The carriage was jolting and jouncing over the stone road. The sun was shining its warmth upon the carriage's roof only occasionally interrupted by a stray cloud. Inside the carriage sat Elissa and Louissos, Nannade and Garrett opposite of them. Garrett was glad the girl had come out of her room, but she was still grieving, staring into the distant vistas of Sturreland; Louissos and Elissa were busy with each other, only Garrett himself had nothing to do. He too was glad he could visit Priscilla’s grave. He never thanked her and he felt guilty for never approaching her, Elissa did, a bit, but that was it. He felt like they were a big bunch of ungrateful jerks.
The travel would take them almost two days each way. As Garrett looked at the four of them, he almost felt like they were a family. Of some sorts. He knew it wouldn’t last, not for him and Nannade at least. Louissos and Elissa would have their sickeningly cute family idyll, but for the other two, it would be contracts and learning side by side from here on out. Purple Paw and Brazen Claw, finally, she had her call sign. It had come with such a sorrowful aftertaste, however. He wished he could have done more to protect the girl, but he had to admit, she had taken the reins already and she was steering a determined trot.
The carriage stopped. It was around noon and they stopped at a tiny village’s guesthouse. It was all relatively calm, barely anything to talk about. Nannade eventually broke the silence, while stirring her soup to cool down a bit more.
“So, what are you gonna call it?” Nannade disrupted the silence.
Elissa looked confused. “You mean the babe?”
“Of course, the babe! Did you think of a name yet?”
Elissa took a while. “If it’s a boy, we thought about naming him Thomian, after my grandfather. An if it’s a girl... I don’t know.”
“Why not Priscilla?”
“Are you serious?” Elissa seemed to be most perplexed.
Nannade shrugged. “Why not? Who’s going to stop you? Also, I think it would be a fitting acknowledgement.”
Louissos chimed in. “I don’t know, Priscilla seemed to be a highly decorated figure within the Lodge. It might seem a tad arrogant.”
The girl’s demeanour turned confused. “She decided to take up the defence for us. I think it’s safe to assume she would approve of this.” Silence returned. Nannade carefully slurped another spoonful of soup. “Either way it’s just a suggestion.”
“I think we’ll consider it.” Elissa said finally.
They finished their lunch and headed on down the road. They were set to arrive in the town closest to High-Sister Priscilla’s grave by evening and so it came. The four of them booked into an inn, a room for two of them each. Garrett of course shared a room with Nannade. They hadn’t talked much in recent times. Garrett had been mostly been busy arranging for the girl’s next mark of approval.
They were getting ready for bed when Garrett decided to speak up. “How are you doing, Nannade?” He didn’t call her by her name often in the past. ‘Fleabag’ was his favourite moniker, she was fine with it, but right now, he knew he’d better address her with more care.
“I guess I’m doing... alright.”
Garrett never had to talk to someone this way. “I’m really sorry about that Olly-guy. I don’t know how he was, but I’m sure he’d be happy to see you again.”
Nannade sat down on her bed on the other side of the room. “It was nice talking tom someone... on an equal level. He didn’t treat me like an apprentice or contractee. He just accepted what I said, I think he knew I was lying, but he accepted that and waited for me to speak about it first.”
Garrett knew there were many things he could not talk about with her. Now that she was about to leave Elissa’s care, who would do it instead?
“Got any news for me where we’ll go next?” She asked, carefully.
“Chsyatana, the Houses of Mysteries will take you in and help you with your... condition.”
Nannade tilted her head and flicked her ears while furrowing her forehead. It was such a familiar gesture, something that she had done even from childhood. It felt good to see that girl still alive in that grown-up Nannade. “I thought we’d head to Halonnes next, to Susanna.”
Garrett was surprised that she knew that. “Who told you that?” then he remembered it could have been only one person. “Let me guess, Elissa.”
The girl tucked her head in and laid her ears flat. “Yeah, she did.”
“I guess she’s worse at keeping a secret than I thought.”
A coy smile snuck onto the girl’s face.
