Nala tries to meditate but Inkeri drags her on a run instead. They discuss the theology of this world as they tackle the stairs to the shrine together. And the dog, Rosy, appears!
This is my draft, so expect to see thing change in the final version. Have a thought to make it better? Let me know in the comments!
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Our Sister’s Mage – Chapter 8
Nala opened her eyes and looked down. There wasn’t a bug on her robe as she’d thought. She brushed it regardless, then settled into the wooden bench at edge of the garden to try meditating again. She thought of the Goddess, her love, and the quiet and cold air around her. And she thought of the Dark Ones. Of Inkeri. Of Liam.
It had been a week since Inkeri had arrived, banished the Dark One, and then slept with a man at the shrine. Nala thought things would calm down and that she’d feel better, but she found she was sleeping even worse than before Inkeri had saved the Dark One. Something still felt off. She assumed it had to be this Wesley.
She exhaled and opened her eyes. Wesley had not appeared at the shrine again, and Inkeri had not mentioned him. Cleric Kennet wouldn’t tell her what the man had done in school.
Nala took a deep breath and dropped her eyes to her boots. Warm and sturdy, they were small in comparisons to Inkeri’s. Why does that matter?
Cleric Kennet had suggested meditation as a way to ease her anxiety, but all she could think about were the evil creatures and who was behind them. Wesley still seemed like a good suspect.
Inkeri had been up to the mine and back, all around town, and probably parts outside of town looking for Harbingers. Or at least that was what she claimed; for all Nala knew, she was off sleeping with Wesley every day.
“You don’t look like you’re meditating.”
Nala jumped at Inkeri’s voice behind her. She spun in her seat, cloak pulling down on her shoulder as it caught on the bench.
Inkeri strode to the side of the bench. Dark skin under her eyes reflected a lack of sleep, but her eyes were as bright as ever. She glanced up at the tree branches as she lofted her cloak up and over her shoulders, pulling it closed at the neck.
Nala straightened her robe again, more annoyed with her inability to meditate than with the mage. “Why do you think that’s what I’m doing?”
“Cleric Kennet told me.” Inkeri crossed her arms under her cloak. “He’s going out to patch up the bell tower.”
“How?” Cleric Kennet couldn’t fix the bell tower by himself. He could barely ring the bell by himself.
Inkeri shrugged. “Sticks and rope.”
Nala stood and gathered the edges of her cloak. “I’ll go help him.”
“He’s fine,” Inkeri said. “He’s enjoying himself.”
What could be enjoyable about fixing that stack of stones and wood? “He can’t fix it on his own.”
“That bell tower is beyond repair anyway,” Inkeri said. “He’s calming himself with the effort, much like your meditation.”
He liked to work with his hands when he was stressed. It was usually inside the shrine doing little things in the kitchen, but perhaps he wanted a larger project in response to the past few days. Hopefully it was working better than her plan.
Nala slumped back down on the bench. “Well I’m attempting meditation.”
Inkeri rested a knee against the edge of the bench. “I’m going for a little walk, if you’d like to come.”
“For a walk?”
“Helps me meditate,” Inkeri said.
“I…” Nala almost said no. But here was her opportunity to talk with the mage. She might find out more about the other Venandi, the Dark Ones, and possibly Wesley. Nala stood. “What are we doing?”
Inkeri turned. “Walking down the hill, to start.”
Nala followed Inkeri around the side of the building, past the gazebo in front of the shrine, and to Cleric Kennet as he stared at the bell. Whoever had made it to the top of the hill first after the Dark One appeared on the docks had been enthusiastic about ringing it and it now looked like it might fall over with a gust of wind. He nodded at the two women and then resumed his study.
Inkeri continued past him and onto the stairs leading down into town. “How many steps are there?”
“Three hundred and twelve,” Nala said.
“Perfect.” Inkeri maintained a brisk but comfortable pace, walking in silence for a few moments.
The steps at the top of the hill were a few feet apart. Several of the stones had been replaced recently, so it was the easiest part of the climb up or down.
The mage slowed at the next section, when the height of the steps grew. “Hard to focus on the Goddess when you meditate?”
Nala dropped down to the next step. “There’s just so many other things to think about.”
“And they feel more important,” Inkeri said. “Or at least scarier.”
Nala didn’t want to be scared, but that was true. The Goddess had not taken physical form or loomed as a constant ominous threat to burn the town to the ground. A Dark One might show up five feet in front of Nala, though at least that wasn’t likely since Inkeri was right there. More likely it’d show up in town and kill a few people before the mage could respond.
