Techromancy Scrolls: Adept (9 page)

We awoke to the smell of eggs cooking. Mother was at the hearth, color in her cheeks. She was still moving slowly and looked exhausted, but she smiled at us. “I feel better than I have in months. If we use the wagon to get to Church, I'd like to go to service today to thank God for Doctor Maxwell. I couldn't walk the distance. But maybe in time.” Jace was connected to her waist in a hug, and I was just staring at her.

She smiled at me and said, “Now eat. I haven't cooked for you children in ages.” We ate and I cried tears of hope, keeping a brave front.

While we did the morning chores, mother dressed in her finest dress, in the colors of the realm.

I put on my peasant dress. The only one I owned, but I needed it for church. I had worn trousers for all my life, the work we do is hard and is no place for a dress or skirt. I blinked, was that why everyone looked so curious about me when we walked past? Besides the Lady Knights, all the women in the castle wore dresses and skirts. They probably all thought me a barbaric savage.

Jace put on his new tunic and his trousers, then I sent him out to hitch up Goliath. Mother smiled and put her hand out and I offered my arm. I could feel her putting most of her weight on me for support. She was still but a shadow of herself. But she was on her feet. “Let us see this grand horse you got as spoils of war daughter. Jace goes on and on about him.”

She stopped outside the door and was blinking at my Goliath. All she said was, “Oh my.” I placed a bucket upside down behind the wagon and we helped mother step up. Then we were trotting down the lane headed for the Crossbar. The lane that bisected the city between the Main Portcullis at the south, to the secondary portcullis at the north wall, which was only opened in times of war for the knights or to evacuate the village.

In the exact center of the village in the middle of the turnabout was the largest building in the village besides the castle itself. With it's sweeping arches and tall spires and more stained glass than any four other churches. The Wexbury Cathedral, the villagers just refer to it simply as the Church.

We stopped in front of the Great Staircase that took up the entire front of the cathedral, facing the Castle, and an alter boy helped mother down. Jace hopped out and I traveled around the roundabout and headed down the Crossbar toward Cheap Quarter again until I found the first lane I could leave the wagon. I set the brake and hopped out and hustled back to my family.

Mother was a little shaky but we got her to the front pews below the balcony that arced around the entire cathedral to look down upon the dais. That is where the nobles looked down upon us serfs and commoners in the lower pews.

I always liked church. I don't know if I really believe in God. I mean sure, I hope he is there, but I am a woman of facts, of science. But the cathedral is what I liked. It was so grand, so beautiful, it inspired you to believe. I liked the feeling of people getting together for the common good. And if there is a God, I needed to thank him for my mother this day. I haven't seen her this vital in months.

Worship in modern times was much different than the scholars had found of the Before. Back then there were many beliefs, but you would pick one and shun the others. Now I'd like to think we have surpassed the Wizards of old in at least how we worship. We all use the same church and a person is left to worship as they choose. Whether it is belief in God, or any other deity, or if you worship technology and knowledge, love, or even luck. Some who believe in none of these simply come for the camaraderie of community.

In the Church, all are equal and there is supposed to be no division between nobles and commoners, all may speak freely. Though I have never seen this in practice as the nobles occupy the balconies and we the lower pews. I have heard of retribution for things a serf may say in the Church at a later date, by a Lord or Lady who felt slighted. So maybe we aren't quite as enlightened as I'd like to think.

The end of the service on Holy Day also gives the Castle a forum to inform the people of new policies, village improvements, or other subjects of importance, since over two thirds of the seven thousand residents attend service. The rest hear it from the criers in the market on First Day. If it pertains to defense of the city, then criers will wander every lane in the village on the eve of Holy Night.

The Pastor walked past us and paused mid step when he saw mother sitting beside us. He smiled at her, and made his way up to the dais. My eyes were on him when someone sat next to me and bumped my hip over to make room. I glanced over and froze. Lady Celeste had an overly cute grin on her face but was staring at the pastor as Verna sat next to her, looking toward me with a smile. “Move your butt over pipsqueak.” They were in full dress armor with their violet and emerald dress capes. People all around us were murmuring.

