Medice Ceres

Chapter 55

A bearded man with a rounded pouched belly burst in through the front door, drawing breaths deep into his chest. His black uniform shirt was only half-buttoned, gaping open, and the red sash part across his chest partially twisted inside out. Gold bars adorned his shoulder and several metals were pinned to his chest. Waithe chuckled to himself. The man had indeed just woken up and likely with quite a surprise. Three other guards followed him in, each carrying pikes.

Waithe lifted his mug high. "Captain, good morning to you. A beautiful start to the day, don't you think?"

The color of the captain's face changed to more closely match his auburn hair and beard as he gritted his teeth.

*****

Waithe shook the thick iron bars that confined Ceres and him to the room, but they held solid, then traced his fingers over the rock blocks that made up the walls. "The captain be not very friendly at all. I didn't even get to finish my ale."

The room contained two beds with soft mattresses, two wooden chairs by a small table, a water basin, and a chamber pot in the far corner.  Another cell stood just down the hallway on the same side. Ceres gazed out a barred window that overlooked the palace grounds. Two guards stood in the hallway, one cast his eyes at Waithe.

A rap on the cell bars caught Waithe's attention. "Kori! What brings you here?"

She said with an apologetic smile, "I be tasked with seeing to your needs." She opened a small panel at the bottom of the iron bar door and slid in a tray with two mugs. "I hope you do not mind, but I brought you another ale and cup of tea."

Waithe smiled broadly. "Bless you, my dear Kori!" He picked up the mug of ale and handed the cup of tea to Ceres. "I must say, this be the most pleasant prison cell I have ever seen. But strong be the door and walls, designed to hold a powerful Shaman, I would think."

Kori's chin trembled. "I be happy they did not take you to the dungeon cells below. So horrible... Many who enter be never seen again."

Ceres came to the bars. "How fares your leg?"

A smile came back to her face as she stepped forward. "Very well, my Lady. It be truly a miracle! Still, I understand not why you would favor me."

Ceres put her hand over Kori's hand on the bars. "Healing is my purpose, Kori. I would grant that, especially to you. I see you as a woman of great worth."

"Do you be the one named Ceres? The healer who wanders the lands? So many stories have I heard." A small grin grew on her face and she whispered, "Much to the dismay of Lord Scias, though."

Ceres bowed her head slightly. "Aye. And may I present to you my dear father and protector, Waithe."

Kori dipped her head with a smile. "It be my honor to have met you both."

Waithe asked, "Are we to expect an audience with Lord Scias?"

She shook her head. "He be away. I know not where, but word was sent of the Lady's arrival."

"And Shaman Raste?"

Kori shuddered at the name and her lips turned down. "He be not here. I know little of his coming or going."

Waithe bowed to her. "Well then, my dear Kori, in the meantime we shall enjoy your kind hospitality."

She smiled. "If you would excuse me, I shall begin preparing lunch." She walked off humming a simple tune.

Waithe turned to Ceres as Kori went out of sight. "She fears Raste. Did you see how she reacted when--"

He was interrupted by a familiar voice came from the cell next door. "Ceres, is that really you?"

Ceres' eyes opened wide as she pressed her face against the bars in an attempt to see the source of the voice. "Reverend Quar?"

Quar sighed. "I've been such a fool, Ceres. I would beg your forgiveness, but I think the wrong I did you much too great for that."

"What happened? We heard you journeyed to Kust, but now you are a prisoner?"

"Aye. I came to protest and put an end to our allegiance," Quar answered. "Instead, Lord Scias put me here. And I know not what he did with the Medice Guard that accompanied me. I fear for them."

After a moment of silence, Quar continued. "Dia told me you were there in the meeting with Lady Jenn and that she confronted you in the archives. She came back intending to expose Lord Scias and his Shaman Raste." A faint sob came. "Poor Dia, later I discovered her murdered in her bed." Her voice became tinged with anger. "It could only have been Raste who would do such a thing!"

Ceres leaned her forehead against the bars. Her voice cracked. "No... Oh, Dia..." She pounded on the iron bars hard enough that one of the guards at the end of the hall flinched. "Why, Quar! What led you to this? Why did you betray the honor of the Order?" Her voice quieted. "And why did you betray me?"

"I did not want this. I just wanted to make the world better for all. Lord Scias promised he would bring order and a more lasting peace to the Realm. And he would elevate the Order of Medice in it. I believed him, I was a fool. All he seeks is his own glory."

"The people suffer, Quar! You allowed the Taint to spread across the Lands. And Raste brings forth the Darkness."

A moment of silence passed. "That be my greatest wrong. I abided evil in the name of goodness."

Ceres shouted, her voice reverberating off the stone walls. "You sold me like a slave! We saw the ledger. A small fortune you made from me. Then you made me a fugitive!"

An anger rose within Waithe and he clenched his fists. Her words reminded him that there were those that regarded his daughter as property to be bought and sold.

"I am so sorry, Ceres," Quar said in a faint voice.

Ceres bowed her head and took a deep breath. "There be something far worse. You knew I was the last Tau. What did you think Raste would do with me? I have read the Book of Tau and the Shadow Spellbook. He intends to bring Darkness over me to complete what the Dark Shaman of the North Lands could not, to bring about the End Times."

Quar's voice strained. "You cannot allow that. End yourself if you must." Another sob escaped her lips. "I am so sorry..."

Ceres began to speak. She stopped as Waithe raised his hand. His silent message: do not reveal what happened to the Tau. She nodded. "Quar, this is not over yet. Be ready when the time comes."

"What can I do?"

"Make your heart right. And just be ready."