Page 35 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
Behind them the two nuns tittered quietly.
“Sisters!”snapped the abbess, halting in mid-stride.“Need I assign you penance as well?”
Seona lifted her head and turned a bit to the side.The two nuns were pale and shaken.
“N...no Mother Superior,” the two stammered, nearly in unison before falling silent.
“Excellent.”The abbess squeezed Seona’s arm, forcing her forward.
I’ll have bruises there tomorrow.
They followed the path cut into one side of the cave to where it bent out of sight.
Behind her, Seona heard the boatman push his craft away from the quay.Her last resort for escape had just departed.
Rounding the curve, they came to an opening blocked by a gate of iron bars.Just beyond the gate rose a steep narrow staircase.
“Sister Oda,” the abbess said.“Use my keys and open the gate, please.”She took from a leather cord around her neck a metal ring full with keys and handed it to the nun.
Odd, the keys are adorned with bits of yarn.I wouldn’t think the abbess was given to decorating such humble objects.
Sister Oda rapidly found the correct key and unlocked the gate then returned the key ring to the mother superior.That woman shoved Seona toward the stairs
Compelled to lead, Seona marched up the steps.The only light came from the single torch, which was several steps to her rear.She must secure a torch and hide it before any attempt at escape could be made.The key ring was a more difficult problem to solve.How could she steal it from Mother Superior Eadburgh without anyone discovering the theft until it was too late?Even more worrisome was the number of keys.How many locks could one community of holy women have?Did they not trust each other?
The abbess pushed past Seona to open a wooden door at the top of the stairs.
Seona blinked when she stepped out into the bright light of the late morning sun.A short distance away, chapel bells signaled Terce.
“Sister Oda, Sister Triduana take Lady MacFearann’s bags to my chambers.Then you are dismissed to join the others in the kitchen.I must guide our new supplicant to the chapel and see her started on her penance.You will serve our morning meal after I finish here and am seated in the refectory”
The two sisters bowed then hurried away.
“Mother Superior, will my saddle bags be returned to me?”
“Do not worry yourself, Lady MacFearann.The bags will be returned to you when your penance is done, and you are assigned a cell.”The gaze above her toothy grin was guileful.
As they spoke together, dozens of black-robed nuns hurried past.Evidently no one wanted to miss a meal.
Mother Superior nodded at each woman who passed.
Some distance behind hurried a single novice.
“You!”the abbess bellowed and pointed at the novice.“Come here!”
She ran to stand before the abbess.
The abbess wrapped the rosary around her hand, fitting the crucifix into her palm so the golden arms and stem poked out between her fingers.
“Why are you running?You know that is forbidden.”The abbess’s tone had become dulcet, but her narrowed eyes gleamed.
She’s anticipating something that will please her.
The novice kept her head bowed.“I...I am sorry, Mother Superior.I was late and forgot.I promise it will not happen again.”
“Indeed, it will not,” cooed the abbess.“For I shall give you something to help you remember.Now look at me.”
The novice lifted her head.
