The Missed Trials
*Spring, Year 225, Luminous Calendar*
Iris stared momentarily at the brown wooden cup in her hand before gulping down the hot dark green liquid in it. It's heat stung her already aching throat but it wasn't long before it's minty flavor cooled and sooth the pain away. "The tea's not as bad as it seems, right? Many have the misconception that anything that looks green and nasty, is nasty. If I had a Crown for the amount of times it was the exact opposite, I would be the richest Priestess in all of Sundome." Iris looked at Priestess Vera who put her medical tools away in a large white leather bag while rambling on happily. She nodded and held out her cup with a shaky hand. "Does it still hurt or are you just thirsty?" The Priestess asked with a small smile spreading on her pale pink heart shaped lips , her tight ginger curls cascading over her shoulders as she leaned over to fill Iris's cup once more.
Iris gave her a weak smile and nodded before gulping down her dark green tea and sighing happily as the hot liquid burned and then cooled her sore throat. "Alright, that's it for me. One of the Sisters will be up with a tray of food in a few minutes. I need you to eat, and I mean really eat. I was told by some of them that you haven't been eating properly this past week, that and the fact that you were mostly out of it for a couple of days, means that your body is both malnourished and dehydrated. So I'll be leaving this here for your throat and I'll be coming around some time in the afternoon tomorrow." Priestess Vera said while putting down a large brown wooden jug filled with the dark green tea and a few small glass bottles of different colored liquids on the nightstand next to her bed. Iris nodded and laid back down on her fluffy pillow.
It wasn't long after Priestess Vera left that Sisters Jesslyn, Bertha and Nattie quickly scurried in. They shut the door quietly and began to set up a small table they pulled next to her bed, with bottles and cups filled with water and wine and plates filled with a mix of salads, hot steamy potato soup, warm toasted bread, cheese and fresh fruits. Iris counted a total of four different portions of each. She slowly began to sit up when she heard a terrified scream. Sister Bertha looked at her with wide terrified eyes, Sister Nattie's large hand press tightly over her mouth, her other arm around her upper chest. "Shhhhhhh Bertha! We aren't supposed to be here!" Sister Jesslyn scolded Sister Bertha in an angry whisper to which Sister Bertha shakily pointed at Iris. The other two Sisters looked in the direction Sister Bertha was pointing and Iris instinctively looked behind herself too. "Oh! Lady Iris, you're up! I'm sorry did we scare you? Well not as much as you scared Sister Bertha, I hope." Sister Jesslyn asked, her elderly sun kissed skin flushing a soft pink. Iris smiled and shook her head while scooting over and patting the bed next to her. The sisters beamed brightly and each took a turn going over to her and giving her a soft peck on the forehead.
Iris moved over to the side of her bed closest to the table while Sisters Bertha and Ruth pulled the chairs from her desk and side table to the other sides. Sister Jesslyn sat next to her and wrapped her arm fondly around Iris's shoulder. "How are you feeling sweetheart?" She ask while grabbing a plate passed to her by Sister Nattie and placing it on Iris's lap. Iris nodded and pointed at her throat sadly. "Yes little one, we know. Priestess Vera told us that your throat is very swollen and is probably causing you great pain, however, you have nothing to worry about. We're going to take good care of you so we can all listen to that beautiful voice of yours." Iris smiled at her and lightly blushed before digging into her cold salad. 'Dear Frynsh, Goddess of Love and Mercy, what have I done to deserve this? To have all these women here, showering me with more maternal love then I deserve. Thank you for putting such wonderful beings in my life.' Iris thought, her heart pounding lovenly in her chest. "So, how about we put you up to date with everything that's been going on little one?" Sister Jesslyn asked as she took a sip of wine from her cup. Iris looked at her confused. "What? You've been out cold for the 'ast seven days and nights. Did ya think nothing would happen in that time?" Sister Bertha asked, her mouth full of bread. "Bertha, manners." Sister Jesslyn scolded before continuing. "She's right though. A lot has happened since you...became ill. To start off, the Seven Trails the King has asked all the Lady Candidates to take in an effort to point out the Divine Priestess, ended yesterday evening." Iris looked at her and then back down at her salad. She wasn't sure why but this information bothered her. She was sure she wasn't the Divine Priestess due to the fact that a Divine Priestess wouldn't have fallen ill due to the Darkness that affected her a couple of days ago. Once she was conscience enough, Priestess Vera had explained to her what had happened and what the High Priestesses thought could have caused it. Even so, she wished The King would have given her an opportunity, even if it was just to rule her out.
