Chapter 08

Family Descent

Book One �" Divergence

Part I �" Novices

Chapter 08

April 1657

 

 

            The heavy wood doors of the temple closed behind Iyara and Catala and the elder priestess stopped just inside a large vestibule. Directly before them stood another set of doors; these large doors were covered in ivory and gold and led into the place of worship. To the right and left were smaller wood doors leading out of the vestibule.

            “Welcome, again, Iyara.” The elder priestess said. “I am Sister Vela and you already know Sister Catala.” She said gesturing to the younger priestess who was regaining her composure.

            Vela was a tall woman, well over five six. She wore long white robes that were unadorned save for the red scarf that fell from her neck to the waist in front. Too, she wore, affixed to a simple white belt, a small sickle shaped knife. By her raiment, Iyara knew her to belong to the Sisters of the Wellspring. About her neck she wore a medallion of silver upon which was engraved Ilmatar’s symbol, the rose flanked the crescents of Silna and Fariel, Pedias’s two moons. Vela’s hair was iron gray and was pulled back and pinned into a knot at the back of her neck.

            “Thank you.” Iyara replied to the welcome and curtseyed.

            “Nay, child, we honor only the goddess, not one another.” Vela said with a shake of her head.

            “Oh, I beg pardon.” Iyara replied with color rising on her cheeks. Vela’s thin lips split in an equally thin smile, and Iyara got the impression that that was most anyone ever saw of a smile on the woman’s face.

            “No apologies are necessary.” Vela said. “We all learn, and you have just begun.” Vela then gestured to the leftmost door. “This door leads to the utilitarian areas of the temple complex.” She explained, “The kitchen lay beyond, as does the library, the laundry, the dining hall and workshop.” She then gestured to the rightmost door.

            “Through this door are the priestesses’ cells.” She added and moved to the door. She grasped the simple iron ring and pulled the door open and gestured Iyara and Catala through. Vela followed them and closed the door behind her.

            They stood in a long hall that led away from the door. Vela resumed the lead. To the left a large span of glass-paned doors led out to a long narrow garden that ran the eastern length of the temple. Above the garden, spaced along its length, were the five massive east buttresses that supported the temple walls.

            “This is the East Alley.” Vela said gesturing to the garden. They reached the end of the hall and passed through another door. They entered into another long hall that ran to the left and parallel to the East Alley. On the left of the hall were a series of narrow short windows that looked out onto the alley. On the right were a series of closed doors.

            “These are the cells shared by most of the priestesses of the temple.” Vela said gesturing to the doors along the right hand side of the hall. She then proceeded down the hall with Iyara and Catala falling in behind.

            They stopped at a door midway down the hall. Vela knocked on the door and it after a few seconds it was opened by a young priestess. The priestess looked surprised to see Vela at her door but then smiled as if in recollection.

            “Ah Vela, has our newest sister arrived, then?” asked the priestesses who was short by most anyone’s measure and more than a little round.

            “Yes, Melli,” answered Vela. She then turned to Iyara.” Iyara, this is Sister Melli who oversees the initiation of our novices.” Then she said to Melli, “Melli, this is Iyara.” Melli then stepped into the hall and cast an appraising eye over Iyara. “Well met, Iyara. You are welcome among us.” When Melli stepped out into the full light in the hall Iyara realized that she was not a short woman at all, but a somewhat tall Halfling instead. She had long mousy brown that was tied back in a tail that fell down her back. She was dressed very much like Vela, but was not wearing the red scarf of her order. “Well do come in, child.” Melli said to Iyara gesturing for her to enter the room. “Hand me that satchel, Catala.” Catala handed over Iyara’s bag.

            Iyara entered the room and turned to look again out into the hall. Melli waved an impatient hand at Vela and Catala. “All right, all right, be off now. We’ve much to do.” Vela gave the Halfling priestess a stern look before turning away to stalk off down the hall. Catala smiled and waved to Iyara and hurried after the elder priestess. Melli then bustled through the door. “Now then,” she said to Iyara. “Let’s get started.”

 

            Iyara spent the remainder of the day in Melli’s company as the diminutive priestess acquainted her with the day to day workings of the temple and of the aspects of the training she would receive during her initiation.

            Melli took her on a tour of the temple complex which was quite large. All of the interior walls had been white-washed and the walls were plain granite stone although it was gleaming and smooth from meticulous cleaning over the centuries. She was installed into a cell in which she would sleep and meditate throughout her training. She was introduced to the two other recent novices who shared the cell with her. The first was an elf name Kiara del Neriiat; slender she was like a willow with honey colored eyes and hair that matched. Iyara could not guess her age for elves do not age as the mortal races do.

            The other novice was a girl just a year or so younger than Iyara. Browned eye she was and her auburn hair was cut short just to top her shoulders. She was slender but Iyara guessed, from her general appearance that it was from poor diet rather than her natural size. Melli explained the novice, Tessa by name, was from the city of Seaside. She was the child of a poor woman who served in taverns and her father an unknown sailor, or so the mother believed though she could not be certain for the mother received coin for serving more than ale.

            After Iyara had been settled into her room, Melli had sized her up and sent Tessa to find her a novice robe of the proper size. When Tessa returned Iyara dressed herself in the plain, unadorned robe and several others were placed in the small chest allotted for her at the foot of her bed.

