Day 230 (208th)

Day 230 (208th):
The bell woke us up after a good night's sleep. Using the mats had greatly improved our rest. Under our robes, we secured our swords. I think my sisters did it out of habit, but I felt Vanity would need to be close at hand today. No one arrived to escort us to the dining hall. Sis. Cedar did tell us our tasks for today, which were the same as yesterday morning. She told me that I had a special task in a special place.
Lord Bishop had copied down a new prayer for everyone to follow this morning. We were a bit shocked to see Lady Bishop arrive before Lord Bishop in the company of other clerics. She looked at the new prayer and scoffed.
"She doesn't believe it will work or that it was copied accurately or fully," Alice told us.
We stood when Lord Bishop entered, beaming with anticipation. He motioned for everyone to join in the prayer. It was a little longer than the other one. Lady Bishop and her band mouthed along, no emotion or conviction in their reciting. The magic generated from true believers, again, re-cleaned the area and added another twenty feet. Again, we pondered whether this group was the cause, since it kept reoccurring.
After breakfast, Sis. Cedar told us we were dismissed to our tasks. She told me to come with her. As we walked, we passed our room. I felt an impulse and called Bo to me. Under my massive robe, Bo slithered up my leg and curled around my waist, resting easily on Vanity and my belt.
Far from the common areas, we climbed many steps to a high tower. We arrived at a door covered with mystical symbols. We stopped just before opening it.
"This is our Oracle. She gave us the prophesy the Bishops were talking about. Unfortunately, that is the last prediction she has had. Nothing has aided in bringing forth any other visions. It is our hope that you, as another seer, can return them to her. She has secluded herself in here. She never leaves. She vowed not to until her visions return," Sis. Cedar sorrowfully reported.
We opened the door to be assaulted by several layers of incense smoke rolling out of the room. We waited until it cleared before entering the silent room. The door lightly shut, making the barest of noise. A shriek pierced the silence of the room.
"SILENCE! Who dares violate MY domain? I DEMAND my privacy and peace. What is the meaning of this?" a very thin female elf stumbled out of a smaller room into the main room. She looked drunk or otherwise addled.
 Sis. Cedar approached her pensively, "We apologize for this trespass, Sister Willow, but it is needed. This is Kayla, a novice, who..."
"...who is here to replace me, is that it? Since I can't see, you bring in another. Am I to leave as well?" Sis. Willow interrupted angrily.
Sis. Cedar could not speak as she sobbed. Her emotions overwhelmed her. I stepped forward and urged Sis. Cedar to leave.
Alone, I faced Sis. Willow. She tried to stare me down, but I would not cower. As I was a bit taller than she, it took a moment for her to find my eyes. Even in her haze, my purple eyes registered.
"Those...those eyes. I have seen them before. A vision, one of my last, featured a woman with purple eyes. But, she...she was not you," Sis. Willow dismissed me and staggered to a table with several bottles upon it.
 I said nothing. I dropped the robe, which sounded loud in the silenced room. Sis. Willow turned and looked at me. She stumbled back, knocking the table over and all the bottles crashed to the floor.
"Red...purple...sword...snake..." she stammered, trying to make sense of what she was seeing and had seen.
I called to Set and Dawn, who popped in above me. Sis. Willow sat heavily upon the floor. Set took his place by my side while Dawn perched upon my shoulder.
"Willow," I began, "I am a cleric of Fate. I am not here to replace you. I am here to reawaken your visions. Let me help you."
It took a moment for my words to sink in. Set walked over to her.
"Can you hear me?" he asked her gently.
Sis. Willow's eyes widened as she looked into his silver and brass eyes, "You...speak?" she whispered.
"Not with my mouth, but people who are open can hear me," he explained.
He nudged her to get her to stand up. He sniffed her and the liquid on the floor and sneezed, "She smells like this stuff and it stinks."
I laughed. Dawn cheeped. Bo rippled.
Sis. Willow stammered for a moment, them burst out laughing, "Blunt little fellow, isn't he? Does he always speak so?"
"Yes, but so do I," I replied.
She nodded, "I see, so I can expect only the naked truth from you two."
"The three of us actually," Vanity piped.
Sis. Willow searched. Vanity floated from my sheath. Sis. Willow just stared.
"Greetings, Sis. Willow, I am Vanity. It is a pleasure to meet you. It is our hope to aid you."
Sis.Willow passed out. Set helped me get her to a couch. We opened windows to air out the suite. Set had to burn a few boards nailed to keep the windows shut. When Sis. Willow awoke, the room was much easier to stay in it.