“Well yes, it was my next target originally, after that probably Plirova or one of the bridges, but your little foray into the forbidden messed that plan up. We need to get you properly in tune, and Chsyatana has some of the best specialists on blood pacts.
The girl scoffed. “I hope they can do better than Black Surgeon.”
Garrett saw where she was coming from. Louissos had seemed as if he had taken ownership of the girl while she was away. There was this weird way he always asked about her and was concerned with everything she did, but what rubbed Garrett the wrong way was that he couldn’t tell how honest Louissos was. Was he with Elissa just to get close to the girl? Did he try to take guardianship of her away from Garrett? He was a man weaving many wicked webs somehow and he did it so naturally that it remained almost invisible to the others. If he dared to break Elissa’s heart, Garrett would have to come up with a whole new kind of pain for Louissos.
They got up quite early, the sun was about to crawl behind the silhouette of the Spitzenhaupt, the mountain on which High-Sister Priscilla had been laid to rest. It was by far not the highest mountain in Sturreland, the Siadbearn mountains in the far west and the central massif both towered far above the Spitzenhaupt, but around here in southern Sturreland it granted the greatest vista. It started relatively shallow slope but quickly ramped Its peak was crowned by a rocky spire protruding a good hundred feet further. The shadow of this spire was where many solstice and equinox rituals were celebrated, and not far from that place of power, Priscilla had been buried.
They began their ascent, a good lunch in their backpacks and as Elissa led the way, she told a bit about the area. The borders of Sturreland had never been properly established until just a few hundred years ago, up until then it had been a rather unruly country, controlled by small circles of druids or witches, or the house of Hitollarn in the northwest, butting their heads with the lords of the Gimean isles that were trying to establish a foothold on the mainland. When these groups finally all united under the seal of the Lodge, quite a few parts of the smaller areas rebelled, either splitting off to become part of the Gimean mainland or the Etusean south. What was left was a mountainous land of forests and swamps, with only few meadows and no shore, if one discounted Lake Anmorley to the north.
The ascent took quite a while and Garrett started to feel the months of sitting in a study and agonizing over books concerning the law. The girl however, was eager to stride ahead, her body had been hardened by the travels, it seemed.
They made stop at a small level area, somebody had dragged a fallen tree trunk here as an opportunity to sit and rest their feet, with a great vista over the forested hills and valleys chequered with fields, pastures and orchards. The two lovebirds sat down, Garrett found a big boulder to accommodate his aching legs while the girl paced up and down, eager to head further up the mountain at any moment.
It didn’t take long for Louissos to head over to disturb Garrett's sit-down.
“So you finally detached from Elissa.”
“I came to talk to you. About the girl.”
“Was is she to you? Stop believing you are her father.”
Despite Garrett’s remark, Louissos sat down next to him on the stone. “Listen, Garetas, I'm a specialist. You should be willing to take my advice on the issue.”
“I already sought advice and I know our first steps.”
Louissos raised a curious eyebrow. “And what would those be?”
“Chsyatana.”
Louissos leaned in closer. “The Houses of Mysteries?”
“Of course, what else? The Royal Academy isn’t exactly worth going so far east when Halonnes, Plirova and Southbridge are all so much closer.”
Louissos leaned back. “The Houses of Mysteries are no easy place to learn.”
“I think they’ll teach us fine for the sum I’m paying.”
“I’ve been to Houses of Mysteries, Garetas.” Louissos stood back up. “I offered you my advice, it’s your choice to rebuff me. But know that you cannot handle this all alone. You’ll need help. The girl is in a dangerous situation and she could become dangerous if isn’t handled properly.”
“Hey, you’re the one who proclaimed her to be safe in court, what’s this now?”
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“She has great potential. Potential for good and bad.”
“Sure. Thanks for the advice.”
Garrett was suddenly very eager to get up that mountain. “Shall we set out again?”
An eager “Yes!” from Nannade, followed by a quick step back on the path. Louissos helped Elissa stand up slowly and carefully. She was still able to exert herself; she had never been one of frail condition, but Louissos insisted that she should go easy.
