Quest

by Shannah Jay

  'You make him seem - real.'

  'He is real. Never doubt that. Now, enough gossiping. Come and join the morning Gathering, then we'll break our fast and be off.'

  The other novices were already in their places and several cast envious looks at Katia as she self-consciously followed Herra and took her place for the first time in the front of the great hall with the other Sisters. Then the chimes rang out. All bowed their heads in acknowledgment of the God's presence as they gathered.

  For Katia, this communion was again a thing of bewildering joy. She felt the life force flow more swiftly in her veins and the pain of her separation from her grandfather begin at last to wash away as she gathered with her Sisters. She raised wondering eyes to the statue of the God as they concluded the ceremony. Was he indeed her Brother now? And what lay behind the impenetrable darkness at the rear of the statue? Was it true that a new part of the statue appeared every time another Manifestation of the God came down to the planet? She screwed up her eyes and it seemed for a moment as if she could see the shape of a head there, but afterwards she decided she must have been mistaken.

  When the Morning Gathering was over, the Sisters returned to their big communal chamber in the lower level to break their fast and discuss the day's tasks. Katia, with the prospect of going outside before her, could eat very little. She didn’t join in the conversation, but smiled shyly when spoken to. Without its sulky expression, her face was like that of QUEST Shannah Jay 30

  any other girl on the verge of womanhood.

  The other Sisters, remembering their own Second Choosings as Sisters of the God, and the wonder of their first few Gatherings, didn’t press her to speak, and Herra deflected Cheral's attention without the latter realising it.

  The Elder Sister quickly finished her own bread and fruit, drained the glass of glowberry juice, a tonic which Cheral had insisted she and Katia both needed, then stood up and turned to say. 'Fetch your things, child. It's time to leave.'

  #####

  Chapter 6: HERRA'S GIFTS

  Katia was quivering with anticipation as she and Herra walked through the temple compound towards the great bronze gates that were only closed at night. Novices were rarely al owed outside the temple during the first two years of their training. This would be her first outing since her arrival.

  The gatekeeper bowed to Herra as they approached. Katia's breath caught in her throat at the sight of the street beyond him. She was sure that something would happen to stop her leaving. She watched Herra walk outside and could not, for a moment, force her stiff legs to follow. Then she panicked and stumbled forward at a half run, afraid the gatekeeper might try to stop her. But he merely cal ed out, 'Our Brother go with you, Sisters!'

  Katia came to a halt in the sunlight of the open street, breathing in uneven gulps and gazing around wide-eyed at the bustle of a populous city going about its daily business. The storm was over now. The wind had dropped and the air was fresh after a light morning shower.

  She lifted her face to the sky, like a flower seeking warmth. Her dark hair was a riot of tangled curls, barely held in check by the blue Sister's bandeau which, child-like, she had tied for comfort, with no thought of adding to her attractions.

  Herra made no attempt to move on, just stood and allowed this most unhappy of novices to gain some control over her emotions. After a moment or two, Katia gave a deep sigh and some of the tension went out of her shoulders. Then she noticed that the Elder Sister was watching her and managed a wobbly smile that made Herra want to hug her.

  'It's so wonderful, Elder Sister - being outside, I mean.'

  Cheral should have noticed the state this child was in, Herra decided. She should have sent her to Lara for help long before now. What have we done to our little Katia? I shall reprimand Cheral about it. She’s too concerned with making the girls fit into her pattern, and too little concerned with their individual needs - though she’s a fine teacher of the preliminary skills, none better.

  Aloud, she only said, 'Take your time, child. When you feel ready, we'll move on. I'm in no hurry, myself. It's good to be out in the sunshine, isn't it?'

  Katia nodded. 'I don't like to be shut in. I can't seem to breathe properly, or to think clearly. I'm sorry, Elder Sister.'

  'What for? Being Katia?'

  'Being a nuisance.'

  'You're not a nuisance to me. But if you're breathing properly now, perhaps we might start walking?'

  Katia flushed, but Herra's smile was so warm and her hand was so gentle upon her younger Sister's shoulder, that the girl took heart. Her grandfather had sometimes walked with her like this, in the cool green tunnels of the forests back home.

