Page 34 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
Chapter Six
The beach near BaileIasg
Sunrise, March 5, 1297
The following morning, Seona stepped into the fishing vessel sent for her.
“I surely do appreciate when the abbess has visitors.Keeps me and the other fishermen from starving when the catch is small.”
“That is a blessing.”
He was a chatty fellow who seemed to enjoy the sound of his own voice.
All Seona had to do was make an agreeable sound from time to time.
“And it’s been real good business this past couple of years.Why I took that other MacFearann lady out yesterday.”
Another MacFearann Lady?
“Who would that be?”Seona asked, working hard at sounding casual.
“Oh, I don’t think you’d know her.You’re not from the castle, are you?”
“No, I don’t get to visit the castle often,” she lied.
“This lady talks funny, like the Reverend Mother, who’s a sassenach.She enjoys giving orders too.Tried to tell me how to sail my boat.”
“Rather full of herself, yes?”
“You have that right.Hope you don’t have to see much of her.”
“Hmm.”Seona hoped the same, for the only person she knew fitting that description was Lady Staunton.What was she doing visiting the abbess?Seona suspected she knew and prayed she was wrong.However, instinct said she wasn’t.
The boatman navigated through the channel between the rocks that led to the opening at the base of the island.Once there he tied the vessel up to a sort of quay that had been constructed against one side of the lengthy cave.Just as he was helping her from the boat, three nuns approached from darkness shrouding the far end of the space.She suspected the large woman was the abbess.A gold crucifix bedecked with rubies hung around her neck, and she carried a gleaming rosary from which dangled a second aureate cross.
One of the two other nuns carried a torch.
“Lady MacFearann, I am so glad to see you.I am Mother Superior Eadburgh.You may address me as Mother Superior.All our supplicants do so.”The woman’s broad smile did not reach her eyes.She wrapped a beefy arm around Seona’s shoulder.
“My things...”
“You brought the required donation?”
“In my saddle bags.”
“Sisters, see to Lady MacFearann’s belongings please.Now Lady MacFearann, you need worry about nothing.You are safe here and will be well guarded.”
Not too well guarded, I hope.
“There must be some mistake, Mother Superior.I am here only to take sanctuary until my brother can arrive to take me to his home.I am not a supplicant.”
The abbess leaned toward Seona’s ear.“Hush,” she whispered.“The other sisters will treat you better if they believe you to be a supplicant.”
Then the abbess straightened and spoke louder.“Yes, instead of attending the evening meal, I will permit you to do penance in the chapel.That will be your first lesson.Never contradict your mother superior again.”
Seona bowed her head.“Yes, Mother Superior.Thank you.”
