Joeli instinctively hid them in the pockets of her habit. Apple reached out and took the closest one, pulling it towards her face, palm up. Come. She led the novice to the table, holding the hand towards the candles. See?
I see four fingers and a thumb. Judge Irvone covered a yawn.
Sister Apple ignored him. This yellow staining here. Do you see it?
Abbess Glass leaned forward. The girls fingers were faintly yellow here and there, the colour of an old bruise almost faded from sight.
Wodewort and burn-cotton. Careful preparation with an alkali base gives you Ulhens ointment. Sister Apple released Joelis hand.
Sister Rose scraped her chair back and came to see. It has a role in the treatment of some chronic skin conditions but you have to be pretty desperate to use it. The main side-effect is severe bruising. She stepped back and looked Joeli in the face. The novice bowed her head. Oh, Joeli! You didnt?
She choked me. Joeli spoke softly and without conviction, staring down at her hands.
Ive a pill that will get the truth out of you soon enough! Sister Apple turned to make for the door.
Stay. The abbess raised her hand. Potions and pills have no role at convent table. We have no evidence of their accuracy nor Church sanction to rely on such. She ignored Apples raised eyebrows. Sometimes the nuns enthusiasm for her own works overrode common sense. Such cards were not to be revealed or played over novices and before an audience like Irvone Galamsis. I will say, however, that it seems impossible that we condemn Novice Nona to any harsh punishment on the basis of what we have seen and heard. Both of you girls are confined to convent this seven-day, and the next, and neither of you will eat lunch until the seven-day after that. If there is any more fighting between you I shall be asking Sister Tallow to break out the wire-willow. Now go. And count yourselves lucky! Run!
The novices hastened to the door. Not you, Zole.
Zole turned as the other two vanished through the doorway. For a moment she seemed to be considering whether to obey. Then with a shrug she closed the door and returned to the table.
So, to your business, Irvone, Abbess Glass said. You came with a petition concerning Novice Zole.
Indeed. Once more I come seeking the return of a novice. He inclined his head, full of gravitas, consulting the notes his assistant had set before him. It had always amused Glass quite how closely the judge resembled the statues and images the heretic Scithrowl made of the Ancestor. The mane of his white hair and blade of his nose making him seem wisdom incarnate rather than the most corruptible of Veritys three high court judges. Irvone cleared his throat. Fortunately on this occasion the novice is to be returned to the bosom of her loving family rather than to her appointment with the gallows.
And the loving family in question would be
Our own esteemed royal family! Irvone smiled. Young Zole is to be returned to House Lansis itself, and the arms of her mother, the honourable Sherzal.
A low mutter ran the length of the table. Sister Wheel struggled to contain her outrage, and failed. The Argatha belongs to the Church! Shes not some royal toy!
The judge kept his eyes on Abbess Glass, ignoring Wheels outburst.
The emperors sisters have standing invitations to visit the convent any time they like, Abbess Glass said. I would be delighted to discuss this matter in person with Sherzal.
Irvone forced a smile and spread his hands. I fear the honourable Sherzal is uncertain about the nature of her welcome after the wild slanders spread at court at the time of the convents unfortunate loss.
Certainly she would be still more welcome if she came visiting with the shipheart that was stolen from us. But were hardly likely to take the emperors sister prisoner or raise our hands against her, are we, Irvone? We are brides of the Ancestor, pledged to peace. She gestured at the stern faces around the table. Sister Tallow in particular looked no more than a blink from killing someone.
Irvone glanced around the seated nuns with a nervous frown. Thats as maybe, abbess. However, Sherzal is within her rights to demand the return of her child.
Her ward, Abbess Glass corrected.
Adopted child.
Adopted in absentia? She was her ward when she arrived.
A recent development, the judge acknowledged. But entirely legal. Zole is Sherzals heir. Trained in her palace for some years before being entrusted into your care until such time
Until such time as I see fit to discharge her from her pledge of service.
Until such time as Sherzal, Zoles parent and guardian, calls for her return. Irvone turned to his assistant who already had the uppermost of his books open at a ribbon-marked page.