We spent the rest of the morning helping Sis. Willow open herself to receive the messages of the gods. Just before the lunch bells, Treena appeared in the Oracle chamber.
"Hello, Ladies. It is nice to hear Willow's voice again. I was afraid I would never hear it anymore."
Treena and Willow stayed in the oracle chambers while I met my sisters for lunch. I returned Bo to our room and allowed Set and Dawn to do their own thing. We shared our morning adventures. Callie was excited about the remodel. Gretta had unearthed unknown treasures that were thought to be junk. Lisa found pots and utensils that were tainting the food and water. Anna and Alice were continuing to unravel centuries of erroneous history and false ideas. Sarah told of how the infirmary was becoming empty as the cloister was repeatedly cleaned.
We noticed the dining hall was not as full as usual. Also, Lady Bishop was not present. Lord Bishop led the same prayer as before. While no area was added, the cleaned area was scrubbed of new dark spots. With such a large place with so many people, I could not isolate Lady Bishop or her group. We felt they were meeting somewhere and refused lunch.
At mass, they were still not attending. Lord Bishop barely noticed. He conducted the sermon in the common elf language, apologizing that he had yet to find a sermon intact in the book.
Just as he was about to finish, he asked for any indication that they were on the right path. Above him, a sparkling cluster appeared. As it descended, it dimmed and shrank. It landed on his podium. Lord Bishop stared at it in silence.
Finally, someone yelled, "What is it?"
Lord Bishop gently scooped up the items and held them high, "We have received a great gift. I hold two sacred seeds:Autumn Wood and Fair Knot. Autumn Wood, a tree from the Immortal Realm that imparts health to all who eat its fruit. Fair Knot, known as the Wedding Tree, for any who wed under its branches will know only happiness and joy all of their days."
Murmurs rippled through the assembly. Lord Bishop called for the master gardeners to find places of honor for them. They passed the seeds as if they would break. Once they left, Lord Bishop concluded with a prayer that, again, gained no ground but re-cleaned the area once again. We split up again and returned to our previous tasks. Only Vanity returned with me to the Oracle's chambers.
I found Treena was still talking with Sis. Willow. They barely noticed I had been gone a couple of hours. They were talking like old friends. Treena asked me to explain the colors and patterns auras and cloaks take and form.
We were interrupted when both Sis. Willow and I were hit with the same vision.
Lady Bishop and others were gathered somewhere in the cloister. She spoke boldly of her plan.
"We must rid ourselves of those meddlesome girls. They have brought nothing but chaos since they arrived. Two days they have been here and, already, undone centuries of labor. It is those swords we need to undo their damage and return this cloister and town to the peace and order we are all accustomed to enjoying."
"But what of Lord Bishop? He will want to know why the girls are gone?" someone pointed out.
Lady Bishop laughed, "That fool? He only knows what I tell him. He doggedly believes that ratty book is our holy writ. We all know, if it were, there is no way it would be so abused. The power within would never permit the pages to be lost or the writing faded. I will tell him that it is a forgery, the girls are evil beings sent to destroy this faith, and that the swords, in our hands, can make this land a paradise."
Shouts of agreement filled the room. She went over to a man in the corner.
"Tell your fellows, if the swords are useless, they can dismantle them in repayment for the abuse your gang suffered at their hands. Those girls need to understand that such power is not for them. When we are through with them, they will beg to be servants. I might keep that dragon as a pet. 'Emperor' indeed. From his color, he was probably a mistake, an egg that should never have hatched. The bird and snake will adorn my wall quite nicely. Can't let them breed with our population. Too many undesirable creatures roam about as it is. I have heard that their kingdom allows centaurs and satyrs to walk about as citizens."
Groans and other noises of disgust bounced around the room.
"And, their royalty is human."
Louder noises and cursing followed this statement.
"We cannot allow this...infestation any longer. Tonight, after lights out, we snatch the swords, imprison the girls until they learn their place, dispose of the animals, and return life to normal by dawn. Fortunately, our Oracle cannot see and alert Lord Bishop to our plan. Deluded sot! The only thing she will ever see is at the bottom of a bottle."
Laughter roared.
"Even if Lord Bishop does find out, he can be removed as well. Who knows? One of you gentlemen may be lord by morning."
They laughed and preened, puffing themselves in mock of the Lord Bishop. Lady Bishop scooted everyone out, telling them to act normal at dinner.
