The shorter of the two gowned women, the one wearing the black veil, approached the old Healer. She dropped her eyes to the ground. How did she know what was considered polite among the Earth People? “Mother Peg?” she asked.
“I am Mother Peg.” As soon as Mother Peg saw her clearly in the light of the lantern, she guessed who the stranger was.
“I am … “ The woman paused, seemed to think for a moment. “My name is Melisande.” One of the servants in the shadows gave a little gasp and raised her hand to her mouth. “But now I am called Lady Merrit.”
“And you are here to see your daughter,” Mother Peg said. She noticed that Maida was staring strangely at the woman who had gasped.
“Has she …?”
Mother Peg paused. Lady Merrit’s eyebrows suddenly came together in a frown. “Is she all right?”
“I don’t think we can let you see her,” Mother Peg said.
“But why not?” Lady Merrit looked close to panic.
Just then there was a shout from the door of the cottage. “Mother!” Liandra came running into the courtyard and threw her arms around the former queen. They held one another tightly, but in the next moment Lady Merrit looked over her daughter’s shoulder and her eyes widened. The Sister brought her hand to her mouth and the young servant woman let out a small shriek, for from the open door of the cottage burst Roxtrianatrix, all glittering blue scales and rainbow translucent wings. “Oh,” said Liandra, turning. “You can fly already.” The Little Dragon circled the amazed group in the courtyard once and then settled on Liandra’s shoulder and began to preen himself. Mother Peg scowled.
“But that’s a …” One of the serving women, the one who had shrieked, had stepped out from behind the two older women. Now it was the turn of the residents of the cottage to stand wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
“Yes,” said Lady Merrit. “Liandra has a twin.”
Mother Peg suddenly laughed. “Well,” she said. “Well then, a second-twin. The one your people believe is such bad luck. But I don’t think she is bad luck now.”
As the visitors settled themselves around the hearth, Maida picked up the bucket to draw fresh water for their tea, but before she could take even a step toward the door, Lady Merrit said, “Mother Peg, I know it is rude among you to speak of important matters before food and drink are served, but this cannot wait. There is a third surprise this night.” Maida stopped, the bucket swinging slightly from her hand. Lady Merrit nodded at the dark servant, who stepped hesitantly forward, her eyes fixed in some mix of hope and fear on Mother Peg. She reached into the purse hanging from her waist and took out a cloth-wrapped bundle. She pulled the cloth away from a metal box, opened the lid and held it out to Mother Peg. It contained three, small leather-bound journals.
“Oh!” Peg exclaimed.
Melisande spoke. “These are written by Mother Calla and Sister Rena, a …”
Before she could finish, Mother Peg interrupted her. “I know what they are,” she said and reached out for them. “And who are you?” she addressed the young Woman of the Land, “And how did you come by these?”
“We have much to discuss,” said Melisande.
The cottage was crowded. Every chair, every stool, even Maida’s pallet was in use as the six women sat in a circle around the hearth. They ate and drank and listened intently as each story was told.
Jessa’s eyes were as round as pottery plates as she learned of her origins as second-twin to Princess Liandra, allowed to live because of the love her father bore for her mother, placed on the steps of the Women’s Retreat House instead of being left out for the Dragons. “If I had known, I would have come to see you much sooner, please believe me,” Melisande said.
Mother Peg gently caressed the covers of Mother Calla’s journals, frowning slightly every time she touched the damaged one, as Melisande helped the shy Ev tell the story of the Key. Well into the day they sat in complete silence as Mother Peg read aloud part of the Journal of Sister Rena, Dragon Priestess. She had to stop reading from time to time, when her voice choked and tears began to trickle down her face. The journal was a manual of sorts. It seemed to provide all the information that the Healers and Liandra would need to know to raise and care for Roxtrianatrix, and, through him, communicate with the Great Dragons.
Later, as exhaustion began to dim the excitement, Mother Peg spoke to the whole company. “We all have secrets now, things that we must not say to anyone outside of this room, or we will put our own and one another’s lives in danger.” She looked slowly around at each face in the circle. The women all nodded in agreement. “And we have some decisions to make about the future.”