  As they strolled down the wide avenue that led down from the top of the ridge, below which the ancient city of Tenebrak sprawled, Katia stared around, wide-eyed. She looked so alien and bewildered amid all the bustle that Herra's QUEST Shannah Jay 31

  heart went out to her anew.

  The streets were full of people hurrying about their daily business. Katia kept shrinking out of their way. Carts of fresh produce from the nearby villages, pulled by slow-moving draught nerids, rolled along the avenue, churning the remaining storm-puddles to mud. An occasional rider picked a fastidious way through the mass of vehicles. Some rode the larger white nerids, a sign of wealth. Few could afford the time and expense of looking after these fussy beasts.

  Most rode common brown nerids, which needed no fuss or grooming, and ate almost anything. Hard-working as a nerid, people said, and clumsy as a nerid, too. They were like a child's drawing of an animal, with coarse brownish hair covering their backs, a beard under their lower jaws, and stumpy tails with a tuft of hair on the end.

  Once or twice a huge trader's wagon pulled by deleff passed them, and people drew back to make room for it. The canvas sides were rolled down for protection against the recent showers, but usually these would be rol ed up under the fringed top awning. The wagons rumbled along slowly and it always seemed impossible to Katia that even deleff could pull such heavy loads with ease.

  She had grown more used to deleff during the long journey from the High Alder, but the great creatures still seemed strange to her. Deleff, which refused to breed in captivity, came out of the wildwoods to pull the wagons voluntarily for the traders, or to pull the temple wagons for the Sisters every spring. They looked, Katia thought, eyeing them now with more interest than she had felt on the journey, a bit like the giant lizards that lived in the temple courtyard and eaves, but the deleff had longer legs upon which they stood upright, and they had ruffs of thin loose skin round their necks, which seemed to give them a well-dressed appearance, especially when the ruff was raised. They had thick tails that hung nearly to the ground and they looked as if they ought to have wings sprouting from the stumps on their shoulders, but that was silly, she thought, a child's fancy, and she wasn't a child any more, but a Sister-Elect.

  As she walked along the street next to a wagon, she wondered what was in it. In the High Alder, the wagons brought knives and other pieces of fine Kelandra steel, or bolts of soft wool en material from Garshlian. What sort of goods would a city like Tenebrak need? It was the capital of Tenebron, the first and richest of all the Twelve Claims, a centre for silversmithing and woodcarving, not a struggling new territory like the High Alder. Would Danak one day become a busy city like this? Katia hoped not. Perhaps, she thought, as an astringent smell drifted behind the wagon, those traders were carrying herbs from the high forests, or salted sea fish from Fen-Halani, or musical instruments from Dyandra, where the tight-grained lereth wood was found in the High Reaches.

  On the pavements, prosperous merchants in rich silks and gold-embroidered headbands were attended by obsequious clerks and servants in darker, more serviceable clothes. All goods pass through Tenebrak, the saying went. Katia could believe that now, as she watched the bustle around her.

  Children and younglings on errands darted in and out of the crowd, sometimes earning themselves a blow for bumping
into one of their elders. Some of the younglings carried heavy baskets, others only message tubes. There seemed to be fewer women around, which was a little puzzling, for at home the women of the small towns conducted just as much business as the men. Perhaps things were organised differently here. It seemed very different, so strange it made Katia's head spin.

  The temple stood at the higher end of the Lord's Avenue, while the castle of Lord Benner stood at the lower end on a lesser ridge. Katia remembered Cheral once telling the novices that this was the tenth castle to have been built on that site in Tenebrak, and that all the other buildings in the city had been built and rebuilt over the centuries. Most of them were made of wood, which grew old and crumbled away, however much you painted it, though the castle was built of stone, as were some of the grander houses. But even stone crumbled in time, except for the stone of the temple which had endured since the Founding, defying wind and weather as it crouched there on top of the ridge.

  Katia turned to stare at the temple now. She seemed to be seeing everything with new eyes today. 'Temple Tenebrak's very old, isn't it, Elder Sister? How old, exactly?'

  'Ancient. It's over twenty thousand years since the Sisterhood was founded and the temple built, though it wasn't a Sisterhood then. Both men and women served our Brother at first.'