I started to panic, what were they doing down here with the commoners? I looked up at the balcony on the left, where all the Knights of the Realm sat, then at them. I whispered, “What are you two doing down here? People are looking.”

Celeste still did not look at me but she said quietly, in an over amused tone, “Control yourself Laney, deep breaths or everyone is going to know.” Oh, I hadn't noticed the color changes in my vision. I calmed then just looked at the two as the world dulled out again. Mother cleared her throat.

I glanced at her and gave an apologetic smile. “I'm sorry, where are my manners? Mother, Jace, this is Lady Celeste of the Techno Knight Order, Blade of Temperance of Wexbury, daughter of Prime Techromancer Donovan, Lady of the Court, and Lady Verna, Knight of the Realm, Lady of the Court.”

I looked at the knights. “This is my mother, Margret Herder and my brother Jace.”

Mother gave a bow that looked too smooth, too polished, like she had a lot of practice as she responded, “Ladies.” She took each of their hands by their fingertips tilting her head down. This made Celeste look at their hands then mother with a studious and thoughtful look.

Jace hopped up and was starting to babble, “Knights, here, Laney they...” He stopped as both mother and I lightly cuffed his ears and he looked at us then the Knights and he gave a clumsy bow. “Ladies.”

They chuckled at him and clasped his arm like they would a comrade at arms. My Lady said, “Margret, Jace. Please call us Celeste and Verna. After all, we're all about to get a lot closer.”

I paled, with all that had been happening and with the doctor visiting last night I hadn't had the chance to tell them what I was to do to prevent myself being put in the stockade for using magic. Celeste looked at their confused looks then my most likely pale face. “Oh, you haven't informed them yet.”

I said, “I haven't had a chance yet, what with the doctor visiting.”

I tried to change the topic, “You two need to get back up there, people are staring.”

Celeste grinned and settled into the pew. “No. I said I'd see you at service. Here I am.”

Verna chuckled, “Don't argue with her Laney, she has a stubborn streak a mile wide even when she is wrong.”

I grinned at the muscular Knight, “I'm beginning to see that.”

Celeste interposed herself between us, “Hey, none of this ganging up, we...” She stopped talking when the alter boys stopped the soft humming they had been doing as everyone was being seated.

She flapped her fingers in a light backhand on my shoulder, winked at mother and Jace, and pointed toward the pastor. Grrr... I'll get the knight for all of this embarrassment. Lady or not.

Pastor Emery had shown up in Wexbury around the same time as Corrick had started courting mother, so eight years ago. The man was in his late forties at the time and was a refreshing change from old Pastor Vick.

Pastor Vick was maybe a million years old, fine, maybe late seventies, and droll and boring. His sermons could put you to sleep at a hundred paces. People couldn't wait for Reflection Hour after the sermon where you were free to pray or think about life. Hour was a misnomer as it was the final thirty minutes before noon, when Church let out.

But Pastor Emery was so much fun and full of energy and asked so many great questions for people to ponder. We got the best end of the deal and I seriously believe he knows the name of every parishioner in the village.

Just before the village announcements and Reflection Hour, he took the time to introduce the two new families and one new noble into the village and looked directly at mother when he added, “And it is so good to see some familiar faces that have been absent for so long.”

I started looking around as the village announcements were made and I saw Prime Techromancer Donovan up in the balcony in the private section with Duke Fredrick and the Duchess Lucia. I frowned at the empty chair beside Donovan, everyone had loved his wife, Countess Shavey. It was a tragedy when the Wasting Syndrome took her from the realm nine years ago.