Melisande turned to Liandra. “My dearest, your father must not know. He will send armed men to capture you. He will never let you go free knowing you are the key to communicating with the Great Dragons.”
Liandra’s face abruptly lost the delirious joy of the past few hours and days. “I know,” she said. “I don’t know what to do. If I try to hide, I will put all of you, and perhaps all Healers, in terrible danger.”
So, she had been thinking about it too, Mother Peg thought. “We are all very tired,” she said. “Perhaps we should sleep, and think, and try to weigh our possible paths in the evening.”
“Yes,” Melisande agreed, then looked directly at Jessa. “Dear child,” she said, “Can we talk a little before we sleep?”
Chapter 72: Jessa
Jessa and Ev lay curled up together on Maida’s former pallet on the floor in front of the Hearth, wide awake despite their exhaustion. Imelda shared Mother Peg’s large bed, while Maida slept on a thick folded blanket beside them on the floor. Melisande had asked to share Liandra’s bed in the loft. Their voices drifted down, softly whispering together, but not the words.
“What did she say to you?” Ev asked.
Jessa pulled the covers up over both of their heads. “She said the first key was your poem, but the second key is me.”
“What does that mean?”
“She says that Liandra must go to the Healers School with the Dragon, so they can raise it and learn how to communicate with the Great Dragons in secrecy, and the only way that can happen …
“Oh,” said Ev. “If you take Liandra’s place.” Jessa nodded in the dark, close space under the blanket. “Oh Jessa,” Ev said, suddenly breathless. “This is your dream. You’re the daughter of a King. You’ll marry a prince, probably be a queen one day.” There was a tight stillness beside her. “Jessa?” Ev reached up to touch Jessa’s face. It was wet. “Jessa, what’s wrong?”
“It was all right as a dream,” Jessa whispered between sniffs. “But now that it’s real, I don’t want to go.”
“But Jessa …”
“Ev, we’ve known each other since we were nine. You’re my best friend. There will never be anyone else like you. There can’t be. And how will I ever see you again?
Ev gently stroked Jessa’s cheek. “I know. But there might be a way … and Jessa, just think, no more scrubbing, no more Dungeon, no more potatoes …” She stopped as a small sob broke from her friend.
Chapter 73: Gleve
Their bellies were blessedly full and their cold, tired bodies soaked up the comfort of Father Mallory's cottage fire as they showed the Old Man what they had found. His breath became so ragged that Gleve worried about him. Tears ran down the Old Healer's face. He wrapped his arms around Keiran. "The Goddess surely sent you to us, and then sent you back to us. You must carry this treasure to the Healer's School, and stop to show Mother Peg along the way."
Gleve's face turned troubled. "A King's Man? The Healing School?"
"My son," Father Mallory answered. "How can you ask it? He is chosen, a very special calling."
"How will he get there?"
"You will take him."
"But what about you?"
Father Mallory turned to Lynna and put a hand on her shoulder. "Apprentice Lynna has already become a very able assistant. She will care for me a
nd work with me." Lynna's face shone with pleasure.
Chapter 74: Melisande
Rafe sat by the Hearth in his glory, with the full attention of two women. Roxtrianatrix liked Rafe, and by the time he was a day old Liandra had discovered that if she needed her hands free, the beautiful Little Dragon would play with the big farmhand to the point of exhaustion, then fall asleep in his lap. Tonight Rafe had made a toy out of a length of string and a large cork. He moved it around the floor, in and out of his feet and the legs of the chair, making squeaking noises. The lithe little creature would stalk it and pounce on it like a kitten. Unlike a kitten, he would then fly up with it and try to tug it out of Rafe’s hand before dropping it and swooping to the floor to start all over again. Imelda and Melisande watched the game, laughing with delight.
Maida had gone to Tummel to send a message to the Castle that Liandra was ready to come home. Mother Peg sat at the table, one of Mother Calla’s Journals open in front of her, alternately reading and watching the game at the hearth.
Imelda turned to her. “You told us that Dragon Priestesses had to learn to live with a Little Dragon on their shoulder every minute of their lives, but Liandra has a nanny!”
All three women laughed.
