The Acolyte

The Acolyte

Chapter 2

Anabel woke to the sounds of hushed whispering. She opened her eyes and stared at the rough ceiling beams, idly wondering where she was, and why she was warm. The last thing she remembered was being outside in the cold, surrounded by Francine and her followers, and feeling ill.

"You're awake. How do you feel?" a woman's voice asked her.

Anabel lifted her head and saw Sister Hall standing at the end of her bed, with a worried look on her face.

That can't be good. How bad was I?

Anabel thought.

"I feel...tired and worn out, Sister," Anabel answered, sitting up with a slight groan.

Sister Hall nodded and moved around to stand next to the bed. She laid a cool hand on Anabel's forehead, checking for fever.

"It looks like your fever is gone. Now tell me everything that happened," she ordered, her tone suggesting any omissions would be discovered and swiftly punished.

Anabel told her everything. She talked about how looking at the statue in the chapel had looked different, how she seemed to have lost track of time and awareness of anything around her, she even told Sister Hall about Francine and the other girls in the courtyard. Sister Hall listened to every word intently, often interrupting and asking questions. She seemed determined to discover what had caused this.

When Anabel finished, she felt wrung out and exhausted. Sister Hall had drug up every feeling, memory, and sensation of the incident. Anabel flopped back onto the bed with a sigh. Her strength seemed to have all been used up just answering Sister Hall's questions. She was certain prisoners didn't go through such a thorough interrogation. But then again, none of them ever had to face Sister Hall.

"Get some rest. I'll have some broth sent up. You need to regain your strength," Sister Hall said, then turned away and briskly left the room.

Anabel didn't notice when a Novice brought her a large mug full of broth. Her mind kept running through what happened. She couldn't make heads or tails of it. She felt scared and confused by it all. Her mind kept replaying everything, trying to remember something, anything, to make sense of it all. It wasn't long before she started drifting off to sleep, still trying to figure it out.

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Anabel walked along the rough dirt path winding it's way through the forest. Sunlight streamed down in patches through the thick foliage overhead. As she walked she spotted the occasional deer or other woodland creature, but there was no sound. Even her footsteps were silent. She was filled with a sense of urgency. A feeling that she needed to get to her destination quickly, so she picked up her pace. She walked along for what seemed like hours, and the forest around her never changed.

She took another step and found herself in the middle of a large clearing. Pink, purple, and yellow wildflowers spread out in every direction. She spun slowly around in a circle, taking in the beauty and tranquility of it all. She stopped suddenly as a large white stag rose from the ground in front of her. His silver antlers sparkled in the sunlight. Anabel froze as he turned his blazing blue eyes toward her. She didn't want to frighten him away. The stag opened his mouth and Anabel felt her skin tingle as his breath like a strong wind washed over her.

"It's time to wake up Anabel," The stag said in a deep booming voice.

Anabel's eyes shot open. She had been dreaming, but she still felt the stag's breath and her skin still tingled. It all felt so real. She knew it meant something important and somehow everything was going to be different. She needed to tell one of the Sisters about this. She sat up in the bed and looked around. It was morning now, but there didn't seem to be anyone around. She threw back the blankets and sat on the edge of the bed. She was feeling much stronger than before. She didn't know how long she had been in the infirmary but was determined to make this her last day there.

As if sensing that her charge was trying to escape, Sister Hall appeared.

"What do you think you are doing!?" Sister Hall demanded, planting herself in front of Anabel. Her hands on her hips and her foot tapping irritably.

"Apologies Sister," Anabel said quickly,

"I just had a dream and needed to tell someone right away."

Anabel described her dream in detail. Everything she could remember. Sister Hall didn't interrupt a single word or ask any questions at all. She simply stared at Anabel with a strange expression on her face.

"Come," Sister Hall said after she had finished.

Anabel climbed out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and followed Sister Hall out into the courtyard. She didn't know what was going to happen. She felt a knot of worry beginning to grow in her belly. The way Sister Hall had been reacting to everything that had happened made Anabel feel uneasy. She had never seen her like this before. Harsh, critical, and even seemingly cruel at times, but never so out of sorts. There must be something seriously wrong if Sister Hall was upset. The thought did nothing to make Anabel feel at ease.

Anabel was so caught up in worry that she failed to notice where they were going. She started to recognize a part of the temple that she rarely had occasion to visit. They were approaching the Sister's quarters. Novices and Acolytes didn't have much business in that wing and tended to avoid it unless absolutely necessary. Just being here made the knot in her belly grow.