Nannade led the way further up, the trail was hard to miss anyway. Four times a year the people would hike up this trail to see the stone spire cast its shadow on the ritual site at noon. Every area had their own rituals and celebrations of the four most important days in the year and then some more. The festival of Harvest Thanks was something not all of Sturreland celebrated, or not always on the last day of harvest. Garrett had seen many cities celebrate completely different, but curiously, no matter what was being celebrated, these four days in the year attracted festivities, social gatherings and celebrations.
The stone spire came into view and all of them started to hurry their step. They were still going through the forested area, but soon the forest opened up to their right and granted them a vista from several thousand feet high.
The air was clear and so their view reached over a hundred miles into the distance, nothing but forested hills and ridges with occasional villages and farmland. A stiff breeze chilled them even on such a sunny day.
They separated themselves from the view and turned back to the path. Not far ahead, two large standing stones flanked the entrance to the clearing. As they approached, the three with the Mystic Gift stopped and Garrett followed their example.
Elissa spoke a few words in the runic tongue, most likely to ask for entrance into the clearing. She scattered a few hands full of grain as she slowly walked through between the standing stones. Once she was on the other side, she beckoned the others to step ahead too.
The clearing looked straight to the north, away from the stone spire. Three stone altars were erected in a line in the middle of the clearing, one for winter solstice, one for the equinoxes and one for the summer solstice. On each of those days at noon, the shadow of the spire would fall perfectly in the middle of the corresponding altar, announcing the time for the sacrifice and beginning of the jubilations. Not far from here they'd find Priscilla’s final rest. For now, they made another pause. Nannade inspected the altars, Louissos sat down on a tree stump while Garrett wanted to enjoy the view some more, but he saw Elissa coming towards him, alone.
“What is it with you and Louissos?” she asked after arriving. The sting in her voice hit his resolution like a pea hits a breast plate.
“He thinks he's entitled to bossing people around. First, he did that underhanded business with Nannade’s tests, now he tries to play her into the hands of one of her buddies.”
“Why are you so damn concerned over who influences her? She’s out of your hands already, she survived a year in the wild. She’s no child anymore!”
“I am not going to hand over control over he training yet again. I can finally introduce her into all skills and intricacies of the profession. I will allow no further meddling!”
Elissa crossed her arms and tilted her head. “This is about what I did, isn’t it? You think I'm responsible for her rebellious phase!?”
He hated it when she was on that way of thought. “Oh please, Elissa, that’s not what I said!”
“But it is what you think, isn’t it?” Her eyes were fiercely locked onto his. “You blame me for this!” She was getting louder.
Garrett turned around. The girl was trying to pretend she wasn’t hearing what they were talking about, but the orientation of her ears betrayed her. “Elissa, we’ve talked about this-“
“Yes, we did. Stop being a sulking child and accept that Nannade isn’t under your control anymore!”
“She is still my apprentice, I still have reign over her and she still owes me a good portion of money for her education so far, not to speak of her life and freedom!”
Elissa didn’t answer anything, she just depended her scowl, but Garrett put on a knowing smile. “In my mind, Elissa, it is you who is afraid of losing control over the girl. She is no longer under your care or guidance. In a few days, we’ll be gone from your life and your best chance is maybe to visit Susanna in Halonnes in a few years. It is you who has to come to terms with that. She has a destined purpose, and to fulfil that, she must be tempered, now harder than ever before. Playtime is over. You gave her a semblance of childhood and youth. Things must come to an end now.”
It had fallen silent on the clearing. A few birds took off from a nearby tree. Elissa didn't say anything. She turned around and went back the way she came. Garrett could feel Nannade's stares in the back of his head. Then he heard her leave the clearing.
“The grave is this way.” She disappeared between a few bushes down a barely visible footpath.
Garrett suddenly felt alone on the clearing. He decided to follow Nannade. He found her kneeling before a large log, standing upright in the soil. Carved into it was Priscilla’s name and accomplishments.