Yes. Yes. Abbess Glass waved the matter aside. Again, Irvone, you come to us with a matter properly covered by Church law. Sherzal should take any concerns she may have to High Priest Nevis and they will be dealt with through the correct ecclesiastical channels.
Its a bad time to be imposing Church law over secular law, abbess. The judge shrugged within his robe.
One is not imposed over the other, judge. Abbess Glass reached for her water again, mouth dry. Irvone Galamsis might be greedy and lacking morals, but he wasnt stupid. After three years of narrowing, the Corridor ran with rumours of fresh wars. When the ice advanced something else had to give. Such times were poor ones to remind an emperor that some of the empires most deadly resources were not his to control but must be lent to his purpose through the goodwill of the Church. Each law has its own domain where it applies without challenge from the other.
Reaching for Church law can get your fingers burned The judge let his eyes linger on Abbess Glasss right hand. In any event, I had the idea that under Church law the issue of family rights versus convent authority over novices was somewhat vexed. Is that territory you really wish to wander into?
Was there anything else, judge?
Judge Irvone sat back in his chair, impassive save for a hard gleam in his eyes. The honourable Sherzal was most insistent that Zole not go on the ice in any of the exercises your novices may undertake. Im sure we can all agree on that. After all, none of us wish to lose the child.
The abbess glanced at Zole who had stood so impassive and immobile that it took an effort to remember she was there at all. Sherzal told us that Zole was the only survivor from the town of Ytis on the empires border with Scithrowl. Why would she be in any particular danger on the ice?
The judge narrowed his eyes. She spent her early years on the ice and unfortunately spent considerable time in the company of the criminal, Yisht, who stole the Sweet Mercy shipheart. It is possible she might wish to return to her parents tribe on the ice or to seek Yishts tribe out of some misplaced affection for the fugitive. He turned in his chair to face Zole. Im sure youd like to swap your habit for something a bit more fashionable and join Sherzal at her palace, wouldnt you? Theres a grand party coming up. She has exciting plans and wants you to be part of them!
Zole regarded the judge without expression. There are many things here I have yet to learn.
But Sherzal has teachers for you, child! Safira is waiting to resume your weapons training, and Sherzal can call upon instructors from the Academy itself!
Zole regarded the judge without expression. There are many things here I have yet to learn.
But Sherzal has teachers for you, child! Safira is waiting to resume your weapons training, and Sherzal can call upon instructors from the Academy itself!
I will ask the abbess for guidance, Zole said.
And I will give it. Glass hid her surprise and placed both hands flat upon the table. Now, have you any more business to discuss, Irvone?
The judge shook his head in resignation. This is a poor decision, abbess.
Even so.
And with that push Abbess Glass set a new game in play, one domino falling into the next. So many pieces to fall, so many chances to fail. No one but her understood the game yet, but that didnt mean she would win it. A thrill of fear ran through her. But the ice pressed in on both sides and somewhere high above them the moon continued its fall. It was time to move.
6
Nona lay awake her second night in the Mystic dormitory thinking she would never sleep. Joeli had retired to her cluster of friends and then to bed with nothing but hard looks thrown in Nonas direction. Even so, when the lamps were extinguished Nona curled beneath her blankets wondering if there and then in the darkness the girl was picking at the jumble of her thoughts, seeking loose threads on which to pull.
However long Nona tossed and turned before her dreams took her it was not long enough to see Zole return. In the morning the ice-triber rose early and was leaving the room as Nona threw back her covers.
Nona finally trapped her at breakfast, taking her seat next to Zole who sat, head lowered, eating with her usual dedication as if it were a chore to be accomplished as swiftly as possible. Nona picked up her fork, glancing at the heaped and steaming bowls lined along the middle of the table. You didnt see me. She kept her voice low, leaning towards Zole. In blade-path you didnt see what happened.
No.
But you told the convent table that you did
No.
But you said
I told them you didnt strangle the girl.
But you didnt see
Are you given to lying? Zole looked up from her porridge.
No
The abbess says words are steps along a path the important thing is to get where youre going. Zole shrugged and returned to her porridge.
