by Cait Ashwood
“Lady Audrey?”
Audrey skidded to a stop, walking backward until she reached the doorway she’d passed. A girl in a plain but well-made tunic and pants rose to her feet, a parcel sitting on the table in front of her.
“I’m sorry to intrude, but I’ve been waiting for you since last evening.” The woman bowed her head, and picked up the parcel.
Audrey stared at her, wracking her brain to try and remember if she knew the person. She didn’t look particularly familiar.
“I’m from Madame Larissa’s shop. She sent me to deliver your order?”
The light bulb clicked in Audrey’s head and she smiled at the woman, entering the room and approaching her. “Oh, I’d almost forgotten in all the commotion.” The tell-tale tapping of a cane down the hallway had Audrey whipping her head up, eyes going wide with panic. She couldn’t let Ellen see what she’d ordered, especially as it wasn’t likely to be used, now.
Audrey turned back, forcing a smile. “Thank you so much. I’ll have the credits sent later today.” The taps of the cane were getting closer.
“But, my Lady, don’t you wish to inspect the work, first?” The messenger seemed baffled.
Audrey gritted her teeth. “I have the highest faith in Madame Larissa’s handiwork.” Please leave, please leave!
“Madame Larissa? Not a cobbler by any chance, is she?” Ellen, for her age, had the hearing of a hawk.
Audrey sighed and put the bundle down. It was too late to make an escape, now.
“Oh no, ma’am. Madame Larissa is a tailor, finest one in Amberfoot for sure, and possibly the best in the world.” It was clear the woman took great pride in her place of employment, which was all very well and good, but Audrey was mortally embarrassed being caught with this particular commission.
“Really, now? Well Audrey, bring it out. I’d like to see this tailor’s work myself. Been meaning to have some things ordered…” Ellen ran out of breath as she approached their table, slowly pulling out a seat and settling herself down. She leaned her cane against the table and gazed up at Audrey expectantly.
“I, uh…” Can’t think of a good reason to tell you no. Audrey sighed and pulled at the twine binding the package, feeling a bit like she was digging her own grave.
Larissa’s delivery girl had no problem chatting away while Audrey unpacked the item. “The Madame was quite honored to receive a special commission from the Order itself, I’ll tell you. She’s been fussing over that flag for weeks now, ensuring each detail is just right.”
And she keeps talking.
“She coated the threads in silver herself, yard by yard. And when it was all done, she said, ‘Kila, mind you don’t let that up against the horses, now. Can’t have the Order’s flag smelling of horse.’ I had it in three bags to make sure.” From the look Kila was giving the package, she was hoping it had been enough.
Ellen raised an eyebrow at Audrey. “The Order’s flag, hm?”
Audrey didn’t raise her head, her fingers finally latching onto sturdy green fabric. “A hasty move, ill-considered.”
Ellen made a sound in the back of her throat and gestured impatiently at the package. “I’m ninety-three years old, girl. Take much longer with it and I’ll be dead before I see it.”
Treat it like a band-aid. Quick and horrible. Audrey shook the last of the packaging off and picked up the top seam in her hands, unfurling the flag and laying it out over the table. It was a deep, pure forest green, with the most beautiful stitching Audrey had ever seen. On both sides was embroidered the sigil of a lily in silver thread, shimmering against the dark green background. Three lilies were in full bloom, with two more buds waiting for their chance to shine. Despite her embarrassment, Audrey couldn’t help running her fingers over the stitching. It was better than she could have imagined, which made it all the more a shame that it wouldn’t be used.
Ellen had been entirely too quiet since the flag was revealed and Audrey bit her lip, wanting to hide it in the bottom of a chest somewhere.
“Your daughter’s name is Lily, is it not?” Instead of angry, Ellen seemed pensive.
Audrey nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“Explain to me your thinking with this, Audrey.” She didn’t sound mad, but Audrey hardly knew her all that well.
Audrey glanced at the delivery girl, Kila.
“Oh, right. I can see myself out.” The girl curtsied at each of them before hurrying from the room, closing the door behind her.
Audrey cleared her throat. “As I said, it was ill-considered—”
“But you did consider it, so I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
Sighing, Audrey gave in to the inevitable. “The Order of the Leaf has suffered so much, as have the people in its absence. My thought was,” Audrey paused, gathering her courage, “that the Order should have a chance to begin anew. A new name, a new flag, a new image to the people. An image separate from the one you bore during your years of captivity.”
Ellen reached forward, rubbing the fabric of the flag between her hands, eyes tracing the outline of the design. “And so you named it after the future, your daughter.”
“I—well, it does sound rather conceited when you put it like that.”
Ellen finally looked up. “How many times must I tell you, girl. I don’t bite. There’s no need to be walking on eggshells around me.”
Audrey chewed on her lower lip. “Then…I feel I must speak with you about the future of the Order.”
“The Order of the Lily?” Ellen’s eyes sparkled. “Speak, girl.”
Audrey glanced at the closed door. “I need to find Falda, first. Hound is asleep, and there’s no one with the twins.”