High-Sister Priscilla, born 1202, inducted 1209, died 1346. Served as druid of the Lodge from 1237 to 1346. Served in the Inner Circle from 1240 to 1346. Served as Trusted Judge from 1261 to 1327.
Many more dates followed. Personal achievements, accolades, especially important deeds, all running around the log in a tight spiral. Behind the log, the vista northward over Sturreland stretched. It was a beautiful spot to be laid to rest. No bone in his body thought about dying, but he had to admit, this was a good place to rest.
“Teacher.” Nannade addressed him without turning around. “Please make peace with Elissa before you leave.”
Garrett knew these kinds of spats wouldn’t last long. “Don’t worry, she’ll come around.”
“I meant YOU are supposed to come around.”
“Why me? Why not her?”
“If you can’t do it for your own sake, can you do it for me?” She turned around. Melancholy sat on her face like a still lake in the landscape.
“Fine. I’ll do it. I don’t hate her; she’s just too difficult when she’s like this.”
Nannde smiled, still with melancholy, but she smiled. “Thank you.”
It didn’t take long for Louissos and Elissa to come through the bushes. There was silence. Nannade made a bowing gesture to the ground and thanked Priscilla, soon, Elissa, Garrett and Louissos did the same. There was a certain solemnity to all of this.
It was Louissos who spoke up first. “134 years? That’s impressive.”
Elissa nodded. “Long even for someone this well attuned to the land. I heard she could have taken the position of Arch-Druid but declined. She had always been old, some people said. She insisted on fading out of this world without a trace. No coffin, no urn, no headstone. Just wrapped in cloth and a log that would eventually rot away in the soil of the land.”
“Is that common in Sturreland?”
“Not uncommon, but many choose a headstone these days, especially the bureaucrats.”
Garrett realized just how honouring it was to have been the final concern of a person this old, wise and experienced, she lived for more than a century, and even as she approached her final days, she walked onto that clearing and defended the three of them with a fervour of justice as if she was no older than Elissa. They stood in awe for a while longer before making their descent back down. Garrett decided to take Elissa a bit to the side on their way down.
“Listen, Lissy. I just want to let you know that you’re-”
Elissa apparently did not like how this started. “You’re just doing this because Nannade told you, didn’t you?”
“Well... what if I do? Yes. I am doing this for her. I am ready to apologize. Even to Louissos. He’s new to me, but I promise I’ll accept your decision. In a few days we’ll be out of your hair. But please. I don’t think you ruined the girl. Without you, she would have probably killed me for sure. I was right to come to you for help, but I didn’t listen like I should have.”
Elissa was still giving him an evil look. “Very well. I accept your apology. But please, listen to Louis’ advice.”
Garrett knew this would come. “Alright. As a professional. If he is unprofessional about this, he can kiss my behind.”
“Oh you wish he would!”
She really didn’t need to do that. Both of the others had ears fine enough to hear that. Elissa caught up with the others, while Louissos let himself fall back to Garrett.
“Do not worry, Garetas, I won’t intrude upon your professional territory, and unprofessionally, I would not be able to handle the girl. She already dislikes me more than you.”
Garrett couldn’t help but smirk. “I always found her to be an excellent judge of character.”
“Yes, that may be. All I want to tell you is this: I earned most of my knowledge on the field of abominations and blood pacts with experience and my own research, often on the subjects themselves. I wanted to learn at the Houses of Mysteries, but they were unwilling to teach. The girl is right now in a very difficult and complicated situation and before too long, she will need your help.”
“What do you mean by that? Can you shoot straight?”
“I cannot tell what exactly it is, but Elissa noticed it too. Your lack of the Mystic Gift might blind you to something crucial. Feel free to ask us for advice at any time. And listen to Nannade; she is not stupid, just inexperienced.”
Garrett felt as if he had overestimated Louissos’ ego. “I understand. Thank you for the advice.”
The rest of the descent was uneventful, but Louissos’ words stuck with Garret. He was in no place to gauge the girl’s situation without a Mystic Gift. He hoped the girl knew when to ask him for help. He had the uncomfortable inkling that she had learned from his pride and unyielding nature.