Chapter 75: Jessa
The laughter came up from below. Liandra and Jessa were in the loft. Liandra’s trunk lay open and a rainbow of court dresses were spread across the bed and part of the floor. Liandra held a green silk gown up to Jessa. “We’ll have to take these in a little. You’re not as plump as I was when I came. Of course, I’m not either. You mustn’t get lazy at court, and fall into eating more than you really want. It’s easy to do.” She picked up a rust-coloured dress. “Try this on,” she said.
As she evaluated the fit of each dress, Liandra kept up a running commentary, all the things she felt Jessa would need to know to take over her role in life. “You will hardly ever speak with my … our father. He doesn’t ever come near the women’s quarters. But should he ever be near you and say ‘Rumple-Elves,’ those are little creatures he used to pretend he could see and I couldn’t when I was very small. I don’t remember much of it, but I guess he played a lot with me before he became King.”
“Rumple-Elves,” Jessa repeated.
Liandra described her one meeting with Prince Lochiel in great detail, trying to recall everything they said in the exact words they had used. When she came to the part about outpacing the chaperones and sneaking a kiss behind a tree, Jessa squealed. “Really?”
“It was kind of exciting.” Liandra blushed at the memory, “Although that was partly the risk of getting caught! He was gentle, and a passionate kisser! He touched my breasts for a second, just a brush.”
Jessa blushed along with her. “Oh, it makes me squirm to think of it.”
“I hope he’s a good lover,” Liandra said, “And that you learn to love one another. And that he doesn’t become cold and distant like my father did after he became King.” She paused and looked Jessa straight in the eyes. “Oh I wish we had been able to be sisters all along. I wish I had even known about you!”
“Me too,” Jessa said. “And now maybe we’ll never see each other again.”
“Who knows. We’re only seventeen, and as you said, life will change if we can make a new Agreement with the Dragons. Maybe as old ladies we’ll sit in your quarters at your Southlands castle and sip tea and talk about when we were young.”
Jessa laughed with her briefly, then turned away to hide the tears that suddenly stung her eyes.
Lady Merrit and Imedla took much longer than they normally would standing in the courtyard, travel lanterns lit, bidding farewell to Liandra, Peg and Maida. They wanted to allow Ev and Jessa as long as possible to say goodbye. The two friends held one another tightly and shed tears into the shoulders of each other’s plain grey dresses.
Finally, Lady Merrit approached them and placed a hand on Ev’s shoulder. “Come,” she said. “We must go while there is still enough of the night left for a safe walk to the village of Tummel.” She folded Jessa into her arms, holding her for a long time. Then she held her at arm’s length and looked into her wet eyes. “Go well, my darling. I am proud of you. And I think we will meet again.”
Jessa and Ev wiped their eyes with the fabric of their sleeves. Several times they turned to look at one another once more as the Women’s Retreat House group crossed the clearing and started along the trail to Tummel. Even when she could no longer see them, Jessa watched until their lanterns flickered out of sight.
Chapter 76: Maida
When Maida roused herself to do the evening chores, she found the pallet in front of the Hearth empty. “Mother Peg,” she called. “Liandra. Come quickly.” Bed frames creaked, bedding rustled as it was thrown aside. A few minutes later, all three women stood staring with horror at the empty pallet, it’s blanket neatly folded. “Completely cold?” Mother Peg asked. Maida nodded.
Chapter 77: Melisande
Mother Tess blinked hard a few times, then gave up and allowed the tears to trickle down along the deep creases in her cheek. Marle took her hand, stroking it gently, a delighted smile on her own face. “Who ever would have believed …” she whispered, but apparently could not find the words to complete the sentence.
Melisande, Imelda and Ev were also smiling, at Tess and Marle, at each other, quiet now that they had told the story of their visit to Mother Peg’s cottage. Mother Tess pulled a bit of her sleeve over her hand to wipe her face. “Oh that old Peg,” she said. “Won’t she be proud now? Is she on her way to the School with her prize?”
“That is the plan,” Melisande said, “As soon as they see our Jessa off to the palace posing as Liandra.”
