Schisms

by V. A. Jeffrey

  Chapter Nineteen

  They passed by Rhuctium and several other towns before they had arrived, after two weeks traveling in the caravan to Gamina. Anet did not know when she'd been so tired of traveling and so terribly sore. What was she thinking? Wanting to travel the wide world! She longed for some soft eggs and pepper soup, good bread that wasn't hard as a rock or meat that wasn't dried and tough. She wanted fish, honey, milk, dates and figs or juicy olives in brine and lots of cold water! Anything was better than traveling like this and she was so happy to see the rough-hewn towers of the citadel that she nearly cried. Her dreams were intermittent but all of a similar theme: blood and the strange man. She did not see the beating mechanical heart any longer in her dreams. It also seemed that Mother Berenice knew whenever she had a dream. It was as if they were both riding a line of understanding that no one else could see.

  As they made their way up the hill toward the citadel many sisters came running out to meet them. Lots of little ones came to greet them and even a few of the townspeople.

  “Oh, blessed way! We'd thought something terrible happened! You are all safe! God is good!” Cried Medeah.

  “We managed to avoid the Hatchet Men by going by sea.” Said Mother Berenice.

  “By sea? Oh my!”

  “Yes. We had to make a rush to find a way out of the city as quickly as we could! We sailed to Murka and found an inn owned by a fellow brother and his wife there. From there we made our way back by the Golden Road.”

  “We saw war ships leaving the port at Murka. King Kufun is amassing ships at Tarkal.” Said Helga.

  “We have heard many disturbing things from the south. This time they have done more than steal goods and burn villages. They have stolen women from numerous towns on the coast, even raiding up near Haiga.” Said Olimah.

  “Just recently?” Asked Mother Berenice.

  “Well, no. The last was a few months ago but we are hearing rumors again, of ships coming from Jura. Helga has just confirmed it.”

  “Will the king do nothing?” Exclaimed Ava.

  “It would seem he does not care about the people outside of the big cities.” Said Mother Berenice. There was a look of worry on their faces.

  However, these things were far away from Anet, Kaisha, Nirka and all the young ones. They saw the small vineyards, green land and hills and listened to the bleating herds of sheep with their jumping lambs and the happy voices of the people of the land. This was home and there was no reason for fear. They ran to the heavy front doors, exuberant at seeing the rest of their sisterhood. Hugging and belated greetings filled the halls until a stranger had walked in among them. The sisters who stayed at home did not seem surprised by this man. He stood apart, a deep frown etched in his long, bearded face. He wore the striped robes of the Ainash and he wore three, plain leather bands around his left arm. Anet was suddenly afraid. Why is this man here? Are not the Ainash evil? She pointed at the man. He turned his hard gaze on her, as if appraising her out of all the girls there. The others who had just arrived finally turned to see him. Mother Berenice immediately approached and greeted him.

  “Ahaifa, Ilim Gulin na-Shayin, my brother of the temple.” She bowed slightly and he did the same.

  “Ahaifa, Mother Berenice of the citadel of Gamina. I have come in God's name. As the Lord of the Deep Heavens decreed that I must be here, here I am.”

  “Sisters, this man has been sent by God himself.” The ones who had just arrived fell silent, giving Mother Berenice questioning glances.

  “Come sisters. We are all weary so let us rest today. Many things must take place in the future. Momentous things.” She glanced at Anet as she said this.

  “Supper will be ready in the dining hall in a few hours.” Said Medeah, the head cook. The large gathering of scions followed Mother Berenice and Ilim down the hall. Some went off to rest or bathe themselves before the evening meal. Anet trailed after them, suspicious about their new guest and curious about what any of this had to do with her.

  During supper Anet took the opportunity to take sideways glances at this man named Ilim. He did not speak much and always he had a frown on his face as dour and cranky looking as Instructress Helga's, who by the way, did not seem especially pleased at the presence of an Ainash priest, but she did not raise a fuss at supper. Supper consisted of a very special meal, almost as if the festival were upon them: roasted lamb bones with the marrow – the head cook relented on her rule not to serve meat before Holy Week because everyone was so glad they had arrived back home safe and sound - roasted root vegetables and currants and flat bread with olive oil and milk wine. He glanced at her a few times but seemed mostly lost in his own thoughts. Anet wondered if he was a bringer of good or evil. Mother Berenice and Carisse and a few of the older scions seemed to think his coming a good sign. Something about “things moving, the light of the future” and all that. But all she saw was a gloomy old man. Anet decided she did not like him and resented his intrusion into their citadel home. She would hide tomorrow so no one could find her. As this thought burst through her mind he suddenly glared at her. Anet looked down at her plate while everyone else talked, paying no heed to her. She felt tears well up inside. What was he doing here and what did this have to do with her?