The Memory of Darkness (on hold until October)

2 - Unexpected Visitors

Arianna sat in the convent's infirmary, her arm extended as Sister Frieda, the Physician, examined the angry purple bruise that snaked around it.

"It's nothing serious," said Arianna, sweetly. "I just need some sanica ointment, and it'll be gone in no time."

"How did it happen?" asked Sister Frieda.

"Oh, you know how it is," said Arianna. "You're going about your daily business, and some part of you collides with a table, or shelf or some such thing, and this is the result. Highly annoying!"

"You didn't get that by colliding with anything," said Frieda. "It goes all the way round your arm. It's like something was looped around it, or your arm was stuck somewhere."

"These things happen," said Arianna. "I just don't always remember what they are."

Frieda pursed her lips. "You must think I came down with the last rainfall, girl." She vanished into the dispensary, emerging a short while later clutching a small pot. "Sanica," she announced. "I'm sure you know how to use it by now."

"Thank you, Sister Frieda," said Arianna, brightly, taking the pot.

"Just don't let it happen again," warned the physician. "Next time it could be a fracture, or it could break the skin!"

"I'll be exceedingly careful," said Arianna, before leaving the room. She took a few steps before pausing. Next time. Would there be a next time? By the Gods, I hope not.

With a sigh, she made her way back to her room, and sat on the edge of her narrow bed, rubbing the ointment into her arm, wincing at the rather pungent smell. It had been a day since her encounter with the man, and she had failed to think of much else.

She opened the small window, and managed to lean far enough out to see the convent's clock tower. One hour until sword practice. How can I kill the time?

A sharp knock on the door broke through her thoughts. She opened it to find her friend Sister Branwen, one of the other novices, clutching a book, with a rather worried look on her face.

"Is something wrong?" asked Arianna.

Branwen nodded. "I need to take this back to the library," she said, holding up the book.

"Good for you," said Arianna.

"Will you come with me?" asked Branwen.

"I can't," said Arianna, in no mood for company. "I have sword practice soon."

"Sword practice isn't until three," said Branwen. "It isn't quite two yet. Please, I don't want to go there alone."

"You won't be alone," said Arianna. "The library's usually busy at this time of day."

"I saw the headless nun!" whispered Branwen, urgently. "Again!"

"Which one?" asked Arianna. The convent building was hundreds of years old in places. When it came to ghosts, it wasn't a case of whether or not you believed in them, it was trying not to let them bother you too much.

"The one in the library, of course," said Branwen.

"Of course," sighed Arianna. "I'll come with you," she said. "Though I doubt she'd be around in broad daylight, and I don't know what use I'd be."

"You could set her on fire," said Branwen.

Arianna glanced nervously along the empty corridor, before pulling her friend into the room. "Keep your voice down!" she hissed.