Elora was inclined to agree. The sooner this was done the sooner they could go back for Nat and Ejan -to find her mother and spend time with Bray.
“Perhaps, one night’s sleep will do us all some good,” said Otholo. “Just think of those steps you’ve to climb to reach the church. Not to mention that you will be singing for the duration of the day, until they are satisfied the bond had strengthened.”
“Wise words,” said Fraya. “Tell the old fool that he can leave when he wants. Otheena is no longer his concern.”
Otholo translated this, leaving the ‘old fool’, bit out.
“Tell her that I will remain with the girl until the job is done and that she is still under the protection of the Shadojak.”
Otholo did so.
“He’s a spiky aged prune, with the temperance of a stung dog. Tell him Elora will spend the night with her song-sisters and he is welcome to find shelter with the guards or sit atop the church and let his weathered face become even more like a grimoire that’s spent too many harsh winters atop the spire.”
Otholo turned to Diagus. “She said Elora will spend tonight with her song-sisters and you can...meet them at the church at dawn.”
Diagus looked like he wanted to snap back, yet held his tongue. “Very well. I’ll leave her in your care and will be at the church at sunrise.” He nodded once towards the sisters, his eyes passing over Elora’s, then left.
Bray likewise nodded and gave Elora an encouraging smile before following his old master out of the room.
Fraya turned to Miathlin. “Otheena is to sing with you at dawn. She will spend the night with you, if you have room.”
“As you wish blessed sister, although I have no bed to spare. My song-sister who will be making up the trio has a spare bed.”
“Very well. Make sure she is fed and bathed. Then take her to meet her other song-sister, Athena. It will do her good to spend the night with her.”
Elora nodded to the sisters, unable to communicate otherwise as she must remain silent and followed Miathlin out of the dome building. A giddy sense of surrealism making her lightheaded; Athena was her mother’s name.
Chapter 24
The Moon’s Twin Moods
After being taken to a kitchen in the back of a large hall, Elora ate meats and breads of the finest she had ever had. Tasting all the better for being so hungry. Once she was sure she couldn’t swallow another bite, Miathlin led her to a row of huts by the lake. Here she undressed and lowered herself into a large stone bath. Sighing with relief as she submerged herself in steaming water. She scrubbed raw skin and blisters away with a kind of natural soap sponge that smelled of lavender - her body relaxed, the aches and pains washing away from her muscles with the dust and grime. She was reluctant to leave, but under her song-sister’s orders, dried herself and dressed in a white and gold gown, much like Miathlin’s. Her other clothes had been taken away.
“Don’t worry,” Miathlin reassured her, after she looked about for them. “They’ll be cleaned and returned to you.”
They walked leisurely through the quaint city, winding around buildings, climbing steps and headed to the higher parts of Aslania. As they made their way Miathlin explained more about how the sisters worked together. She learned that song-sisters worked in threes, a trio. If they worked well the trio would stay together for as long as they could sing. The Sisters Devine were the eldest trio, having sung together for over seventy years. Elora found it extraordinary how it all worked. The whole Minuan way was built around the Eversong and the church, and went unchanged for thousands of years. She felt honoured to be a part of it and felt at home in Aslania.
They came to a halt outside a round dwelling that was much like any other they had passed, although the large fountain across the path triggered an old memory.
She had touched it before; she was sure she had. Only her hands had been small and chubby. Her tiny finger tracing the carved stone fish that poked out of the basin, squirting water from its gaping mouth. This was her mother’s house they had come to.
Miathlin knocked on the door. It was opened by a lady older than Miathlin, with more grey in her hair. Her blue eyes found the Songstress and she smiled in recognition before they settled on Elora. The smile faded, replaced by surprise, her face paling.
“Athena,” said Miathlin, taking her hands and pulling her into an exited embrace. “We have a new song-sister.” She beamed when she pulled away and gestured for Elora to step closer. “This is Otheena. Sister to the bard, Otholo. She sang in the trial hall earlier and lifted the sphere clear out of the font. She is what we’ve been waiting for, what Aslania has been waiting for.”
“New song-sister?” Athena repeated.
“Yes. We will be singing in the church at dawn. You will see, she has a voice like the blessed Minu herself. Oh, and Freya wishes for her to sleep here tonight.”
“Slow down, Miathlin,” Athena said, her gaze never leaving Elora, “Have we ever met?”
Elora shook her head and remained silent -she knows who I am.
“Otheena is saving her voice for tomorrow. But I can’t see why you would have met before. She was little older than a baby when she left Aslania.”
Her mother didn’t seem satisfied with the response yet said nothing more about it.
“Welcome, song-sister,” she said, stepping back and allowing Elora to enter the house she was born in.
It was a cosy home with only three rooms, this main room which was the kitchen, dining room and lounge all in one and two small bedrooms up the spiral steps.
“Sit yourself down Otheena, would you like chamomile tea?” her mother asked. Elora nodded and lowered herself into the chair which Miathlin pulled out for her. She sat at the opposite side of the table.
Her mother was silent as she boiled water above a wood burning stove, her gaze finding Elora every few moments and making her feel nervous. Elora herself, watched her mother, her face was how she remembered although her smooth skin appeared unused to smiling and was empty of laughter lines.
“I’ve put a spoon of honey in it,” said Athena, attempting to smile. It didn’t suit her. “It will help soothe your throat and the chamomile will help you sleep.”
Elora smiled again, fighting the emotions that were building up in her. She wanted nothing more than to embrace her mother. Instead she drank quickly to cover any signs she may have shown, scolding her tongue in the process.
The honey evoked new memories of a child, running around this small room, climbing on this very table and sucking on boiled honey sweets that Nat had made for her. The emotion brought tears to her eyes which she swiftly blinked away before it was noticed.
Miathlin filled the silence with talk over the day’s events, as her mother seemed less inclined to make conversation. Otholo was mentioned and the bullish behaviour of the Shadojak and how handsome his Shaigun was. Elora felt a little pride at that and longed to be with him, wherever he was in the city.
After the tea was drunk, Miathlin excused herself, she had preparations to make for the mornings song: having to rearrange with the trio who was originally scheduled to sing. When she closed the door behind her the house became still, wood crackled in the stove making the only noise to impede on the quietness.
Athena remained where she was, motionless, her eyes cast down on her hands that wrapped around the empty cup. Elora, feeling awkward rose and went to take her mother’s cup so she could wash them in the basin, but as she reached for the cup her mother’s hand grasped hers. She held firm for a long while, her head lowered so her face was hidden. Yet Elora didn’t mistake the tears that fell to the smooth surface of the table.
After regaining control of herself her mother released her grip and Elora briskly made her way to the basin to wash the cups. When she returned her mother’s crystal blue eyes were upon her, red and swollen.