Ellen rose stiffly from the table, picking up her cane. Audrey hurried around the huge slab to help her, but Ellen made it to the door and stuck her head out, taking a deep breath. “Falda!” It was amazing the lung power that woman had.
Audrey heard a startled squeak and more than a few doors opening.
The girl apparently appeared and was within view, as Ellen poured on the sugar. “Be a dear and keep an eye on the youngsters, would you? I need to talk to their mother.”
Ellen made her way laboriously back to the table, huffing and puffing as she retook her seat. “Easy as pie.”
Audrey shook her head in wonder. I guess age and rank have their privileges. Audrey turned, sure she had seen a pitcher with some glasses on the table behind her. She poured a cup of water for Ellen and then took a seat, taking a moment to organize her thoughts.
“Hound pointed out—no, that’s not entirely true.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek before starting again. “After last night, the world will know that the Order has returned.”
Ellen nodded, sipping on her water and watching Audrey with polite scrutiny.
“That means our duties are going to be resumed, as they should be. We’ll have emissaries arriving, demands made upon us…” Audrey trailed off. “The point is, we need our hierarchy in place. We cannot present a disorganized front to the people if we are to have any chance of regaining their trust and respect.”
“I agree completely, my dear.” Ellen took another sip, swishing it around in her mouth. “While my fellows have been following me, it is out of habit, nothing more. This new Order of yours needs a younger mind at the forefront.”
Audrey nodded, distracted and simultaneously relieved. “I don’t have the texts here with me, but I believe I read that the position of First Leaf was voted upon by the Order as a whole?”
Ellen nodded, then inexplicably began chuckling. “Only what is it to be called now? First Lily? First Bulb? First Bud?”
Audrey stared at her for a moment, blinking, entirely unsure how to respond to that. Then, she started chuckling right along with her. “I’ll admit I hadn’t thought that far.”
Ellen waved a hand in the air. “Details to be sorted out later. To answer your question, however, yes, we do vote for our leaders. Nominations must be made, though only n
ominees receiving three or more nominations become candidates. From there, we cast a vote on the available candidates.”
Audrey processed the information, feeling her forehead wrinkle as she thought things through.
“And, of course, a nominee reserves the right to refuse the nomination.”
“So…what would happen if the only nominee refuses, or if only one nominee is left?” There were dozens of ways Audrey could see this going wrong.
“If there were no more nominees, we would simply re-nominate. If only one is left, they become our leader by default, unless there is a strong reason why at least a third of the members feel they should not lead us. That’s when things get complicated with trials and whatnot, but I don’t expect that will happen in this case.” Ellen seemed quite relaxed with the entire discussion, as if they weren’t contemplating the future of the Order and, thus, the future of humanity.
“So, once elected, how long does she serve?” This interested Audrey quite a bit, as Ellen was apparently still in charge even after at least sixty years.
“That depends. Elections occur every five years. In instances of emergency, say, famine, flood, or mass abduction,” here Ellen paused to wink, “the current First’s campaign may be extended indefinitely until the crisis at hand is over.”
Audrey nodded thoughtfully “So if the First wished to retire, she could always refuse the next nomination?”
Ellen chuckled. “Trying to ensure you won’t get roped into a life sentence, eh?”
Audrey gaped at her, then cleared her throat to regain her composure. “I…really know very little of the Order and how it functioned. All I had was your diary and a few obscure references found in various texts.” Audrey very much doubted the Order was going to vote a stranger to their highest position. She wasn’t entirely worried about being behind on her training, as that would come with time. Hell, she didn’t even know everyone’s names yet, and probably hadn’t been formally introduced to half of them.
“You’ve done well enough, considering.” Ellen swished the cup around, the water making a musical sound inside.
“There’s so much more I’d like to know—” Audrey paused when the older woman held up her hand, shaking her head.
“As you’ve said, the Order needs a fresh start. The less you know about how the old one functioned, the better.”
Audrey paused, stymied. “Right.” On one hand, she could understand Ellen’s point, but on the other, she’d always had a nearly insatiable sense of curiosity. Being denied answers frustrated her.
“Well,” Ellen set the cup down and grabbed her cane, starting to pull herself up to a standing position. “I suppose I should see what I can do about getting a vote together.”
Audrey made it around the table in time to help her elder and steadied her as she approached the doors. “You mean, right now?”
Ellen chuckled. “My dear, the world needs us organized, by your own words. Would you have us wait for a perfect moment?”
“Well…no.” Audrey shook her head in wonder at the woman. Ellen didn’t waste any time, that was certain. After months of waiting and preparations, countless meetings, and hours of arguing, Ellen’s pace was refreshing, if panic-inducing. This is how things should have gone all along.
Ellen waved her off at the door to her own room, toddling down the circular hall and poking her head in various doors. Now we wait. And pray.
28
The meeting and vote were scheduled for the very next morning. Hound had left late the previous afternoon, stating that he needed to report in at the Institute. He hadn’t returned, and Audrey fought very hard not to let the affect his absence had on her show. She was still perturbed with Ace, and with the vote taking place the next day and Falda already here, she decided to keep the twins overnight again.