            Melli bade Tessa and Kiara to resume their studies and she continued showing Iyara the complex. As they walked down the long hall that ran parallel to the West Alley Iyara looked down on the small priestess.

            “Your pardon, sister, but I knew not that other races served the goddess as priestesses.” She said to Melli.

            “Eh?” Melli looked up the question her eyebrows raised by surprise. “Ah, why yes, Iyara, almost all the races worship Her in one form or another and she calls many to service.” Melli stopped at the next door along the hall, the third, for they had already stopped at the workshop where all manner of crafts were practiced; carpentry, pot-throwing and the mending of household implements to name a few, and the laundry where assigned priestesses washed clothing and bedding and mended and wove and dyed and spun. “This is the library.” Melli said stepping into the room and indicating Iyara should follow.

            “We keep tomes on many subjects apart from those related to the goddess for we must understand and appreciate the world in which we live.” Melli explained this as she led Iyara down the main aisle past rows and rows of shelves containing tomes of leather, scrolls and sheaves of paper. Too, there were several tables with benches whereat priestesses could read or study. Melli led Iyara back to the door and gestured her out to the hall.

            “Of course, humans are the most common of the priestesses.” Melli continued the discussion as the proceeded down the hall once more. “But elves, as Tessa, and Halflings, as myself, also serve in fair numbers. There are, and have been in the past, dwarven and gnomish priestesses. Why, during the Five Year War a millennium ago, it is said in our histories, an ogress named Gurta, a servant of the goddess, played a pivotal role in the ending of that bloody affair.”

            “That was the war when Ebornia defeated and destroyed the fallen kingdom of Atiaga, neh?” Iyara asked. Melli nodded as she drew up to the next door.

            “Yes it was.” She gestured into the room beyond the door. Inside were several large wood tubs bound in black iron. A long wood bench was set along the far wall and above it a shelf held several stacks of neatly folded towels and a basket of scented soaps. A large hearth was at the right hand side of the room and a cauldron hung above the coals and steam wafted from the cauldron. “This is the bathing chamber to be used as desired. The cauldron contains water heated by the coals pushed in from the other side where the kitchen hearth lies.” Melli explained and pointed to the fireplace where, at the base, Iyara could see a small slot that opened to the other side.

            “If you use the hot water, be sure to replenish what you’ve taken.” Melli and continued and indicated the water pump in the corner and the buckets beside it. Iyara nodded.

            On they went down the hall coming to the last door along its length and as they stepped to the opening Iyara could feel the heat pouring out into the hall. Inside she glanced as Mellie spoke.

            “This is the kitchen. As with everything in the temple all share in the responsibilities. We each have our turn in the kitchen and the laundry and in the general cleaning.” Iyara looked inside and saw five priestesses about their business of preparing for the evening meal. “Of course, the best time for kitchen duty is the winter month’s when one is thankful for the heat.” Melli chuckled.

 

            They left the hall of the West Alley and came through to the rear portion of the temple complex. A large tiered structure was this and it housed a small training room for the Sisters of Arms and other priestesses interested in martial training. Too, the large main hall used for dining and meetings was in this part of the complex. At the far end were stables that opened onto a small courtyard at the back of the temple. Also located on the first floor was the inner sanctum in which the highest priestesses held special ceremonies and rites, and a small room used for the sick or injured who sought the aid of the priestesses. It held but three small cots and a cabinet with simples, and salves and unguents and herbs.

            Melli led Iyara up a narrow flight of stairs that led to a smaller second story. This explained Melli was where the chambers of the Reverend Mothers were located. Too it held the offices that handled the affairs of the temple. At the back of the upper floor was a great set of doors that opened onto a rooftop garden that thrived atop the stables, training room and dining hall below.

            Melli opened the door and she and Iyara stepped out into the garden which was located on the south side of the temple.

            “It’s magnificent.” Iyara said in awe as her gaze swept from one side of the garden to other.

            “We grow many of our own vegetables and herbs within this garden,” said Melli, “as well as the sacred roses of course.” They followed a crushed stone path through the garden to the low parapet wall that surrounded all. They stood at the edge and looked out over the view. Less than one hundred yards away, the Orfane River flowed past the temple on its way to the ocean beyond the horizon in the west. Beyond the river stood the southern half of the city and beyond that lay the rolling swath of the Leamot Plains that fared hundreds of miles to the south to meet the Desert of Winds.

            As they stood looking out across he countryside, from within a bell tolled six times. Melli took Iyara’s hand.

            “It is time for vespers and then the evening meal.” The small priestess said and led Iyara back the way they had come, and down the small stair, and thence to the dining hall.

 

            After the vespers and during the evening meal Iyara was introduced to many more priestesses for more than two dozen inhabited the temple at any given time and her head swam with all the names. At long last she retired to her cell with Kiara and Tessa. She was weary for she had traveled that morning down from the mountain and bade farewell to her dear brother and then spent the day learning of the new life she was undertaking. That following morn she was to begin her duties in the laundry before the dawn and then take lessons the remainder of the day.

            As she lay upon her small cot, her thoughts turned to Korrie and she imagined that he must be setting camp for the night along the road to Chevranta. She drifted to sleep with visions of her brother by a camp fire.