"The second thing, The King and his men are still here. The High Priestesses are still attending to them but not as much as before. Especially after the whole ordeal with Lady Beth and all." Iris looked over at Sister Jesslyn and tilted her head confused. "Oh! Ummm...well you see...." Sister Jesslyn rambled looking away from her. "Well, well, well. I'd neva' thought I'd see the day when the wise and mighty Sister Jesslyn let gossip slip out of 'er holy lips! Hahahahahaha!" Sister Bertha said a wheeze of laughter booming out.
"Well, let me tell ya." She said in a lower tone, leaning in closely to Iris. "A few evenings ago, Lady Beth was seen with one of the King's men in a 'ery compromising situation, if ya know what I mean" Sister Bertha winked at her, took a sip of wine and continued, "No one really knows what was going on but many of the 'ther Ladies say the High Priestesses were absolutely livid. Some say that whatever it was, it wasn't that bad since Lady Beth is still around, walking the halls to and from in lonesome shame instead of being kicked out for violating her Holy Vow. The man on the other hand, hasn't been seen since the incident. I happened to hear some of the Ladies whispering about it the other night. They said that the Head High Priestess herself told the King and his men off, and as a way to calm her down the King sent that man off, back to his kingdom." Sister Bertha finished, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Lady Beth? Oh no. She knew Lady Beth, she was Rose's twin sister. She was also a nasty piece of work. Lady Beth was amongst the most despised Ladies in the Temple, those that feared or down right hated her always avoided her and those that didn't avoid her, joined her petty group. For years Lady Beth had been humiliating those around her without a care in the world. Everyone from maids and Sisters to fellow Ladies and even her own twin, no one escaped her wrath. Why or what reason did she have for this? None, other then the fact that she could. And why could she? Because unlike Iris and a third of the other Ladies who were orphans, Lady Beth was a member of nobility. She, Rose and the other two thirds of the Ladies were all from noble families and households. All of these Ladies were sisters, cousins, nieces, daughters or granddaughters of Barons, Counts, Dukes, Archdukes and such of Sundome, Lunriver, Teraldiam, Isizelico and Saftierion.
The fact that Lady Beth would be found in an unfavorable situation even with all her airs of arrogance and entitlement, although not shocking, was very surprising to Iris and even though she wasn't worried about her, she was worried about how Rose was holding up. "Rose?" She said in a painfully hoarse whisper interrupting whatever the sisters were going on about but the Sisters only looked uncomfortably at her. "Lady Rose hasn't been around to see you. Not since the argument you two had the night of the incident." Sister Nattie said and continued to eat her potato soup. Iris just stared at them, nodded and started to eat her own soup.
-Three days later-
"Now say, aaaaa." Priestess Vera ordered Iris as she push a thin metal tub down on her tongue while inspecting her throat. "Aaaaaa." Iris said and coughed. "Alright, well the good news is, your throat is no longer swollen to the point where even breathing is painful. The bad news is that it is still a bit swollen so you're going to have to keep taking your medicines. Also you won't be participating in Choir sessions any time soon and you're not allowed to scream your head off, smoke Twindleweed or burn anything directly or close to five feet of your proximity. Other than that, you should be fine in a couple of days." Priestess Vera said with that same small smile. Iris and all the Sisters, who had snucked into her room for her final exam, giggled. "Ok Sisters, off we go. I'm sure the High Priestesses are wondering where you all are and I'm not about to say that I brought all twenty of you in here to help me. Sister Cassie and Sister Shara are probably also up to their ears in questions about your whereabouts." She said in a tone of fake disappointment. The Sisters nodded and one by one they walked over to Iris's bed and either gave her a warm hug or a quick peck before walking out of her room in pairs of two or groups of three. "Those women really have a thing for you, don't they." Priestess Vera asked with a raised eyebrow when the last group walked out, closing the door firmly behind them. "Yes ma'am. I thank Goddess Frynsh every day for each and everyone of them. They are all like family to me and I wouldn't have it any other way." Iris said in a raspy voice and loving gaze towards the door. Priestess Vera smiled as she looked at Iris, 'what a wonderful young lady' she thought. "Well then, I'll be going now" Priestess Vera said, grabbing her white leather bag and heading for the door. "Oh, I almost forgot!" She walked over to Iris and gave her a quick hug before heading towards the door again. "I'll inform The High Priestesses that you're well enough to resume your classes tomorrow. If you need anything just send one of the Sisters, the Goddesses know they know very well where to find me." She finished before walking out.
'Did she...did she just hug me?' Iris wondered, still a bit surprised. Other then the Sisters and Rose, once, no one had ever hugged her before. She smiled and laid back down to sleep, a peaceful slumber overtaking her quickly.