Nona hesitated then spoke. Is this because I saved your life when Raymel
Zole swallowed. My life was only in danger because of your actions.
What? I saved
If you had killed Raymel Tacsis at your first attempt I would not have been lying poisoned in a cave. You should have cut his head off.
Nona sat back. Zole hadnt spoken so many words in a row to her for years, perhaps ever. Over on the Grey table Ara and Ruli were laughing at Jula who seemed to be demonstrating knife moves with a spoon. Nona grinned. It would be good when they joined her in Mystic. Shed feel safer sleeping in the same room as Joeli Namsis with Ara in the next bed.
You should hide him better. Zole pushed her bowl back.
Sorry? Nona turned from watching her friends.
You are careless. You lack control. I have seen him at your wrists when we fight, and at your neck when you are screeching.
I dont screech!
Like a haunt-owl.
I Nona suddenly realized that whether she screeched or not wasnt the important thing here. She lowered her voice, staring at Zoles dark eyes. You dont know what youre talking about! Youve seen nothing!
Zole shrugged. On the ice we know the klaulathu. We do not run from them screaming devils like you people huddling in the Corridor.
Nona restrained herself from pointing out that Zole had been huddling with them for at least the past five years. Klaulathu? Do you know how to get rid of them?
Keot rose along her spine. I can only leave when you die.
Zole stood. It is possible but hard. Better to live with him. They are of the Missing, you understand this? Pieces of the Missing that they abandoned before they crossed the Path. She walked off, leaving Nona open-mouthed.
Looked as though you got more than three words out of the Argatha! Darla sat down heavily beside Nona and started to heap her plate.
Well, I am her Shield! Nona reached for the food too. She made it a point of honour to always eat more than Darla managed, and Darla had an appetite most bears would envy.
Path first today, Darla grumbled. She took three smoked kippers.
Not too bad. Nona took four.
For you maybe. For me its a choice between meditation until my brain runs out of my ears, or begging off to see if I can get past four steps on blade-path.
Nona shovelled eggs and kept a diplomatic silence. Darla had the worst sense of balance of any novice at the convent. Path lessons for those with quantal blood at least consisted of more than hunting for serenity, clarity, and patience. Nona had a much more interesting time under Sister Pans close guidance, but every attempt to reach the Path was a reminder of the day Hessa died. With the shipheart gone reaching the Path, which had always been a trial, became a feat of near- impossible difficulty. On the day Nona had fought Raymel somehow the depth of her anger, or being thread-bound to Hessa who was so close to the shipheart, had let her run the Path. In the years since, Nona had touched the Path on just a dozen occasions. Only in recent months had Nona regained the same level of competence without the shiphearts presence as she had had when it was kept at the convent.
Practise the patience trance, Nona advised. Itll make the lesson more bearable. She crammed an overfull fork into her mouth.
Darla grimaced. I dont have the patience to learn the patience trance. Its a vicious circle. She filled her mouth too and they chomped at each other a while. Despite the gerant girl welcoming Nona to their first class together with a beating theyd become firm friends, not that an outside observer would know it from the number of insults Darla threw Nonas way.
Zole, Joeli, and Nona entered Path Tower by three different doors. Nona had found the east held a sense of rightness about it that the others lacked. Joeli came through the west in opposition. Zole came through the north, perhaps remembering her origins out on the ice.
In the classroom at the top of the tower they found themselves seats amid the play of light from the stained-glass windows. The classroom was freezing as usual and the novices breath misted before them. The tower had been built without fireplaces, relying on the shipheart warming the oil pipes that ran the length of the structure. Sigils on the pipes closest to the shipheart had converted its power into heat. Many of the convents buildings had been adapted since the loss and the wind now stripped the smoke from a score of chimneys, but Sister Pan had resisted change.
Welcome, Mystic Class girls, welcome. The ancient woman sat on her treasure chest, wrapped in a fox-fur robe for which the abbess had sought special dispensation from the high priest on account of Sister Pan being close on a hundred with nobody left alive who could say whether each year was now taking her closer to that century mark or further past it. Zole and Nona have joined us! Its a rare class that boasts three quantals.