The vision faded.
Sis. Willow was shaking as the scene faded, tears in her eyes. Treena was still there, watching us the whole time. As I collected myself, Treena whispered to me.
"While you were busy, I found an active Faerie door. It is in the north-west corner of the garden. I have informed Aloriana of the book we seek. She has promised to look for one. Also, she is working on reopening the sealed doors."
I thanked Treena for her work and good news. Sis. Willow regained her composure enough to ask what we should do. I said that Lord Bishop must be told. Treena agreed.
"If we walk down there, they will suspect something since I never leave here," Sis. Willow whined.
"Treena, please go to Lord Bishop's office. I will take Sis. Willow there through kirlan."
Treena nodded and vanished. I looked Sis. Willow in the eye.
"Take my hands and trust me. The trip will seem like both an instant and an eternity. It would be best if you closed your eyes," I instructed her.
She took my hands and squeezed her eyes shut. I pulled inward and found kirlan. In an instant, we were standing next to Lord Bishop and Treena.
"Ladies, what is so urgent? You look as if the world is ending."
We informed him of what we had witnessed. Of course, he found it very hard to believe. We summoned a mirror and asked it to replay our vision. Lord Bishop was shocked and horrified by it. He paced as we returned the mirror. Finally, he told me to call my sisters.
"I intend to confront Lady Bishop. I would like you seven hidden, but close. I may need to be rescued. Oracle, you will stay beside me, let her believe this vision is yours alone. Treena, you may stay or go, as this is a purely mortal matter."
Treena thought for a moment, "I will leave to check on the Faerie Queen's progress in locating a complete book. She may require help with the doors."
She said good-bye and vanished. Lord Bishop summoned Lady Bishop and we seven went to the other room. Through a gap in the window-like space in the wall, we could see them clearly. Lady Bishop entered, radiating pride encased in a hard shell of arrogance. Her cloak was small, but very dark.
"Yes, my lord, you require me?" she asked calmly, flicking a look at Sis. Willow and the rest of the room.
"It has been brought to my attention that a plot has been hatched within these walls to harm others and undo holy works."
Red shot through her cloak, but her outward appearance remained calm.
"A plot, my lord? How did you discover this?"
Indicating Sis. Willow, Lord Bishop said, "Holy eyes have seen wicked things."
Lady Bishop laughed, "The Oracle? My lord, we all know she is not well and has not 'seen' anything for a long time."
"Except at the bottom of a bottle, that is, right, my lady?" Sis. Willow added.
True shock registered on her face, having her words repeated to her. She looked at Lord Bishop.
"Of course, I am a fool who only believes what you tell me, following a worthless book that cannot be holy because it is damaged."
Her eyes widened further, her pride wavered, and the arrogant shell buckled. Finding no words but the truth to use to counter them, Lady Bishop sputtered and stammered.
"Lady Bishop, speak truly and we can find a solution to this dilemma," Lord Bishop calmly implored her.
After a few moments of silence, Lady Bishop angrily faced Sis. Willow.
"How dare you lie to him? Tell him you lied and all I will do is expel you from this cloister," she shouted.
Sis. Willow recoiled, but Lord Bishop stepped between them.
"Lady Bishop, we, as a pair, decided who stays and who goes. You cannot expel anyone alone," he sternly told her.
Lady Bishop laughed, "Fool! I am the power of this cloister! I chose you as Lord Bishop. You are my pawn, I am queen here. No one, and nothing," seizing the tattered book, "will stop me from getting my way."
She threw the book back onto the table and began gathering her magic. Sis. Willow huddled against Lord Bishop's back. Seven swords left the room and shot through the air. They formed a wall between them and her. They were barely in place when Lady Bishop released her spell. Like a wave against a rock cliff, it hit and fell apart. Angered even more, she produced a talisman that caused Gretta to clap her hands over her ears. Darkness swirled about it. The seven of us entered and began the demon vanquishing spell. The talisman vibrated in her hand, then shattered. Lady Bishop watched the pieces sift through her fingers.
"Vile creatures! That was a priceless item! You will pay for that!"
"Sister Elm! That is enough!" Lord Bishop cut her off, "You have betrayed your faith and attacked your fellow clerics. Alas, the law and punishment for such is incomplete or I would pass sentence right now."
"My lord," I interrupted when I felt the Faerie Queen's warm presence, "that may be remedied. I believe a gift is on it way."
