Meanwhile, the residents of Notre Dame d'Arc-en-Ciel came to look forward to the visits of the serene and somewhat exotic R'Kassan priest, whose arrival was always much welcomed, for along with the letters he carried for his noble charges, he always brought news and amusing anecdotes from the outside world, and sometimes new manuscripts for the convent library, and dainty sweetmeats for everyone.
The girls, for their part, flourished under the discipline of the convent school, with sufficient solitude to reinforce the inner work that Father Paschal set for them each time he came to visit and also the leisure to pursue the artistic potentials being developed by their convent training. Marie was developing into a lutenist of promise, to accompany her vocal talents; and Alyce's calligraphic skills continued to unfold, to the delight of Sister Iris Althea and Father Benroy. Nor could any find fault with their growing domestic competence, or their adherence to the disciplines of their faith. Both girls were confirmed shortly after Easter of their second year there, when a bishop came up from Rhemuth to administer that sacrament.
On a personal level, as Alyce continued the shift from girlhood to young womanhood, she was also learning important lessons. Though she continued to share a room with Cerys, and the two enjoyed an amiable enough relationship, it was Zoë Morgan with whom she found herself spending most of what leisure time they were given, not only because the two of them often worked together in the scriptorium but because Zoë's father, when he came occasionally to visit his daughter, often brought letters from Jessamy and even from the queen, that must be delivered in person.
These visits, though infrequent, became occasions of welcome diversion, not only for Zoë, but for Alyce, Marie, and Cerys as well. Though the girls had not been long at court before they came to Arc-en-Ciel, Alyce well remembered the tall, sandy-haired knight usually to be found not far from the king's side, and fell gratefully into the fatherly affection he offered to his daughter's friends.
Sir Kenneth Morgan tended to stay for several hours when he came to call, delivering his letters and then regaling his appreciative audience with the latest news from court. In addition, he usually included all of them in the largesse of marchpane sweets and other dainties he sometimes brought as a special treat.
Sometimes, when absent on the king's business, he sent letters to Zoë by royal courier, and always included a few words of fond comment for his daughter's friends. Very occasionally, if he had chanced to see Earl Keryell in the course of his duties, the courier's pouch would also include a letter sealed with the Lendour arms, but both Alyce and Marie understood that their father was much occupied in the king's service, and accepted that he had little time for correspondence. Also, they suspected that letters were actively discouraged by their stepmother.
Drawn into this semblance of substitute family with Zoë's father, then, it was little wonder that Alyce should come to regard his daughter as another sister. Since Zoë already had sisters aplenty, it had not occurred to Alyce that the feeling might be mutual, but their friendship was growing strong, whatever one called it.
Just how strong became apparent one wintry afternoon early in 1084, more than a year after Alyce's arrival at Arc-en-Ciel, as the two of them worked alone in the scriptorium. Earlier, Father Benroy had given them both a tutorial on painted capitals, for Zoë had been turning her focus increasingly to the illumination of the pages Alyce penned. Their assignment had involved a foliated and illuminated D for Dominus, with a furry creature of their choice peeking from amid intertwined vines. As Zoë surveyed the squirrel she had painted, cleaning one of her brushes on a bit of rag, she glanced across at Alyce's considerably less competent lion nestled amid oak leaves. Their slanted writing desks faced one another against a narrow shelf that held several unlit candles.
«Your lion looks like he could use a good meal», she said good-naturedly.
«Like a fat squirrel, maybe?» Alyce retorted, not looking up as she scraped at a vexing smudge on one of her lion's ears.
«Don't sulk. Your calligraphy is better than mine will ever be», Zoë replied. «D'you think it's about time for some extra light?» she said, glancing over her shoulder at the window behind her. «And I don't know about you, but I could use another log on the fire».
«I'll do it», Alyce said, happy enough to set aside her stylus.
Taking one of the candles over to the fireplace, she lit it from what was left of the fire, then set it on the hearth while she encouraged a renewed blaze with several new sticks of firewood, watching until they had caught. Both she and Zoë wore close-fitting cuffs to keep their sleeves clean, and had put aside their veils while they worked. As Alyce returned to the desk with her lit candle, she gave the other girl's blonde braid a playful bat.
«Hey!» Zoë said, though she was smiling as she said it.
«That's the paw of my lion, chastising you for saying that he looks ill-fed», Alyce said with a grin, as she sat again and leaned forward to light several of the candles between her and Zoë.
«Well, he does», Zoë replied.
«So he'll eat your squirrel, and that will solve the problem», Alyce said. As she set down the candle she had used to light the others, Zoë leaned closer and blew one of the candles out.
«What are you doing?» Alyce murmured, startled.
«Changing the subject», Zoë replied «and making a point».
«What point?»
Zoë made a pointed sweep of the room with her gaze, even leaning far enough to one side for a good look at the closed door, then returned her gaze to Alyce.
«The point is that I know that you didn't need the fire to light a candle», she said very softly. «Alyce, there's no one else here — and you wouldn't have frightened me».
