The Priestess and the Thief Kindred Tales 30 - Evangeline Anderson Page 0,6
see her,” she repeated doggedly, not answering the other woman’s question.
The priestess maid’s scowl deepened.
“Come this way—she’s out at the moment but you can wait in her audience chamber.”
She jerked her chin at the hallway leading off from the living area—one that Elli knew well, since it also led to the bedchamber where the Descending Priestess Superior was slowly dying.
Elli said nothing and simply followed her down the hallway. The maid took her to the end of it and opened the door on the left, revealing a room with a large, gleaming wooden desk and several straight, uncomfortable looking wooden chairs in front of it.
“Wait there,” she said sharply and pointed to one of the chairs. Then she turned and bustled back down the hallway, not waiting to see if Elli obeyed her or not.
Elli waited until she was out of sight and then, instead of going into the left-hand door and the office, she carefully opened the right-hand door and let herself into the bedchamber opposite it.
The room was dominated by a large, richly decorated bed. Lying in the middle of it, looking shrunken and ancient, was the Descending Priestess Superior. Elli knew that she had led the Order of the Sacred Grove here in the Mother Ship for over fifty cycles. It was only recently, in the past few months, that she’d gotten too ill to go about her duties.
Her illness had begun shortly after the new Priestess Superior had been sent to help her because of her age, but until her predecessor died, the Ascending Priestess Superior wouldn’t truly hold the title. In the meantime, she was running everything anyway, since the old Priestess Superior was too ill to do anything but lie in bed.
“Hello, Priestess Superior,” Elli said softly, going towards the bed and leaning over the shriveled figure.
“Elli, my sweet—is that you?” The old woman’s eyes opened. They were bright as new buttons, though somewhat clouded by pain, Elli saw.
“It’s me,” she said, taking the withered hand that was seeking for hers gently. “How are you today, Priestess Superior?”
“I’m well, child—as well as can be expected until the Goddess takes me home to be with her. But where have you been? I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you, too. Who’s been taking care of you? They aren’t doing a very good job.” Elli got the soft bristled brush from the bedside table and began to gently tease the tangles from the old woman’s long, dry hair. It had once been a vibrant black but now it was silver with emerald green streaks.
“The maids come and mind me every now and then,” the old priestess murmured. “And of course, the Ascending Priestess Superior comes to give me my medicine. They’re all good enough girls but they aren’t as sweet as you.”
“Maybe they’ll let me come back and see you again more often,” Elli said. She finished tidying the old woman’s hair and smiled as she put the brush back. “Do you want a sip of water?” She knew the Priestess Superior’s mouth got dry from the pain medication she was on.
“Bless you, child—yes, please!” the Priestess Superior whispered. “I’ve been laying here thinking how thirsty I am but I don’t have the strength to hold the glass.”
“They ought to be checking you more often!” Elli said indignantly, picking up the half-full glass of water with its glass straw. Carefully, she lifted the old lady’s head so that she could sip as much as she wanted and then laid her gently back down again.
“Much better.” The old Priestess Superior sighed contentedly. “Now I can let the medicine work and drift off to sleep.” She squeezed Elli’s hand. “Thank you, child. You’re a blessing to me and I call the blessings of the Goddess down on you.”
“Thank you, Priestess Superior.” Elli squeezed back very gently. She refused to add “Descending” to the old woman’s title. It was cruel enough that she was dying, forgotten and alone in this back bedchamber, without reminding her of her lost status.
“You take care now, child,” the old woman whispered, her eyes fluttering closed. “And don’t worry about what to do—the Goddess will guide you. She has promised me she will.”
“What?” Elli frowned. “Guide me where, Priestess Superior?”
But the old woman had finally sunk into sleep and Elli’s only answer was a gentle snore.
“Goodbye then,” Elli whispered, placing the withered hand gently back on the old woman’s chest. “I hope I see you again before…” She gulped back sudden tears. “Before the end,” she finally