He caught my eye and gave a smile and nod. I gave a smile and tiny wave from my side. Then it was time for silence, Reflection Hour. Most lowered their heads to pray. I did, for once, and thought. Lord, if you are there, I'd like to thank you for Doc Maxwell, he gave my mother back to us. Then I added quickly as I looked at the woman beside me, who looked so... right... to me. And thank you for Lady Celeste who has befriended a simple commoner. Oh, umm... amen? I wondered what amen actually meant. Maybe if they were serious that I could have access the library, I could look it up some time. I glanced to my side then down. I bet Celeste knows.

Then I sat and just contemplated all the good things in my life until the giant bells in the tower chimed noon. Everyone raised their heads if they were bowed and people started pouring out of the Church. It was a day of feasting and rest. All but the people who had animals to tend, guard posts to man, or were hospital workers, did not work on Holy Day, and the market was closed.

Mother was unsteady on her feet and I supported her again. She looked pretty drained, she shouldn't have tried going out in public so soon. As soon as we got into the wide aisle between pews, Celeste was on mother's other side offering her arm, Mother took it with grace, using just her fingertips. Celeste seemed to be studying her intently.

We got outside, mother was leaning on both of us by then. I glanced at the two knights and Jace. “I'll go get the wagon. Be right back?” Jace took my place supporting mother's arm.

Celeste took mother's hand off of her arm and Verna slipped in smoothly to offer her's as Celeste said, “I'll accompany you.” People all around were giving our odd group a great deal of attention. I was so embarrassed having these Knights assisting us.

As we jogged down the Crossbar. Celeste asked in a voice that seemed haunted, “Wasting Syndrome?” I nodded wordlessly. She whispered more to herself than to me. “Like mother.”

Oh good lord, she didn't need me bringing up her own painful memories. I reached out hesitantly, not sure what to do. Could I touch a Lady to console her when so many people were about in the lane? I changed my destination and started to move my hand toward her shoulder when her hand reached out to engulf mine. She gave it a little squeeze and I shared a look of understanding with her. She smiled back at me sadly.

Then I said almost excitedly. “There is a new treatment now. It isn't a cure, but it allows a better quality of life and longer life for those afflicted with it.” Her eyebrows rose. I nodded and said, “Mother is taking the new medicines, though it took most of the coin I had left. But this is the first time she has left home in months.” Then I furrowed my brow in concern. “I fear she has overdone it in her enthusiasm.”

She had a gleam in her eye, like a cross between vindication and hope. She asked, “Doctor Maxwell?” I nodded and she smiled, “He has been a godsend working with the Castle infirmary to develop new treatments. I'm happy to hear the efforts are bearing fruit.”

I realized I was still holding hands with a Knight and flushed with heat then gave her hand a squeeze and looked up into her eyes to let her know how sorry I was for her mother. Even I, as a young girl, remembered the kindness of Countess Shavey before she passed. She gave a smile of thanks and we turned onto the lane where the wagon and my Goliath waited.

I made a squeaking sound as I was suddenly hoisted effortlessly by my waist up into the wagon and Celeste hopped up gracefully beside me. She took the reins and I was surprised at just how badly I maneuvered Goliath and the wagon when she made it look so effortless with virtually no movement of her hands as she manipulated the reins, letting Goliath do the work.

I looked at her then the lane as we turned back up the Crossbar. “Why are you helping? A Knight of the Realm has more important things to attend to than associating with serfs.” She didn't say a word, just simply reached over with one hand and bopped me on top of the head. Then she grinned and maneuvered the wagon through the dispersing crowd to the Great Staircase.

Before we hopped down she said. “Come to the feast with Verna, Kristof, and me? They invited me and it is terribly boring when those two fawn over each other like lovesick puppies.”

I said in a low voice, “I must get mother to bed.”

She nodded. “After then.” It wasn't a question. Could I refuse a Lady? Did I want to refuse her?

I shook my head, “What will people say? Consorting with a...” I paused as she comically held her fist over my head to bop me again if I said commoner.