Alyce felt her mouth go dry, and a cold chill clenched at her stomach. She had been extremely circumspect about using her powers since coming to Arc-en-Ciel, other than when working privately with Father Paschal and Marie and Sister Jessilde — and Zoë could know nothing of that. Could it be that she wanted a demonstration?
«Are you asking what I think you're asking?» she whispered.
Zoë nodded — and deliberately blew out another candle, her sea-gray eyes not leaving Alyce's.
«You want to see me do it».
Zoë nodded again.
Rolling her eyes briefly heavenward, Alyce glanced behind her at the closed door, extended her senses to scan the corridor outside — utterly deserted — then turned back to Zoë and passed a hand over the two candles Zoë had blown out. As she did so, both flared back alight.
Zoë flinched back involuntarily and her jaw dropped, but there was only delight writ across her face as her gaze shifted from the candles back to Alyce.
«You really can do it!» she whispered.
Rolling her eyes again, Alyce gave a sigh. «Well, of course I can do it. It's one of the first things we learn — that, and this». She lifted one closed hand between them, wrist upward, and conjured handfire in her palm as she opened her fingers, revealed as a faintly glowing sphere of green fire.
«Oh!» Zoë breathed, enchanted anew, and apparently still not frightened.
Shaking her head in amazed disbelief, Alyce quenched the handfire and glanced at the door again, leaning closer to her friend.
«Why did you ask me to do that?» she asked.
Zoë colored slightly and glanced down at her lap. «I — Alyce, I know what you are — and I obviously don't think that what you are is evil, or I wouldn't be saying this to you. I also know that you're very careful not to do anything here that might… frighten people.
«I didn't think that what you did was frightening», she went on less certainly, as she dared to look up, «but I think you must find it frightening to be so alone, knowing that most people are afraid of… what you are. I just wanted to say that, if you ever want to talk about it…»
Abruptly she stopped talking and glanced at her hands, clasped tightly in her lap, lips also clamped together, clearly afraid she had said too much. Alyce mer
ely stared at her in astonishment for several seconds, uncertainty warring with the impulse to reach across and take her hand in reassurance.
She had been Truth-Reading Zoë Morgan as the words came tumbling out, and had no doubt that they had come straight from the heart. She had come to trust Zoë more than any other human she had known. But was it enough, merely to trust in the goodwill of another, no matter how well-intentioned, when one's very life could hang in the balance?
«Zoë, what is it you want me to do?» she asked softly.
«I — suppose that I want you to feel that you can talk to me about — about whatever is most important to you, the things that frighten you, the part of your life that you can't discuss safely with anyone else. I want you to tell me about what it's like to be — what you are». Zoë glanced nervously at the door.
«I want to know if it's true that our two peoples once worked together openly, and if it is, I — think I want to learn to do that, too», she finally blurted. «I know that will probably mean — letting you touch my mind, but I–I'm willing to do that, because I love you and trust you like a sister!»
Tears were welling in her eyes by the time she had finished, but when Alyce would have spoken, Zoë held up one hand and shook her head.
«No, don't say anything yet. There's more I need to say. I know that you must talk about these things with your sister and with Sister Jessilde, because she's — what you are. And I think that Father Paschal must be one, too, though I don't know how that's possible, with him being a priest and all.
«But I think that the real reason he comes here so often is not just to bring you letters and presents from home, or to tell you what's happening there, but so that he can continue your training. And Jessilde either helps him, or he's training her, too. If I'm wrong, tell me and I'll be quiet, but that's what I think».
Alyce had listened to this unfolding of logic in disbelief, though she was quite certain that Zoë was absolutely earnest in what she was saying. She was also wondering whether, if Zoë had reached such conclusions, others also might have done so. Caution urged her to simply seize control of the other girl's mind and erase all memory of this exchange, also blurring the logic by which Zoë had arrived at her all-too-perceptive conclusions — and that was what Father Paschal would have advised, she felt certain.
But another part of her rejoiced in her friend's unsolicited and tearful declaration, and was already considering ways in which she might allow what was being asked. To have a friend with whom she could be utterly candid, in everything…
«Zoë, have you told anyone else about these astonishing suspicions?» she asked softly.
Zoë drew herself up indignantly. «Certainly not!»
«Not even your confessor?»
«Not even him. No one», Zoë said emphatically.
Alyce drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. Whether she obeyed her head or her heart, she would have to set certain controls, to protect both of them; but especially if it be the latter, best it be with permission and cooperation. And she would need both time and privacy to do that properly — luxuries she did not have at the moment, for the bells would soon be ringing for the evening office.
«Zoë, give me your hand», she murmured, laying hers on the shelf between them.
In the other's eyes, she could see uncertainty warring with the trust just declared, but Zoë Morgan did not hesitate to place her hand in Alyce's, even though it was trembling.
«You are so brave!» Alyce whispered, lightly closing her fingers around Zoë's. «I know you said you weren't afraid, and I know you meant it, at the time. But how could you not be afraid? — though I promise you, on my immortal soul, that I'll not hurt you».
She cupped her other hand over their joined ones and dared to send a gentle tendril of calm across their link. At the same time, she bypassed Zoë's will to resist and began teasing out the necessary threads for plaiting a quick protection that must suffice until she could do the job right — or until Father Paschal could be persuaded to assist her. Zoë had gone very still, and a little glassy-eyed.
