After the third knock, a lock clicked. Ragnar stepped backwards just as the door was gently pulled open but it was only opened halfway, in a manner that kept the room firmly out of view. A woman dressed in black from head to toe filled the narrow opening, her presence both austere and overwhelming.
The station of the temple attendants was marked by the colors of their garments. Brown was worn by new initiates. Red was worn by those who led prayers and served as intermediaries between the temple and the masses, and blue by those entrusted with the care of the building itself, maintaining the halls and tending to the altars. Black was reserved for those who attended directly to the head priest, while white outer garments were worn only by the head priestess herself, creating an unmistakable distinction between her and all others. The same hierarchy was observed in every temple throughout the kingdom.
