Quest (12 page)

A few of the Sisters there were very old and too frail for Renewal. All were around a hundred and fifty years old, and had been brought to live their last years in softer comfort than the temples could offer, helping with the children. Other Sisters were recovering from accidents or some exhausting ordeal - Sisters rarely fell ill. Two were there because they had been attacked and injured by mobs.

Of the younger Sisters, only Rianna, as Healer in Charge, and two others with the Gift of Nurture were permanently resident at the crèche. Berna had come to extend her training there. After a year or two, she would move on to another temple, to study with another Healer. Healing was a complex Discipline to learn. It was difficult enough to manage one's own body, let alone help others to manage theirs. It needed very special Gifts. People of all degrees came to the Sisterhood to seek the help of Healers and this was one of the things for which they were most loved.

Not until noon the next day did Katia see Herra again. 'Are you feeling better, Elder Sister?'

'Much better, child. And you? Can you think properly here?'

It was hard to believe this gentle, teasing person was the same one who had routed a group of Lord Benner's notorious black guards. 'Yes, I can. I feel so much better. This is a good place.'

'One of the best we've ever set up. Such a shame that we'll have to leave it in a few years' time. We're already searching for another site.'

'How do you know that you'll have to leave it?'

Herra looked into the distance, seeing her own thoughts, not the room she was in. 'They suspect that it exists, though they can't find our path, of course, because it has hidden wards along it. This Lord Claimant is beginning to grow too demanding of his possessions. He has a hunger to possess more and more land. He won't allow the Sisterhood to exist in peace much longer if he can help it. He is of the Serpent, an Initiate of the Inner Shrine. Our enemy. This is the worst Age of Discord on record, child.'

'We didn't realise that in the High Alder. Not really. Those of the Serpent seemed so far away and the Sisterhood so strong.'

QUEST Shannah Jay 42

Herra's eyes were pools of sadness. 'The Sisterhood is strong and it has survived many Ages of Discord, Katia, but often at great cost. Yet when these episodes have forced us to change, they have usually led to further progress in our Quest. Only a few Sisters know all the details of our history. With you - the God has put it into my heart that you must learn about our history too, and learn it quickly.'

It was as if her voice had a echo behind it, Katia thought, awestruck. Then she gaped openly as she heard Herra's next words.

'You are a Key Life, my dear child. I know not how, but you are involved in the prophecy.'

'Me? A Key Life! But I don't - I'm not - Why me?'

Herra's voice became stern, her eyes piercing. 'Let that be the last time you say that, Katia. You cannot shirk your burden, child. You've been
chosen
by the God, and you're essential to the Quest. You must do whatever our Brother asks of you.' Her eyes softened and she reached out to clasp Katia's hands in hers, as if to share her strength and her wil with the girl. 'But for the moment, enjoy this time of respite. When we go back, you must work harder than the others, harder than you've ever worked in your life.'

'I'll try, Herra.'

'I know you will, and I'll help you by seeing that you come here regularly to restore your spirit and that you spend as much time as possible out of doors. That'll make things easier, I promise you. Even after you've met the God and become a ful Sister, I'll still try to see that you don't spend your life enclosed in stone temples. More than that I cannot promise. Now, in return, will you promise me your co-operation, willingly and honestly, or must you still fight against our Brother's will?'

'There isn't really any choice, is there? Not when you see what's happening in Tenebron.'

'No, Katia, there isn't any choice at all. You can only delay your involvement by your resistance. In the end, you must accept your fate.'

Katia looked so young and vulnerable to be shouldering such a heavy burden that Herra gave her a hug. It was not easy to be a Key Life, as she herself knew only too well.

'Well, I'll do my best, Herra. But please - don't expect miracles. I won't shirk my burden, but I still can't understand why I should have been
chosen
. There's nothing special about me, really there isn't.'

#####

Chapter 8: KATIA - SISTER OF THE GOD

'No, Saryn, like this. Try again.' Gently Katia showed the newest of the novices how to feel and regulate her own heartbeat.

