Medice Ceres

Chapter 18

Waithe shook his head and whispered, "Be it always so easy for you to enter the castle of the Overlord?"

"Aye, Waithe." A sly smile came to Madam Devere's face. "Always has it been. Much business do I have here."

The two guards holding lances at the west door only grinned as the Madam, four young women clad in tight fancy dresses, and Waithe entered the castle. Devere gave a guard a wink as he opened the door for them. She planned to pass Waithe off as a new handler to the women, but the guards took no notice of him.

They passed through a long hallway, dimly lit with a series of candle sconces attached to the stone walls. A spiraling stone staircase took them down to a lower level.

Waithe creased his brow. "And you just walk into the prison?"

"My dear, the jailers be some of my best customers."

The women's high-heeled shoes clacked against the hard floor. The sound echoed off the stone walls as the group rounded a corner to a heavy wooden door. The guard before it snored as he sat on the floor with his mouth hung open, leaning against the wall. As Waithe took his long knife, the guard fell over, still sound asleep.

The door creaked as Waithe and Devere slowly pulled it open. Rows of jail cells lined the walls, each with a solid wooden door except for a small window at eye level and a small hinged opening at the bottom. Solid planks barred the cell doors closed. Three more guards laid on the floor in deep sleep. Waithe peeked in the first cell he came to, the prisoner inside also snoozed.

Devere turned toward Waithe and furrowed her brow. He nodded to her. "By Ceres' Magic, I believe."

A barefoot slender woman tiptoed into view from the far side of the cell rows. She held up the hem of her dress skirt as she looked tentatively behind her.

Waithe smiled. "My fair Lady!"

Ceres spun around and yelped, silencing her cry with a hand to her mouth. Her eyes widened to the unusual entourage that surprised her. "Waithe!" She ran to his embrace. Tears came to her eyes as she clung to him.

He stroked her hair. "My dear Ceres, protector be my job. I cannot have you rescue yourself."

Ceres smiled as she pulled back. "I am not rescued yet. No idea have I on how to get out of this place. I feared for you, Waithe, after that blow to your head. And Eira?"

"She be well. I have much to tell you, but another time. We must now take our leave." He turned to his companions. "This be Madam Devere and some of her... employees."

Devere came forward and pulled a garment out from a hiding spot beneath her full skirt. "We shall do formal introductions later, my Lady. Here, put this on."

Ceres took the dress. "Um, where should I change?"

"No time for modesty, my dear. Quickly before any more guards arrive."

Waithe turned his head as Ceres changed. One of the women produced a pair of high heeled shoes, and another a silky cloak with a hood. A third quickly applied a thick layer of makeup to Ceres' face, making sure to hide the mark of the Order on her neck.

Ceres looked down on her body. The tight blue dress featured a plunging neckline between her breasts and a high slit up nearly to her hip. She blushed. "I look like a..." She clamped her mouth shut.

Devere replied, "Exactly, my Lady. Beautiful you are, and a high price you would fetch in the business of pleasure."

"I... I would never!"

Devere frowned. "Be mindful, dear, of who helps rescue you."

Waithe peeked out from behind the heavy door to the prison area and waved the women on. They walked at a brisk pace down the hall and up the spiral staircase, heels clacking on the hard floor. Devere grinned as Ceres wobbled in her shoes and sometimes reached to Waithe to steady herself.

As they opened the door to leave the castle, one of the guards smirked, "So soon, Madam? Did they finish so quickly? I promise that I would last longer." The other guard snickered.

Devere ran her hand across his cheek and smiled. "No doubt you would. But, nay. There be a rumor of an inspection, so they sent us on our way."

Waithe and the women disappeared into the night. The guards did not even notice that one more came out than went in.

*****

The little girl jumped into Ceres' arms and embraced her. Ceres kissed her head as Waithe patted her on the back. Ceres said, "Eira, thank you for coming for me. I was so scared, and I missed you so."

A young blond-haired woman, likely in her teens, sat nearby. Streaks of old makeup lined her face. Before her was some sort of marble game, and it appeared that Eira was winning.

Ceres turned her head toward the woman. "What is your name?"

"Kiera, my Lady."

"Thank you for looking after Eira, Kiera."

"'Tis nothing, my Lady. She be delightful and quite good with the marbles."

"It means much to me, my new friend." Ceres paused for a moment. "If I may ask something personal, why are you here, Kiera?"

She looked away and sighed. "Nowhere else have I, no home be there for a whore like me. A miserable life on the streets had I before Madam Devere took me in. I know what I do be not proper, but at least here I be safe and a roof over my head."

"Do you not worry about becoming with child or sickness?"

"Madam Devere says that all men must be sheathed, although many do not and it not always works." She dropped her head. "The burning sickness has me. A healer comes by at times, but no cure has he. Some say the sickness be a punishment by the Creator on those like me."

"My dear Kiera, the burning sickness is a disease and not a divine curse, nor do I think you wretched. I would take the sickness away from you."

Kiera looked up with moist eyes. "My Lady, you could... would do that for me?"

"Aye, my new friend. Come closer and take my hand. Eira, you may help as well." They sat cross-legged in a circle, hand in hand. "I would call Myr, the Spirit of small life, she is adept at curing disease."

Waithe stood back as Ceres closed her eyes and hummed softly, Eira watched and matched her actions. Myr's umber light appeared almost instantly and circled slowly about them. A green light also appeared. Ceres opened one eye. "Phy? I did not call you, but do join us."

Kiera's mouth gaped open. This likely was her first encounter with the Spirits. Her eyes widened as shimmering white lights surrounded her. Within a few moments, the white lights disappeared, but the Spirits remained.

Ceres opened her eyes and released Kiera's hand. "There, the disease is gone."

Kiera looked down and put a hand on her crotch. "It burns not!" She rocked forward to embrace Ceres, nearly knocking her over. "Thank you, my Lady."

"It is my pleasure, dear Kiera. Are there others with the sickness? Bring them and I would cure one and all."

As Kiera ran off to spread the invitation, Ceres turned to Eira. "Did you take care of Waithe for me while I was gone? All too often he finds so much trouble." Eira nodded.

"You have no idea, my dear Ceres." Waithe sat down with them. "Eira called the Spirit Anu and healed me. She be my rescuer." He tousled the hair of the grinning little girl.

Ceres opened her mouth wide, unable to speak for a moment. "Is this true, my wonderful girl? Anu granted Magic to you?"

Eira grinned. Ceres pulled her back into a hug.

Ceres turned toward Waithe. "What now, my great protector?"

"The city will soon be swarming with Medice Guards and the Overlord's soldiers. Best we wait hidden here. Madam Devere has offered us refuge, but we should not stay long. Eventually, a tongue would wag and we would be found out." Waithe stood up. "You still seek to enter the archives of the Order of Medice?"

"Aye, but I fear that shall be difficult. I cannot just walk in and demand access. My dear protector, our trials have only just begun."