“And she will take Maida with her? It’s about time that young woman was given a proper apprenticeship as a Healer.” Melisande, Imelda and Ev looked at each other. None of them knew. “Ah well,” Tess said, “I will find out. I am now very anxious to travel to the School myself, see a Little Dragon with my own eyes before I die.” Marle glanced at the door and her hand on Mother Tess’s tightened for a moment before she let go and reached out for a steaming cup of tea Ev handed to her. Tess glanced at the door as well. “You’re right,” she said, as if Marle had spoken. “I guess we shouldn’t be saying it aloud. Anyone could be listening at the door.”
Ev served the other women as well, then poured a cup for herself before setting the thick peasant teapot back on the small table in the centre of a tiny upstairs room in the inn at Theta’s Well. The innkeeper’s wife had produced the tea and a plate of biscuits, along with chairs for the three older women. Marle and Ev shared the side of the bed.
Marle turned to Melisande. “Lady Merrit, how will you explain to Head Mother Mabonne that Jessa will not be with you?”
Melisande’s smile faded into a look of concern. “I haven’t thought of anything yet.”
“Everyone is talking about how many Dragons have been flying overhead in this region for the past few weeks. Oh! I just realized. It probably has something to do with the arrival of the … “ Marle gave the door a guilty glance. “Sorry. Anyway, there have been a few more Dragon attacks than usual lately too. Could you say Jessa was carried away?”
Ev spoke. “We did have a close call, at Mother Calla’s cottage …”
Melisande studied her eager young face. “But what reason can I give for her being outside at daybreak?”
There was a pause, the sloping timbered ceiling reflecting back the hard thinking of every woman in the circle. Mother Tess’s eyebrows went up. “You could say the two of them, Ev and Jessa, slipped out to try and find us.
Melisande frowned again. “But Ev will be with us … oh.” She stopped as Tess’s thought became her own. “I could leave Ev here with you.”
Ev sat up straight, took in a sharp little breath. “To apprentice as a Healer?” she said and looked at Melisande with eyes full of hope.
Marle, too, fixed her eyes on Melisande. “I think it is what she w
as born to do, “ she said, “If her mother had not fallen on such hard times …”
Melisande nodded. “Of course. It makes perfect sense.”
Ev leaped from her seat and threw her arms around Melisande’s neck, then stepped back with a look of horror at what she had just done. Melisande laughed, took her hand. “Go with my blessing,” she said.
“And mine,” added Imelda, grinning broadly.
Chapter 78: Jessa
As soon as the rhythmic breathing of sleep surrounded her in the little cottage, Jessa had quietly slipped away. She followed the trail as far as she could, but there were Dragons passing overhead. They were very high, but she dared not risk it. She made her way into the woods and hunted for a sheltered spot. A large fallen tree, hollowed by time, gave her what she sought. Wincing away from the crumbling rot beneath her hands and knees, she crawled inside. At least it was soft. More quickly than she imagined possible in such a place, she was asleep.
She awoke as twilight fell and crept out, brushing bits of the forest floor from her skirt. She studied the clearing around her with growing concern. From which direction had she come? Where was the trail? She must find it quickly, for she had no lantern to light her way.
She decided to search in systematic circles out from her daytime refuge in the log. After four circles, she found the trail, but following it by feel in the darkness proved harder than she imagined. She lost it, found it, lost it, found it, lost complete track of the time. Then her spirits leaped up as, along with the first streak of grey in the dawn sky, she spotted the lights of Tummel.
The noise from the inn met her before she even crossed the square to reach it. Its main room was filled with travelers, all men, celebrating the end of another night’s journey with ale and the generous food of the place. Jessa did not want to enter. She peeked as carefully as she could around the edge of the door, searching for any woman to be found there. In a few moments a stout older woman swept through the door from the kitchen, steaming bowls of stew on a tray in her hands, and began pushing and swearing her way to a table where a group of soldiers waited with loud impatience for their food. As she placed the bowls before them, she was facing the door and Jessa stepped forward a bit to get her attention. The woman saw her, and in a moment came over, the empty tray now swinging by her side. “The women from the Retreat House?” she said. “No, dear. They went on last night.”