The Priestess and the Thief Kindred Tales 30 - Evangeline Anderson Page 0,99
smiled. “I’ve missed you—where did you go?”
“To find something to make you feel better,” Elli told her. “All you have to do is let it melt under your tongue.” She showed the piece of Lattice to the Priestess Superior. “Do you think you can do that?”
“I suppose so,” the old Priestess murmured. “Though I hope it won’t be so bitter as that other medicine they’re always giving me.”
“It won’t be, I don’t think,” Elli said cautiously.
Actually, she had no idea what the Lattice would taste like but when she brought it close to her nose and sniffed, it smelled a little like a ripe krisper.
“Open up now,” she told the old Priestess. “I’m just going to pop this under your tongue and hopefully you’ll feel better soon.”
Obediently, the old lady opened her mouth and lifted her tongue. Elli placed the tiny rainbow piece in her mouth and watched anxiously as she sucked it. She was hoping for an instant result but for a long moment, nothing happened.
Then, just as Elli was beginning to give up hope and feel that she had broken her vows for nothing, the old woman’s eyes—which had been half closed—popped wide open.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Oh my goodness!”
“Oh my goodness!” Elli echoed her words and Beedra shouted,
“Look!”
For the old Priestess was changing in front of their eyes. Her long white hair, which had been so dry and brittle, suddenly became jet black with emerald streaks again. Her faded eyes were suddenly bright and alive and her pale, sunken cheeks filled out and flushed pink with health.
She sat up suddenly in bed, moving without help for the first time since Elli had known her.
“Ellilah, my dear,” she said, turning towards Elli. “Whatever did you give me? Why, I feel thirty cycles younger!”
“You look thirty cycles younger too!” Impulsively, Elli threw her arms around the older woman who no longer looked like an ancient, sick grandmother—now she might have been Elli’s aunt.
The Priestess Superior hugged her back tightly, surprising Elli with her grip. When she pulled back, her eyes were filled with tears.
“Thank you, my dear,” she said to Elli. “Didn’t I tell you the Goddess would bless you? I prayed for a miracle and she sent me one in you.”
Elli was crying too, now—with happiness.
“I’m so glad you’re better,” she told the Priestess Superior, swiping at her eyes. “You’ve been so sick for so long.”
“Well, I feel better now.” The Priestess Superior blotted her tears and lifted her chin resolutely. “What did I miss?”
“Quite a lot I’m afraid, Priestess Superior.” Commander Sylvan bowed his head to the senior priestess reverently. “But nothing you can’t catch up on, I’m sure.”
“Well, thank goodness you came when you did, Commander,” the Priestess Superior said. “My memories are pretty foggy, but it seems to me that if you hadn’t, young Ellilah here and I would have been gone for good!”
“Yes, thank you, Commander,” Elli said, ducking her head shyly. “But there’s something I don’t understand—how did you know to come here? Did the Goddess tell you?”
Commander Sylvan shook his head.
“Not exactly. Though she did tell me to listen to someone who was certain you were in danger.”
“Really? Who?” Elli’s thoughts finally caught up with her mouth and she put a hand to her lips. “Not…not Roke?” she whispered.
Commander Sylvan smiled.
“Why don’t you go up to the Sacred Grove?” he said gently. “There are several people there who are very eager to see you.”
“I’ll go but first…” Elli turned to the Priestess Superior. “I…I broke my vows,” she confessed to the older woman. “All of them. I know that was wrong but I’ve already taken a sip of the Mortem Amore elixir so please don’t send me to the Priory of Extreme Atonement like the Ascending Priestess Superior wanted to do!”
“My dear, I would never send anyone to such a place!” The Priestess Superior cupped Elli’s cheek gently. “It sounds to me like you’ve already punished yourself enough for your indiscretions with your grief and remorse. But if it makes you feel better, I recommend that you go up to the Sacred Grove and confess your sins before the statue of the Goddess. That’s where I always go when I need absolution.”
“All right.” Elli nodded. “Thank you, Priestess Superior. I’ll do as you say.”
“Do that my dear—go now, for I can tell your heart is heavy.” The Priestess Superior gave her cheek a fond pat and then turned to Commander Sylvan. “Now then, let’s talk about what I missed…”