  'It looks as if it's put down roots into the rock.' Katia frowned, remembering that Cheral had said she would live nearly twice as long as other people. She shivered at the thought. What was it like to be so old? She turned to stare at Herra. The Elder Sister was over two hundred years old. How must she feel? Even her own grandchildren would be QUEST Shannah Jay 32

  dead by now, if she had had any.

  Herra touched the child's shoulder again, and with a sigh, Katia moved on, unaware how long she had stood gazing at the temple.

  Occasionally a voice would call out, 'Bless you, Sisters!' Once a countrywoman in homespun clothing reached out to touch Herra's flowing blue robe, and Herra stopped to clasp the trembling hand. After a moment she said softly, 'Go to the Temple and ask for Sister Lara, the Healer. Tell her Herra sent you.'

  Tears filled the woman's eyes. 'She can help?'

  'She can. You will be blessed with what you desire by this time next year.'

  The tears were falling fast now. 'Thank you. Oh, thank you, Elder Sister!' The woman stumbled away in the direction of the temple.

  Katia stared at Herra. 'I don't understand. What did she want?'

  'A child.'

  'But how did you know? She never said anything about a child.'

  'Her hunger for a child showed in her eyes. It's a very common thing, if you know what to look for.'

  'I saw nothing.' Katia's voice was sullen, almost disbelieving.

  'That's because you're not a trained Healer.'

  'But you promised her a child.'

  'Sometimes, with the God's help, I know these things. Our Brother has blessed me with that Gift.'

  They turned right halfway along the avenue, into a street which was even more crowded because of its narrowness.

  Katia shrank closer to Herra. On the left, part-way along the street was a shady, cobbled alley full of shops sel ing food, with tables set outside each one.

  'We have a call to make here,' said Herra, and grinned mischievously at Katia.

  Bewildered by this change of mood, the girl followed her into a shop and waited.

  'Have you any mountain nerid's milk, Liyanna?' Herra asked the plump woman behind the counter.

  'Yes, Il ustrious Sister.'

  'Could we have two large glasses of it, please, and some of your honeycakes?' There were some tiny wooden tables in one corner and Herra went over to one of them, rather than sitting outside. 'You did say you liked mountain nerid's milk best, didn't you, child?'

  Katia could only gape at her.

  Herra laughed aloud. 'A small treat, child, to celebrate your Second Choosing. Ah, thank you, Liyanna! No one makes honeycakes like yours.'

  'And no one enjoys them quite as much as you, Il ustrious Sister.'

  Herra grinned and turned to the girl. 'Now, Katia, I command you to eat and drink. You ate very little this morning and we have a long walk ahead of us.'

  Cautiously Katia took a sip, then another. Ah! Nothing tasted like mountain nerid's milk! She drained the glass, then blushed as she realised that the Elder Sister was watching her. 'It was good,' she admitted, licking the milky moustache from her upper lip.

  Another glass of milk was brought, and when the honeycakes were gone, Katia drained that too. Her face had lost its pale pinched look, and her cheeks were now tinged with colour. 'Thank you, Illu- er - Herra, I mean.'

  'It was a pleasure to see you eat.' The grin was stil hovering. 'And an excuse to indulge myself.'

  QUEST Shannah Jay 33

  When they stood up to leave, the shop's owner came to the door with them.

  'How much do we owe you, Liyanna?' Herra asked. 'And would you prefer payment in temple tokens or in the Lord Claimant's coin?'

  'Neither, Illustrious Sister. It's an honour to serve you. And Sister - if you're thinking of leaving the city, don't follow the main highway. The poorfolk in the Shambles are restless today. They've set up blockades.'

  'Oh, dear! What's wrong?' The amusement vanished from Herra's face.

  'They're upset by the latest taxes. They say the new decree will stop them getting fair payment for their labour. And then there's the prophecy. Is it true that a Manifestation of the God is going to come down and save us?'

  'So it seems.'