«Zoë, understand that it will take some time to do what really needs to be done», Alyce whispered as she worked, «and we don't have that time right now — not to do it properly. But in the meantime, I need to protect both of us».
«Are you — reading my mind?» Zoë managed to whisper, eyelids fluttering.
«No, I'm not — and I won't, without your permission — but I am setting up certain safeguards. For now, I'll simply require that you speak of this to no one. From this moment, you will be physically unable to speak of it, other than in my presence and with my permission. In fact, until I tell you otherwise, you'll have only vague recollections regarding what we've just discussed, and what's happening to you now. Later, I'll give you back full memory, but for now, that's what I need. I'd like it to be with your consent».
Zoë gave a slight nod, almost drifting into sleep.
«Good», Alyce said. She gave the captive hand a squeeze and released it, also releasing Zoë to the controls she had just set. «You know, we'd better clean up here, or we'll be late for chapel. Tomorrow we can pick up where we left off».
And by tomorrow, Alyce thought to herself, maybe I'll have figured out the best way to do what needs to be done. But oh, Zoë, bless you for your faith!
Zoë blinked and ventured a faintly bewildered smile that dissolved into a yawn. «Goodness, it's been a long afternoon, hasn't it?» she said. «I can't imagine why I'm so tired. I hope I don't nod off during evening prayers».
«We both could use some fresh air», Alyce agreed.
* * *
You are right that I would not have approved», Paschal said the next time he came, after Alyce had sent Zoë for refreshments, and told him what she had done. «But having said that, I must confess to being most impressed at how far you have brought her along». He had been examining one of Zoë's illuminated pages, but Alyce knew he was not referring to the artistry of pen or brush or paint.
«Indeed, your work appears to have been both subtle and effective», Paschal continued, sitting. «Had you not told me, I would not have thought to look at her more closely — which I now must do, as soon as she returns; you know that».
Alyce only nodded, saying nothing.
«I would ask what you were thinking», Paschal went on, «but the answer to that is clear. She is fond of you, and you of her — and I know it will have given you much comfort to find a friend on whom you may rely — and that may well be true, within these walls. But it is a short-sighted measure, Alyce».
«Could you not reserve that judgment until after you have examined her?» Alyce said boldly.
«I could — and I shall», he replied, rising as Zoë re-entered the room with a tray decked with cups, a jug of wine, and a plate of sweet cakes and nuts. «Zoë, dear, put those down and come here, please».
Apparently unconcerned, Zoë did as he requested, coming fearlessly to look at him in question. «Yes, Father?»
«Have you ever seen Lady Alyce conjure handfire?»
The bald question took Zoë totally by surprise, but she only said, «That is forbidden, Father».
«Answer the question!» Paschal snapped, feigning anger, though his flicker of thought to Alyce acknowledged the deft evasion in lieu of an answer.
«No, Father, I have not», Zoë said, looking mystified.
«Say that you have never seen her conjure handfire, or kindle fire from the air», Paschal persisted.
«But, I never have…»
«Say it!» Paschal commanded again.
Looking puzzled rather than alarmed — and it was clear to both Paschal and Alyce hat Zoë believed she was telling the truth — Zoë said patiently, «I have never seen Alyce conjure handfire, or kindle fire from the air. Father, why do you keep asking me this?»
«He asks to test both of us», Alyce replied, smiling as she came to put an arm around Zoë's shoulders. «And we've both passed. You may remember and speak freely now».
An odd look came over Zoë's face as her gaze flicked between Alyce and the priest, but when her lips parted to actually speak, Paschal shook his head and came to brush his fingertips lightly across her forehead, exerting control.
«Relax, don't speak», he murmured, letting Alyce help him guide the compliant Zoë into a chair.
He spent some little while probing his subject, testing the safeguards Alyce had set, tsking, adjusting, then withdrew, leaving Zoë drifting in trance.
«Very nicely done, my dear», he said quietly to Alyce. «I believe that only one of us could bypass what you have done — and that is hardly a danger, I think. I shall be quite interested to observe where all this leads.
«Of course, you must both be careful not to provoke undue attention», he went on, «for if it came to be suspected that you had interfered with her mind, you and she could both be in a good deal of danger; but here in the shelter of the convent, you should have little to fear. You have learned your lessons well — and better than that, you have applied them with both restraint and compassion. She is a true friend, Alyce».
«I know, Father — and thank you», Alyce murmured.
«Thank you», he replied, lightly touching Zoë's hand. «And now, perhaps dear Zoë might pass some of the those sweet cakes to a hungry old priest, for I find myself grown quite peckish with all this talk».
Chapter 10
«Hear counsel, and receive instruction».[11]
Meanwhile, as Alyce and Marie made lives for themselves at Arc-en-Ciel, life at the court of Rhemuth settled into welcome domesticity. All through the first half of 1083, both Prince Brion and his secret half-brother continued to thrive; and early in July, shortly after their respective birthdays — Brion's second and Krispin's first — the queen was delivered of another prince, Blaine Emanuel.
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