She shuddered against a sudden chill in her spine. She was still worried about Dark Ones, even though it was gone.
“Your head is pulling your attention to the threat.” Inkeri’s voice snapped her back to steps. “If a Dark One was here in front of us, you’d want to pay attention to it and nothing else.”
“How did you know I was,” Nala struggled to find the words.
“Thinking about a Dark One? People do, after a rescue. You had things to do before and that probably kept you from thinking about it more. So now you’re worried about it.”
“But it isn’t here anymore,” Nala said.
“It isn’t,” Inkeri said, “but your head thinks it might show up, so it wants you prepared.”
“How do you know all this?” And why was she sharing?
“The Venandi meditate a lot more than Clerics do.”
Of course they did. The Venandi did everything better than the Clerics did, if you asked them. “Well, then what do I do?”
“Focus on something here. Like your breath, if you’re not moving. Or these stairs, the town below, the clouds above. Not something far away, like the Goddess.”
“She’s not far away.” Nala’s voice held an indignation she didn’t feel.
Inkeri rolled her eyes. “Right, but your body doesn’t know that. It does know you’re going down stairs.”
The Venandi have odd ideas. “Right.”
“Try to breathe evenly and think about what’s here in front of you, right now.”
The town of Vasti lay beneath them, under the hill and treetops. Smoke rose from many of the buildings, drifting up into the scattered clouds above. At the north end of town, the sea extended into the distance.
“Then what?” Nala asked.
“That’s it,” Inkeri said. “Just keep your attention on our walk down and the nature around us.”
A bird fluttered overhead against the morning sky. It was a pretty day, yet her mind wandered. Nala’s robes were blue in honor of the sky, or at least that’s what she’d read. Acolytes wore blue robes and blue hoods. If she became a Cleric, her hood would be white. Why didn’t the mages have uniforms?
The mages attended school for several years. Clerics assisted with their education, though they weren’t in charge. Once done, the Venandi left the school and joined a more experience mage until they had their first rescue. Inkeri had met Cleric Kennet and this strange Wesley at school, which is probably where she learned meditation. And Goddess knows what else.
Who had Inkeri studied under before her first rescue? And had Inkeri guided new mages after school? Did she teach them this just like she was teaching Nala? She wasn’t very good at it, so hopefully not many.
“Focus on the nature, Nala.”
How does she know I’m not?
How was she supposed to focus on their walk when there were other things to think about? It didn’t seem any better than what she was doing before. She just couldn’t do it; she wasn’t focused enough.
Inkeri said, “And people like you are prone to getting angry when you think about something else. Don’t get mad at yourself.”
“People like me?”
“Yes, people like you,” Inkeri said. “Don’t worry about that right now either. When you think about something other than what’s in front of us, which you will, just go back to your scenery. It isn’t something to be annoyed over.”
Nala tried again, to the same effect. She’d lost interest in meditating, and there was no getting it back. Besides, this was the time to talk to the mage; see what she could find out about Wesley, or anything else. “Why did you want me to come with you down the hill?”
“We’re going to run back up.”
“What?” Nala stopped in the middle of a step. “I didn’t know that was the plan.”
“It is.” Inkeri continued to walk. “Though I suppose you can just stay down there and get cold.”
“Or I can walk back up like a normal person.”
“I haven’t found the Harbingers,” Inkeri said. “You need to be prepared if they cause problems.”
Nala caught up with the mage. “So now we have to run?”
“I need to be in better shape than them.”
That made sense. Inkeri was over forty; maybe there were people who were in better shape than her. Nala couldn’t imagine many people were in better shape than Inkeri, though. And now Inkeri wanted Nala to run with her? “But why me?”
“It will help settle your mind. Even better than walking. Also, if you can outrun somebody, it will help.”
“Outrun them?” Nala asked.
“I assume you don’t want to fight them.”
“True.”
“I don’t know if they might come after you or Cleric Kennet. But best to prepare, and I don’t see him going for a run.”
“I really hope that doesn’t happen. I hope you’re wrong about the Harbingers.”
“Honestly, I do too,” Inkeri said. “But wouldn’t you like to be prepared for it? You like preparing.”
“I usually do that by reading.” In a nice, safe, warm building. Without running.
“Which is perfect,” Inkeri said. “I think you ought to stay near the shine. You’re less likely to be attacked there.”