As she thought back on the Manse, however, she realized that it had never truly been her home. While Ace might have intended it to be a permanent location for them, she’d never felt like she truly belonged. Here, though. Audrey let her eyes wander around the central room on the ground floor, filled with women just like her, and felt almost at peace. Her anxiety over the events that would transpire today was the only thing spoiling her mood. She wanted to say she didn’t care who was in charge, but she couldn’t. Gwyn had made some very valid points regarding what the wrong leadership could do, and now Audrey found herself very much invested in the outcome of the voting. And heavens help whoever has to deal with Tops all the time. She didn’t wish that on any of the assembled.
A hush fell over the room and Audrey twisted in her seat to see Ellen and Gwyn standing in the doorway. The women remained silent as Ellen made her way over to the bench at the front of the room. Today seemed to be a harder day for the woman, moving much more slowly than she had previously. I wonder if she has arthritis? Audrey shook her head at her own ridiculousness. Of course she has arthritis. She’s ninety-three and spent over two-thirds of her life in a prison.
“Oof. Not as young as I used to be.”
A dry bit of chuckling met this remark, a few of the women fidgeting or shifting their positions. Audrey noticed that most of the other mothers sat closer to the door, much like herself. They had nursery staff, so the children were being looked after, but one never knew when backup would be required.
“Well then. How is everyone liking our new home?” Ellen surveyed the group, looking quite matronly in her formal robes. They were still Leaf Green, but she wore a golden cord at her right shoulder with a single knot. The rest of the women wore silver cords, and Audrey had none for herself, having never completed any kind of formal training and thus having no rank among the Order.
No specific person answered Ellen, the response coming mainly in murmurs. They seemed mostly positive, but a discordant note caught Audrey’s attention. She searched for the source and was surprised to see that Amelina wasn’t impressed with their new living arrangement. The woman had been a mystery to Audrey since their limited encounter in the tunnels. She glued herself to Deuce’s side any time they were in the same location, whispering into his good ear in that way she had. She was the most bitter woman here, but had rejected her son when offered him back. Then there was the tension between her and Gwyn, and Audrey had to wonder what all of that was about. Amelina seemed like a woman who rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, and yet Deuce tolerated her. Will wonders never cease?
“I know we don’t have the freedom we once did, but most of you are too young to remember that, anyway.” Ellen laughed at her own joke, settling down after a moment.
“This world seems much changed since I walked it last, and that means that we, too, must change.”
Audrey gauged the room for a reaction. Most faces were surprised, but heads were nodding. It seemed that, for the most part, the women were expecting something big.
“We have had only the smallest hint at the political situation in the world out there today, but there are two among us who have been fighting on our behalf. Gwyn, Audrey, would you come to the front, please?”
Audrey felt her cheeks redden as faces turned her way, but stood and made her way out of the row, apologizing to women as she brushed past them. She met Gwyn in the aisle and they made their way forward together.
“I’ve had a few meetings with the leader of the Seekers, the man they call ‘Tops’.” Ellen chuckled again, as if finding something humorous about his name. Audrey felt only annoyance, the man being a constant thorn in her side. “You should know that, if the commander had his way, we would still be rotting in our cells.”
Now the women had something to say, numerous side conversations sprouting up at Ellen’s words.
“Can’t say I’m surprised.” Amelina pitched her voice to carry, and Audrey frowned. What on earth is her problem?
“Why would they leave us?” A woman Audrey hadn’t met called back.
“Why did they leave us for sixty years? I see no reason for them to change their policy, now.”
Audrey opened
her mouth to argue on their behalf, but thought better of it, her teeth clicking together as she closed her mouth. Gwyn glanced at her, then raised her hands for silence.
“Audrey is the one that puzzled out how we could have been abducted, and determined that we might still be alive somewhere. After the attack on the Institute, my capture cemented that possibility.”
Amelina snorted. “What did they think happened to us? That we just chose to go on a permanent vacation?”
Okay, I can’t really get upset with that one. Audrey had wondered much the same thing. The disappearance of the Chosen seemed to be linked to that of the Order. That there was no formal investigation at the time of their abduction made Audrey wonder for the first time if Zaddicus already had tainted Seekers in their ranks even then.
Ellen gave Amelina a disapproving stare. “What matters now is that we’re free.”
Amelina snorted. “Hardly. I want an accounting of what they’ve been doing all this time while we’ve been, as you so eloquently stated, rotting.”
The woman’s attitude was enough to wear anyone’s patience, and Audrey was no saint. “Those grievances can be raised at a later date. Right now, we should worry about the emissaries that will be demanding an accounting from us, that could be arriving any day now.” She’d had enough, and she needed to help steer this meeting back on track.
“Emissaries? Why would we be receiving emissaries?” Another unknown speaker from the back.
Ellen cleared her throat. “It is one thing to know that people depend on us for their meals. It is another entirely to realize just how many have starved in our absence. Just as you are angry, Amelina, at the losses we have suffered, so too are the people angry at their own losses.”
She snorted again, with less vigor this time. “I still don’t see why that requires a group meeting.”
“Because I am old, and tired of pretending to lead you all.” She let the words hang in the air a moment. “I do believe I’ve more than earned my retirement, ladies.”