  'May he come soon, then! Times are bad. And Those of the Serpent only make things worse. My young cousin joined them last month, and now he'll barely give me the time of day. Says I'm only a woman. Fetch me this, give me that, he said when he delivered the milk from the farm. I soon showed him I wasn't having any such nonsense. Get it yourself, I said. You've got two arms and two legs, haven't you? He said a woman should know her place and that I'd regret my insolence, so my husband clouted his ears for him. The cheek of it! Why, I remember the day that boy was born! Who does he think he is, a youngling like him telling me what to do?'

  'And the trouble in the Shambles?' prompted Herra, as Liyanna paused for an indignant breath.

  'Benner's guards are out in force today, and there have been a few disturbances. They say there are injured who need tending, but the guards won't let them leave the Shambles to get help at the temple. And you were fol owed here. Did you know that, Illustrious Sister? Two men. They're stil waiting outside. My husband saw them from upstairs.'

  'I sensed it. But they won't stop me. They wouldn't dare to lay hands on the Elder Sister. Still, I thank you for your warning, my friend.'

  Katia listened to this exchange in astonishment. What was happening in Tenebrak that a Sister must fear for her safety? Cheral's warning about protecting Herra came back to her and she shivered. This would not, could not have happened in the High Alder.

  Serenely, as if she had not just been listening to a warning of danger, Herra led the way out and set a brisk pace along the narrow street. At the corner she turned and snapped her fingers. Two men stopped dead, looking bewildered.

  Herra smiled grimly and continued on her way.

  Katia glanced over her shoulder once or twice, but the men didn’t attempt to follow them.

  People didn’t look prosperous and busy in this part of the city, nor were they as respectful to the Sisters. No one touched the two women, but a few people scowled at them and muttered threats. Katia's head was reeling. How dared people show disrespect for a Sister? They would have been stoned for that in Danak.

  Once they passed an alley from which Katia shrank in horror. 'What is it, Elder Sister?' she gasped, clutching Herra's arm.

  The Elder Sister's expression also showed distaste. 'There's a Shrine of the Serpent down that alley, child. You can't see the banners from here.'

  'It feels,' Katia shuddered, 'evil. As if - as if it's surrounded by pain.'

&nb
sp; Herra looked at her thoughtfully, but said nothing.

  Eventually, they came to the edge of the Shambles.

  'This isn't a good place either, Herra,' Katia said, staring around her. 'How can people bear to live here?'

  That quarter of the town lay decades deep in filth, and the houses seemed to be leaning against each other for support. Some were no better than animal sheds. There was not a single plant or flower to be seen, only debris piled in corners by the wind, and a tangle of narrow alleys.

  After a while Herra stopped. 'Look around you, Katia. We in the Sisterhood work hard to develop our Gifts so that QUEST Shannah Jay 34

  we can help people such as these. Wisdom isn’t an easy thing to acquire, dear child, but we are doing our best. Some people are only interested in acquiring wealth, usually at the expense of others. Places like this are the result of that greed.'

  Katia had never real y considered how much good the Sisterhood could do. It was a comforting thought.

  Suddenly, to one side, they heard the sound of shouting and the clatter of fighting nerids' shod hooves. The few people in the street slid away and melted into doorways. A man with a bloodstained arm rushed around the corner and nearly knocked them over.

  'Turn back, Sisters!' he gasped. 'Back for your lives! Benner's men have their swords out.' He was gone before they could reply.

  Herra did not move. 'This is the result of unjust laws, Katia. The poorfolk have made the prophecy an excuse to stop work and protest against the new taxes. I wish they wouldn’t use our words against Lord Benner. It only fuels his hatred of us. I wish, too, that he would put more curbs on his men. His guards are becoming over fond of drawing their swords. That needs a sharp lesson, or this violence will escalate.' Gone was the gentle mischievous companion. In her place was a thin, steel-boned Elder Sister, whose very robe hung differently and whose eyes flashed a cold fire.

  Katia followed her around the corner, remembering her promise to protect Herra with her life, if necessary. In a cul-de-sac to their right, a crowd of poorfolk had been trapped. Raggedly clad and gaunt of face, they were spitting shrill defiance at men riding nerids, men clad in black with the red hawk insignia of the house of Benner on their saddlecloths. They wore steel breastplates and brandished short, pointed swords, some already stained with blood. Katia gasped in horror at the sight.