Nala did not want to be stuck near the shrine again. She’d remained near there most of the time while waiting for Inkeri. “Harbingers can just as easily find me there, though I don’t know why they would.”
“True, but a Dark One won’t go there,” Inkeri said. “We can eliminate one risk. I suspect humans would be less likely to attack, too.”
“Dark One? You rescued it.”
“So let’s say I’m right about the Harbingers. What if they summoned that one? They could summon another one.”
“Well, now I have something to actually worry about.”
“It is why I didn’t mention it earlier, but since I haven’t figured it out, best for you to be prepared.”
“Dark Ones wouldn’t care about me.”
“You don’t think a Dark One would be interested in an acolyte?” Inkeri asked.
“Dark Ones can’t sense acolytes,” Nala said.
“We don’t know that.”
“I haven’t done anything but the initial rituals,” Nala said. She wouldn’t be a full Cleric until she’d undergone more of the rituals, which required more than Cleric Kennet.
“I find it odd Clerics believe the Goddess picks them, but doesn’t mark them or give them power until they’ve had other Clerics validate the call with some prayers.”
“It isn’t just some prayers,” Nala said. There were offerings. Fasting.
“The Goddess knows now if you’re a Cleric or not. I don’t know why the Dark One couldn’t tell.”
“Venandi have rituals as well.”
“To honor the Goddess,” Inkeri said. “I started to use my power before the ritual. I started to use it before I even learned how to use it.”
Venandi were selected when a child showed evidence of telekinesis. It was very clear who was meant to be a mage. Clerics were those whose faith led them to go to school, even without the tangible evidence of Deidre’s presence within them. Unless a Dark One appeared at a shrine, a Cleric would live their entire life without displaying the divine power.
“Inkeri,” Nala said, “nothing happens to Clerics until the ritual.”
“Is that why some Clerics don’t have the skill?”
“That hasn’t been proven.” Some theorized not all Clerics could rescue a Dark One at a shrine; that their faith was not adequate.
“I guess if a Dark One showed up at a shrine and the Cleric couldn’t rescue it, the Cleric would be too dead to ponder on what it meant after.”
“That’s never happened,” Nala said.
“That we know of,” Inkeri said. “I’m not saying it is true, just noting there is no proof it is the ritual itself which imparts power. And if you don’t need the ritual, you could already display your ability to a Dark One.”
Nala shook her head. “The Cleric needs both the Goddess and the ritual. I may have the Goddess but not the ritual.”
“For a bunch of people obsessed with the Goddess, you sure don’t trust her much.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Nala said. “There won’t be another Dark one.”
“Unless someone is calling them,” Inkeri said.
Nala rubbed her temples as she took the next two steps. The idea of facing a Dark One much longer, combined with whoever brought it to Vasti, was too much to think about. “I’m still not sure how me running up and down the stairs will help, even if that’s true.”
“Fitness is critical in any fight.”
“I can’t fight anyone.”
“No, but you can run.”
They neared the bottom of the hill. The path opened up to a wide circle, empty of trees. New growth on the flowers lay trampled; an unfortunate result of the repeated calls to the shrine at the top of the hill to flee the Dark One. Eight stone benches remained in the center. Rosemary sat on one, facing the hill and shrine, with Rosy at her feet.
The dog rose and bounded toward the mage and acolyte at their approach. Mud caked the bottom of her coat; she’d been playing at the shore already that morning.
“You’re a very good dog.” Inkeri stopped and bent over to scratch Rosy behind the ears. “I’m glad you’re down here. Does she ever come up to the shrine?”
“No,” Nala said. She’d love to have the town mutt up there, but Rosy refused any efforts to lead her.
“I don’t think she likes the stairs,” Rosemary said. “How are you ladies this morning?”
“Fine,” Inkeri said.
“We’re enjoying nature.” Nala tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice.
“And running up the stairs,” Inkeri said.
Rosemary smiled. “Good to do that now, while you can.”
Inkeri nodded at the stairs. “Didn’t want to go up?”
“I’m a little tired, dear,” Rosemary said. “Deidre can hear me from here, I hope.”
“She can,” Nala said. The prayer garden at the bottom of the stairs was just as good as the shrine for prayer. The only thing the area did not offer was the ability for a Cleric to rescue a Dark One, which is why most of the town went all the way up the hill when the bell rang.
Inkeri unbuckled the clasp for her cloak. “Mind if we leave these with you?”
“That’s fine, dear. Are you sure Nala won’t out run you?”
“I’ll be happy if she does.”
“I haven’t agreed to go,” Nala said.