As all eyes turned to me, I looked up. From the ceiling, a book slowly descended. It settled beside the other book. From the size, it was easy to see that the second one was complete. A bit of water dripped when Lord Bishop picked it up.
"Where did this come from?" he asked in a whisper.
I relayed Aloriana's information, "The Faerie Queen located one of your clerics with a complete book about to be taken by the sea. She retrieved the book before it, too, was lost. She dried it as best she could and got it here when it was needed."
Lord Bishop looked at the first few pages and found the name of the lost cleric. He confirmed the cleric had died at sea one hundred ten years ago. Lady Bishop reached for it, but Lord Bishop kept it away from her. Our swords returned to us.
"I must see it! Since it was a true cleric's book, it will tell the truth, show you that this other book is false," she pressed.
Lord Bishop opened both books and found identical wording in each, down to punctuation and the same misspelled words. Lady Bishop was aghast.
Lord Bishop found the law and punishment concerning betrayal, " 'Those who place themselves above these laws and seek personal power over and against their fellow clerics and are found guilty of this act, the rite below shall be performed and due punishment enacted.' "
Lady Bishop sought the book again, to insure he had read true. Again, she was denied.
"Sister Elm," Lord Bishop began in an official tone, "you have admitted to plotting foul play and harm against Sis. Willow, myself, and these girls. You and your cohorts are found guilty of betrayal. Let the law be fulfilled."
Her protests drowned out his first words. I could see his magic build, his cleric aura grow into a bright yellow cloud around him. A tentacle of this wrapped around Lady Bishop. She struggled against it but failed. Comets of magic shot out, probably seeking her partners in this crime. Before us, Lady Bishop shrank, becoming hidden inside her mantle and robe. The cloud shrank back to Lord Bishop's normal aura as he finished the spell. He walked over to the pile of clothes and picked up the mantle. Out of a sleeve, this odd rodent struggled free of the fabric. Alice informed us it was a shrew.
"She and the others will remain in these forms until their penance is over. When they accept that this is the true path and admit their wrong-doing, they will return to their former selves," he told us.
The shrew that was Lady Bishop scurried out of the room and vanished from sight.
From the other direction, two clerics ran into the office, "Lord Bishop! A horrible thing has happened! Several of our brothers and sisters have been turned into animals!"
Lord Bishop calmed them and told them he would explain at dinner. They left just as the bell rang. Lord Bishop asked us to accompany him. He picked up the new book and we all proceeded to the dining hall.
Everyone stood as we entered. We followed Lord Bishop to his table. He told everyone to be seated and explained today's events. Gasps echoed around the room. He also came clean about us, our true identities and reason for being here. We returned the robes and sat down at our table. Set popped in and took his position at my feet. Dawn perched on Alice's chair, watching everyone and everything. The stares we got were not hostile, just curious. Lord Bishop read a new prayer from the completed book, re-cleaning the area and adding fifty feet to it in any direction.
As dinner was drawing to an end, people barged into the hall. They walked up to Lord Bishop and Sis. Willow, who was seated in Lady Bishop's former seat.
"Beg pardon, Lord Bishop, but we have questions that need to be answered," a burly man spoke.
Lord Bishop calmly allowed them to approach and pose their questions, all of which were about the growing clean area and telling how people who were getting healthier and stronger and animals were returning to that area. Lord Bishop informed them of the rediscovered book and how the power had changed the cloister and surrounding area. When they understood, they asked if there was a way to speed up the process to include the whole town as soon as possible. Lord Bishop puzzled and pulled out the book from his robes. As he was searching, I felt Fate's pressence. I stood and walked up to him.
"Pardon me, Lord Bishop, but I may be of help."
Lord Bishop handed me the book. Laying it open, I simply asked it to show us the answer to the people's question. The pages flipped as if a strong breeze was fanning it. Suddenly, it stopped. I handed it back to him. Lord Bishop read the page and looked at me in shock, as did Sis. Willow, who had read it over his shoulder.
"You are a far better seer than I," Sis. Willow spoke in a hoarse whisper.
Lord Bishop stood, "Brothers and sisters, I need several of you to help copy this ritual. Tomorrow, instead of mass, we will per form this to clean the town and who knows how far beyond."
The room began buzzing about the ritual and their role in it. I went back to our table. While my sisters and Set understood where the information came from, the rest of the assembly stared at me in confusion and doubt.
We left the dining hall and headed to our room. Without the robes, we felt more at ease. No one bothered our stuff or complained about our possessions now that they knew we were not actually novices. We talked about this day's events before we settled down to sleep.