There was a titter from someone at the back of the class and Katia swung round. 'How perfect your skills must be, Vandrael, for you to be able to mock those of others. But you will need an extra hour of meditation tonight, I think, to consider whether you have the right to feel scorn for those less skilled than yourself.' She turned back to Saryn. 'That's better, Saryn. Just keep practising till you can do that every time.'

That evening, Katia went for a stroll in the gardens which Herra had given her the task of creating inside the temple five years ago, after they had come back from that first visit to the crèche. That task and the gardens themselves had, she often felt, saved her sanity, because she still found the stone walls stifling.

Herra had expected everyone in the temple to benefit from a better knowledge of plant and animal life, but even she hadn’t realised what a boon the long, plant-filled walks between the temple buildings would be to them all. Arbours and seats and little tinkling fountains had been created one by one, and any spare piece of ground, however small, had been
QUEST Shannah Jay 43

filled with good soil and carefully stocked. Katia had utilised her extensive knowledge of plants to create miniature ecosystems that were easy to maintain. Nowadays groups of people could always be found in the garden walks of the temple complex, enjoying the green fronds or the sudden drifts of blossom in what had been stone alleys, bare courtyards and blind corners.

'Is something wrong, Katia?' Herra was sitting in her favourite niche, a small triangle of greenery with a fountain and a tiny pool.

'Wrong in general, or wrong in particular, Elder Sister?'

'Either. And don't prevaricate!' Herra's face shone palely in the light reflected from the water, which was rendered almost luminous by some phosphorescent fungi that nestled in miniature rock caves behind the pool.

'Both.'

'Come and sit beside me and share your burdens.' She patted the seat and Katia went to join her.

The bond between them was now more that of mother and daughter than leader and acolyte. It was Herra, not Cheral, who had guided Katia through most of the Disciplines and coached her patiently in those first months after their return from the crèche, until Katia's learning had acquired a momentum of its own, which carried her along faster and faster.

Cheral had grumbled audibly about the amount of time the Elder Sister was spending on one Sister-Elect, and the other Sisters had watched in puzzlement, but Herra had gone her own way, as ever, leaving more and more of the daily administration of the temple to Lara, the senior Healer, and pleading old age when they tried to draw her back into a more active involvement in their affairs.

Katia had more than repaid Herra's efforts by becoming the most skilful of her cohort of Sisters-Elect, acquiring the basic Disciplines more rapidly than anyone would have believed possible. Now she took her turn at instructing the novices and was almost ready to Meet the God, the ceremony which marked the transition from Sister-Elect to full Sister.

'What's wrong, child?' Herra prompted.

'Among other things, the new novices,' Katia sighed. 'There may be fewer of them this year, but they seem to dominate the classes. They're more unruly and more unkind to each other than any other group we've had in the past few years. I can't bear to see the gentler ones hurt, and I have to wonder why some of them were
chosen
in the first place.'

'Novices have always been troublesome.'

'Not to such a degree.'

'Wel , I hear you have a very sharp way with offenders.'

Katia looked up, startled. 'Oh! Does that mean I'm being too sharp?'

Herra chuckled. 'No. It means that the girls' meditation skills are improving with unprecedented rapidity.'

Katia smiled for a moment, then sadness crept over her face again. 'It's Discord, isn't it, Herra? It's spreading all the time. Even trying to creep in among us.'

'Yes. And it will grow worse before it grows better.'

They both fell silent, then Herra said, 'I think it's time you Met the God, Katia, don't you?'

Katia drew in a sharp breath. 'Are you sure, Elder Sister? Am I worthy?' Some Sisters waited many years before the Elder Sister judged them fit to Meet the God.

'Yes, child. I've been watching you carefully of late. You're ready.'

'When?'

'Tonight, after the Gathering.'

'But - I've made no preparations -'

QUEST Shannah Jay 44

'You've been preparing for this for several years. What other preparations are necessary? All you need is an ability to sit in peace, to listen and to answer him. Sometimes this Manifestation of our God asks many questions.'

'Is he - very awesome?'

'No, child. The God is also our Brother, who sends his Manifestation down among us in times of trouble. You've seen the statue of the God in all his Manifestations. Do you find the sight of them frightening?'