“You should,” Rosemary said. “Give Inkeri here someone to race.”
“It will be good for you,” Inkeri said.
Rosemary looked up at the mage. “She was quite kind to me the other morning.”
“Oh?” Inkeri asked.
“It was nothing” Nala said.
“It was not nothing, Nala,” Rosemary said. “I found it very encouraging. It made me feel better, or as better as I could in this time.”
“How very Cleric-like of you,” Inkeri said.
“Anybody could have done that,” Nala said. Helping people was certainly not evidence of any supernatural power from Deidre.
“But not anybody did,” Rosemary said. “I agree with Inkeri. You’re going to make a fine Cleric.”
“I’m glad.” Inkeri said. “Are you going to take your cloak off?”
Nala gritted her teeth. She still hadn’t asked about Wesley. She also could run up the stairs; she just didn’t want to. But she’d done it many times over the last four years, usually darting up to get back in time for a service after seeing Liam. She undid the clasp at her neck and dropped her cloak on the bench.
“Good,” Inkeri said. “Let’s go.”
“Have fun,” Rosemary said as Inkeri led the way back toward the stairs. “I’ll be here, keeping your cloaks safe.”
Nala realized since her cloak was now here with Rosemary, Inkeri intended to do this at least twice.
Inkeri unbuckled her sword belt and held it and the sheath with her left hand. She took the first few steps slowly, barely going faster than a walk. Her heavy boots thumped against the stone stairs and pounded into the dirt and gravel between them. She didn’t look like a comfortable runner.
“Do you run often?” Nala asked. She sped up long enough to run astride the mage, thankful the stairs were wide enough to accommodate a few people at a time for much of the trip to the top.
“Not as much as I used to,” Inkeri said. Her voice held none of the strain Nala expected from her posture. She held up her sword and patted the knife at her side. “Not as much as I should. Weapons training takes up most of my time.”
“Are you going to teach me how to use a sword?”
“Ha, no.” Inkeri quickened her pace some.
Nala kept up. “Sounds more interesting than running.”
“It is,” Inkeri said, “but takes much longer to get good at.”
They ran the next few moments in silence, Inkeri watching Nala and increasing the pace as the acolyte kept up. Nala’s breaths quickened and she forced herself to breathe in a rhythm with the stairs. At the halfway mark of the hill, and Nala’s legs started to burn in complaint at the faster than usual pace. Although she used the stairs nearly daily, she didn’t ascend them this quickly.
Inkeri remained impassive, and her form remained the same as when they’d started the hill. If she breathed more quickly, Nala could not tell.
The bell and then Cleric Kennet’s head came into view over the top of the stairs as they approached the end of the stairs. He glanced at them but resumed wrapping the bell tower with rope as they crested the last step.
Nala stopped, put her hands on her hips, and attempted to stand upright while she caught her breath. “How many times are we going to do that?”
“I’m aiming for ten,” Inkeri said, “but you might want to stop at five.”
“Five?”
Inkeri grinned and stepped back down the hill. “Let’s go.”
“Are we walking down?” Nala asked.
“Sure, but we can go faster this time.”
“Try not to kill the acolyte, Inkeri,” Cleric Kennet said over his shoulder. His voice was light as he worked on the bell tower, carrying none of the concern Nala felt.
Nala turned down the hill and let the steps pull her forward and down, exerting as little effort as possible on the descent. She’d never gone up and down the stairs five times in a row. She’d probably never made the trip that many times in a day before.
“I bet you had an easier time keeping your mind clear on the way up.”
She started to argue, but stopped. It was true; she hadn’t thought about the Dark Ones that much, even when they talked about Inkeri’s weapons. The running stopped her thoughts. “Yes.”
Inkeri strode down the next section of steps, faster than the first trip. “You didn’t really come with me for that though, did you?”
“No, but you didn’t ask me just to help me meditate,” Nala said.
“True,” Inkeri said. “But it is a nice side effect of getting more fit.”
Nala rubbed her head. How does one ask about the man another is sleeping with? Nothing like being direct. “Cleric Kennet doesn’t like Wesley.”
“No.” Inkeri looked sideways at Nala, eyebrow up. Her voice was steady.
Nala waited a few more breaths to speak again. “Can you tell me why?”
Inkeri’s bit her lip and she stared ahead. After a few steps she turned her head to Nala. “If you can beat me to the top on any of the next four runs.”
Nala sighed. It seemed Inkeri would get what she wanted out of this little outing, but Nala would not.
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