's spouses, some lay with other couples, and some lay with the unmarried faithful. The Blessing is not a carnal act for personal gratification, nor is it intended to produce children. It is a physical display of genuine affection and shared love amongst those who truly care for one another. Passion is allowed, and often encouraged, but jealousy and anger have no place there. If you truly loved and cared for Laurena, could you sit calmly and watch her lay with another man, or lay with another woman?"

David's anger cooled as he thought about what Astinus described. A woman he loved f*****g another man in front of him? Hell no! His last girlfriend had promised to wait for him when he went off to war, but not even two months later she had cheated on him. A friend of his back at Campbell told him about her sleeping with another guy in his unit that had not deployed. Worse, she tried to blame him when he confronted her about in on Skype. According to her it was his fault she was lonely. No way was he okay with going through that again. No f*****g way.

"I think I'm starting to understand what you mean. I can't say I'm happy about it. But after all, this is your temple. 'Your house your rules'," David finally said.

"I would like you to come to the children's service in the afternoon; it may help to explain more of our beliefs. And if you wish to come to the evening service I would be willing to allow it, as long as you agree to leave before the Blessings of Eros begin," Astinus offered the compromise. "It is important for you to learn more of the god who chose you after all."

David did not feel particularly inclined to join either service, now that s*x wasn't an option. But he understood that the more he knew about Eros the better right now. "I'll come to the kids' thing, but I think I'll opt out of the adults'. The last thing I need right now is to see what I can't have," David grudgingly agreed.

Astinus nodded at his partial victory.

"We will begin in a few hours; do you have anything you need to do this morning?" he inquired.

"I should check on Meadowgrass. Have someone get me when you are ready for me," David said tersely.

***

The children's service wasn't too bad. It reminded David of the Sunday school he went to as a child. Laurena told parables about Eros and some of his more renowned faithful. She was a gifted orator, and had the children's full attention the entire time. Once she had finished many of the younger children went up to hug and thank her before leaving.

David stood and stretched. The oversized cushions that were the only furniture in the room made more sense to him after the details he had learned earlier, but that didn't mean they were comfortable seating for long periods of time.

Turning to the door in the back of the large room that led to their temporary quarters, he was brought to a halt as Laurena walked over to stand in front of him.

"What did you think of the children's service?" she asked him with a small smile.

"It was nice. The kids definitely seemed to enjoy it," he replied.

"I was so nervous, "she admitted. "I have never led a children's service, or any service for that matter. I was only every allowed to help the priests and priestesses prepare, and to assist with Eros' Blessings."

"Well you did just fine," he said, suddenly wishing he was somewhere else when her talk turned to the s****l event. "I'm going to head back to my room to do some maintenance on my gear. Once you two finish up with the evening service come grab me and we'll have dinner together."

"What do you mean?" she asked him confused, and beginning to worry. "Aren't you going to be there?"