'No, of course not.'

'Nor will you find this Manifestation anything to fear.' She hesitated. 'Can you see the new shape forming in the darkness behind the statue?'

'Yes. Though not clearly.'

'I thought so. Most cannot even bear to look at that darkness.'

'Tell me about those other Manifestations, Elder Sister.'

'You can find out for yourself. The full tale is recorded in the Archives. After you've Met the God, you'll have the right to read them at will.'

Katia's eyes glowed. 'I shall enjoy that.'

Herra looked at her, trying to judge whether she might go further, and decided to risk it. 'My child, the God has
spoken
within me about you.'

'About me?'

'Yes.' The Elder Sister took a deep breath. 'I know not how, but I know with certainty that yours is a Key Life in our Quest. I said that several years ago, did I not?'

Katia's head bent. 'Yes.' Honesty impelled her to add, 'I’ve sensed this too, Elder Sister, but I've hardly dared believe it.'

'Is that al you've sensed?'

'Not quite. I'm waiting - I don't know what for, for something to happen, I suppose. I
know
that. Sometime soon, I think our Brother will reveal his wishes to me.'

Herra laid her hand upon Katia's head in a benediction. 'I, too, have been waiting, child. I
know
there are other tasks ahead of me before my time runs out. But these quiet years teaching you have been a delight to me.'

Katia took a deep breath. 'It's a great responsibility, butI'll do my best not to let our Brother down, Herra.'

'Who among us can do more?'

That evening the Gathering focused on Katia. She could feel the warmth of her Sisters' support and encouragement as she stood, clad for the first time in the beautiful ceremonial robes and jewelled headdress of a full Sister. Some of the novices looked at her with envy, others with relief that they didn’t yet have to undergo such a terrifying ordeal.

Afterwards, while the chimes rang out and the other Sisters sang softly, Herra led Katia, using the ritual dancing steps, into the Chamber of the God. At the threshold Katia paused briefly and looked around her in awe. The tiny circular chamber was very simply furnished, with just a few beautiful pieces, but each was a masterpiece in its own right, even in a world as beauty-conscious as Sunrise. Soft hangings of embroidered silk swayed gently in the whisper of air from a ventilation shaft. Although there were no windows, lamps shed a clear light, which was reflected back by the pale polished stone of the floor.

Katia sank to the ground next to Herra. She had to make a conscious effort to keep her breathing steady and to regulate her pulse, for this was a momentous occasion.

'Brother, if you're listening, I've brought a new Sister to meet you,' said Herra.

There was a faint hissing sound that made Katia look up nervously. It came from a box, made of a strange, shiny material. It was the least beautiful thing in the room and like nothing she'd ever seen in her life before. Katia looked at it
QUEST Shannah Jay 45

in puzzlement.

Then her Brother's image appeared on the side of the box and she forgot everything else as he spoke to her. In this Manifestation, their Brother was like any man of her world. He was even rather diffident-looking, with a lean, scholar's face, deep-set eyes and dark smooth hair. She began to lose her fear of him because he looked tired, just as anyone might look, but he smiled and spoke to her gently.

'Welcome, little Sister. Katia, isn't it? I've been watching with pleasure as your special skills have developed.'

'I’m honoured that you should notice me, Illustrious Brother.'

'Just "Brother" is enough. How are your plants today?'

'They're flourishing, Brother.' How did he have time to concern himself with her small deeds?

'I should like to see them.'

'Can you not, Brother?'

'Only from a great distance. I see a kind of reflection of them when Herra walks among them. It isn't the same.'

'No. Nothing can replace touching them and smelling their perfume.' How strange that the God understood such things! How blue his eyes were, how kind the light in them! She listened carefully as he spoke to the Elder Sister.

'Herra, how are things in Tenebrak?'

'Worse, Brother. We must guard our gates now. Discord grows daily more widespread.'

'It grows everywhere, like a ravaging disease. Do your Archives help you to understand why this happens?'

'No, Brother. They only tell us about the times when it’s happened before and how we survived it. And every time it happens, it's worse.' How she hated to admit that.