A young priestess arrived shortly and led me to a small dining hall. It was some distance from our room – near the entrance to the temple – and was quite ornate, so I could tell it was intended for hosting esteemed guests and dignitaries.

  “Please have a seat wherever you like. The revered mother will be here shortly, and food will be brought in.”

  I nodded. “Will anyone else be joining us?”

  She shook her head. “No, she made it clear that you two were not to be disturbed. She said you had a lot to discuss.”

  Well, at least only one priestess would be around to ruin my meal. Things could be worse. “Thank you for your help.”

  She smiled. “Of course, Lady Rosa. If you need anything, I’ll be in the room across the hall.”

  Despite its small size, the dining hall reminded me of home, so I felt uncomfortable sitting anywhere near the head of the table. I ended up choosing a spot near the door instead. If asked, I could simply say I wanted to reduce how far the revered mother needed to walk.

  A gentle knock came on the door right as I was sitting down, so I stood back up to greet my visitor. Since I hadn’t felt them coming, they were probably a priestess. “Come in.”

  The door opened quickly, and an older woman – perhaps in her sixties – walked in confidently, albeit slowly. My heart sank when I saw her, and I failed to hold my tongue.

  “What are you doing here?”

  She laughed and tilted her head. “I’m here to join you for breakfast, aren’t I? Did I wander into the wrong room? I’ve been losing my way more often these days.”

  “That’s not what I mean.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Oh, I see. Well, as you know, after the incident, I fell out of favor with a great many people. They sent me here to rot. Though I suppose I was never in your favor, was I, little flower?”

  This woman had always been an expert at getting on my nerves. “To be honest, I’ve never understood how you managed to get along with anyone. Perhaps I’m the only person on this planet who can see through you, somehow.”

  She grinned and tapped the bridge of her nose. “In that case, I’m doubly glad to have you here. You’ve enough sight for the both of us.”

  At that moment I finally looked her in the eyes, and realized that they were clouded, likely by cataracts. For all I knew, she was completely blind.

  I sighed. “Do you want me to guide you to your chair? It wouldn’t be right to keep you standing by the door at your age, revered one.”

  The idea of calling her “mother” made me feel ill.

  She chuckled. “No, that won’t be necessary. I can find my way to my seat just fine, provided you don’t mind if I sit opposite you. And I’ll have you know that standing in place for hours is something of a specialty for our order, so I’m likely better at it than you are, Hana!”

  “It’s Rosa.”

  Her expression sank, and as she walked to her seat, she continued to speak. “I see. Well, that’s your decision, so I’ll respect it. Please forgive me if I get it wrong. These days I have to rely more on my memories, and in those you’re still the little sprout that clung to my ankles during your visits.”

  I sat opposite her, landing more abruptly in my seat than I intended. The chair rattled loudly, and for a moment I thought I might have broken it.

  “Well, I didn’t know who you really were back then. I must admit, you had me fooled, just like the rest of them.”

  I still wasn’t sure what to make of this turn of events. Letting this disgusting woman anywhere near Helian was the last thing I wanted, but I had to admit, she was perhaps the most qualified person to treat her. I knew from experience that she was truly devout, and the power she had access to served as proof of that. She had used that power to treat members of my family before, after all.

  She sighed and sipped her water. Silence hung in the room for perhaps a minute, and then she began to speak.

  “Han-” she coughed and corrected herself. “Rosa, I know that you resent me, and you have good reason to do so. But I want to assure you that I won’t allow any harm to come to your friend. I will do everything I can to help her. You can believe me.”

  “You’re not an honest person, revered one.”

  “Perhaps not. But I’ve never lied to you, and you know that.”

  This much was true. Perhaps if she had been a liar, everything would have worked out.