“Jai!”
I do not know if she heard, because at that moment Joem caught sight of the ship and pointed. As Jai looked she stopped in her tracks.
“We are lost.” Her voice was weak, but I heard every word. “We are all lost!”
She began to sway.
“She is falling! Catch her!”
Sister O managed to catch Jai in her sinewy arms just as she fell. Without stopping, she swept the girl up and continued up the steps with long, deer-like strides. For a while it was chaos, no one knew whatto do, everybody stared out to sea with frightened murmurs.
“Hurry!” Mother called. We all looked up and saw her standing there on the highest step, bareheaded like everyone else, her long grey hair like a silver waterfall around her shoulders. “We do not have much time.”
Everybody set off at once, climbing the steps in haste, into Hearth House where Sister Ers was holding the doors open. I ran in at the same time as Mother.
“I think I have everything,” I heard Sister Ers say quietly to Mother as we passed. “Some are old, how was I to know…”
Mother gave her a quick pat on the shoulder and continued into the hall.
I saw Joem rush past everyone and fall to her knees by the Hearth, where she quickly brought the embers to life. We positioned ourselves around the table, alternating sisters and novices. Someone went and opened all the windows wide. I stood where I could keep my eye on the Teeth and soon I saw the ship emerge from behind the farthest rock. I could not tear my eyes away from the white, foaming water. The sun was beginning to rise on the other side of the mountains, and, as the world lit up with its first rays, I saw something gleam on the ship.
Exposed weapons.
I had never been inside Hearth House with the sisters before. Sister Mareane was standing next to me, but then she moved to make space as Sister O herded Jai in next to me and rushed away. Jai had come to her senses but was still so pale I feared she might faint again. She was not shaking. She was completely still, like a mouse face to face with a hungry cat, hoping against hope that the cat will lose interest and leave it alone.
Sister Ers, Joem and Cissil rushed in carrying a brass dish. The dish was laid with dark-green leaves, almonds and candied rose petals.
“Take and eat,” they said as they negotiated their way between tables and shoulders. “One of each. Take. Eat. Hurry.”
I reached to take some for myself but Jai did not move a muscle so I took some for her also. I helped her put an almond to her lips and ate one myself. It tasted like earth and salt. The candied rose petal was sour and sweet at the same time.
Mother walked past, calm and dignified, her hair flowing in the breeze from the open windows. In her hands she held a golden chalice.
“Eat, my daughters. Then when you have eaten,drink,” said Mother. “Then when you have drunk, tame your hair. Plait and braid, weave and bind. Do not let a single strand escape.”
I poked one of the strange leaves between Jai’s passive lips, then stuck one in my own mouth and chewed. The bitter taste filled me, from mouth to breast, from womb to sole. It tasted of sorrow and moonlight.
A draught came scurrying across the floor and chilled my ankles. I stopped chewing.
The breath of the Crone. Her realm was close again. A hush fell around me; the only sounds were the wind and the women’s quiet chewing. Was that the voice of the Crone I could hear whispering in the sails of the approaching ship? Was she saying my name? I could not swallow the leaf in my mouth. I could not move. If I moved she would find me.
Mother had come round to us and held the chalice in front of my mouth. The red wine washed down the leaf and the fear. The thick wine was sweet like honey and salty like blood.
Everyone around me had their hands in their hair, twisting, braiding and binding with skilled, nimble fingers. Sister Loeni and Sister Nummel rushed between the benches and tables to hand out bandsto tie
I do not know if she heard, because at that moment Joem caught sight of the ship and pointed. As Jai looked she stopped in her tracks.
“We are lost.” Her voice was weak, but I heard every word. “We are all lost!”
She began to sway.
“She is falling! Catch her!”
Sister O managed to catch Jai in her sinewy arms just as she fell. Without stopping, she swept the girl up and continued up the steps with long, deer-like strides. For a while it was chaos, no one knew whatto do, everybody stared out to sea with frightened murmurs.
“Hurry!” Mother called. We all looked up and saw her standing there on the highest step, bareheaded like everyone else, her long grey hair like a silver waterfall around her shoulders. “We do not have much time.”
Everybody set off at once, climbing the steps in haste, into Hearth House where Sister Ers was holding the doors open. I ran in at the same time as Mother.
“I think I have everything,” I heard Sister Ers say quietly to Mother as we passed. “Some are old, how was I to know…”
Mother gave her a quick pat on the shoulder and continued into the hall.
I saw Joem rush past everyone and fall to her knees by the Hearth, where she quickly brought the embers to life. We positioned ourselves around the table, alternating sisters and novices. Someone went and opened all the windows wide. I stood where I could keep my eye on the Teeth and soon I saw the ship emerge from behind the farthest rock. I could not tear my eyes away from the white, foaming water. The sun was beginning to rise on the other side of the mountains, and, as the world lit up with its first rays, I saw something gleam on the ship.
Exposed weapons.
I had never been inside Hearth House with the sisters before. Sister Mareane was standing next to me, but then she moved to make space as Sister O herded Jai in next to me and rushed away. Jai had come to her senses but was still so pale I feared she might faint again. She was not shaking. She was completely still, like a mouse face to face with a hungry cat, hoping against hope that the cat will lose interest and leave it alone.
Sister Ers, Joem and Cissil rushed in carrying a brass dish. The dish was laid with dark-green leaves, almonds and candied rose petals.
“Take and eat,” they said as they negotiated their way between tables and shoulders. “One of each. Take. Eat. Hurry.”
I reached to take some for myself but Jai did not move a muscle so I took some for her also. I helped her put an almond to her lips and ate one myself. It tasted like earth and salt. The candied rose petal was sour and sweet at the same time.
Mother walked past, calm and dignified, her hair flowing in the breeze from the open windows. In her hands she held a golden chalice.
“Eat, my daughters. Then when you have eaten,drink,” said Mother. “Then when you have drunk, tame your hair. Plait and braid, weave and bind. Do not let a single strand escape.”
I poked one of the strange leaves between Jai’s passive lips, then stuck one in my own mouth and chewed. The bitter taste filled me, from mouth to breast, from womb to sole. It tasted of sorrow and moonlight.
A draught came scurrying across the floor and chilled my ankles. I stopped chewing.
The breath of the Crone. Her realm was close again. A hush fell around me; the only sounds were the wind and the women’s quiet chewing. Was that the voice of the Crone I could hear whispering in the sails of the approaching ship? Was she saying my name? I could not swallow the leaf in my mouth. I could not move. If I moved she would find me.
Mother had come round to us and held the chalice in front of my mouth. The red wine washed down the leaf and the fear. The thick wine was sweet like honey and salty like blood.
Everyone around me had their hands in their hair, twisting, braiding and binding with skilled, nimble fingers. Sister Loeni and Sister Nummel rushed between the benches and tables to hand out bandsto tie
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