Sister Hall led Anabel at a quick pace and continued their march through the Sister's quarters without a word. Anabel tried to ignore the looks that some of the Sisters gave them as they passed quickly by. It seemed that some of them were surprised to see an Acolyte there. Others seemed curious and even troubled by the prospect. Surely she must have done something terrible to be dragged through here by Sister Hall of all people. Sister Hall's reputation for being harsh didn't just stop with the Novices and Acolytes.

Before long, they stopped in front of a carved set of double doors. Anabel realized with a start that they were at The Matron's quarters. The knot of worry suddenly became fear. Why was she being brought before The Matron? Was there something in her dream that The Matron needed to know? Anabel almost felt sick to her stomach again. This time she knew it was just her nerves, but the feeling was still unpleasant.

Without a word, Sister Hall knocked on the doors. Moments later, Anabel heard The Matron call from within.

"Enter."

Sister Hall pushed open one of the doors and led Anabel inside. Once they had both crossed the threshold, they both dropped into a curtsy. Anabel's was significantly lower than Sister Hall's of course. She still felt afraid but knew better than to not show The Matron the proper respect. Anabel held her curtsy until The Matron bade her to rise.

Anabel could count on one hand how many times she had actually met this woman. The last time she had seen her was during her raising a couple of weeks ago. Before that, she had only seen her in passing, or from a distance during one of the festivals or holy days.

The Matron was an older woman, thin strands of gray streaking through her long black hair. Faint wrinkles at the corner of her deep brown eyes did nothing to diminish her beauty. She truly was blessed by the Goddess in that regard. She carried herself with a sense of authority that befitted her station as Matron of the Goddess Ishtara, one could almost feel the power radiating from her. Even so, she spoke kindly and made one feel like they were important regardless of their station.

Anabel stood quietly as Sister Hall related all that had happened to The Matron, retelling all that Anabel had told her. The Matron didn't react. She simply listened and studied Anabel with an unreadable expression on her face. When Sister Hall had finished her tale, she turned and studied Anabel as well. It made Anabel feel like a small creature with two predators looking at her as if they were deciding whether or not she would make a good meal. It was rather unsettling.

The Matron stepped closer to Anabel. Without speaking she placed her hand on Anabel's head and closed her eyes. A few moments passed in silence, as Anabel began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. Then The Matron lowered her hand and opened her eyes. Her face was still unreadable.

"Child, you have been touched by our Goddess. She has great plans for you dear. I do not know how this blessing will manifest itself, or when, but rest assured. No harm shall befall you from this encounter," The Matron said, her face lighting up in a bright smile as she spoke.

"Go now and rest. I'll send Sister Marion to come see you when Sister Hall is satisfied you are able to return to your service. May the blessings of Ishtara be upon you child."

The Matron leaned forward and kissed Anabel on each cheek before wrapping her in a warm embrace.

Anabel could only stand there stunned by what she heard.

Touched by the Goddess

The words rang in her head. She had heard stories of those who had been so fortunate, but never in a thousand years would she have thought that she could be among them. Tales of their exploits and powers were the stuff of legends. Surely there must be some kind of mistake. It just couldn't be true.

Anabel was startled out of her thoughts by a loud clearing of a throat. She realized that The Matron and Sister Hall were staring at her. The Matron wore a small amused smile on her face, but Sister Hall looked about to chew rocks. It took her a moment to understand that she had been dismissed, but was so overwhelmed by this news that she hadn't heard the dismissal. She hastily dropped into a deep curtsy, mumbled an apology and quickly left.

She barely remembered walking back from The Matron's quarters when she found herself back in the infirmary.

Touched by the Goddess

kept ringing in her head. She wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry. The idea itself was frightening, but she felt excited at the same time. She wasn't sure what it all meant, but she still had a strong sense that everything had changed. She crawled into the bed and lay staring at the ceiling. Little fantasies played in her mind about what powers she might have. These didn't last long and soon devolved into feelings of fear that this was some mistake or some sort of cruel prank. She certainly didn't think of herself as someone particularly special, or talented. Yet the Goddess had chosen her.

She struggled to push the negative thoughts away. She HAD been chosen by the Goddess. She didn't understand why, but it wasn't her place to question, only obey. Ever since she had been a little girl she wanted nothing more than to be listed among Those Who Serve. She remembered the excitement she felt when she learned she had been accepted. Remembered the heavy solemn weight she felt when she first understood what it meant to Serve. She felt the same now. She was chosen by her Goddess for a purpose she didn't yet understand, but she held firm to her faith that her Goddess wouldn't let her down.

Anabel snuggled into the blankets feeling at peace. She knew that everything had changed for her, but what that was, was yet to be seen. She finally fell asleep with a smile on her face, knowing that everything was going to be okay.