59 Reunion…
Miriam (Nanny)
My heart skipped a beat, my eyes flickered towards Mother Liora who was silent.
“Although the council is not complete as the other Priestesses are on a mission outside the pack we, here are the seven cardinals needed in decision making and also with the authority of the High Priestess.” Priestess Tania continued.
Mother Liora nodded and finally stepped forward. Her expression was calm but her eyes were filled with something I couldn’t quite place.
“First of all, Miriam. I am more disappointed in you than anyone in this hall. Not only did you deceive me, I feel responsible for aiding your escapades but why should we punish you when the man who put you in this situation is allowed to roam free? He knew who
the guts to defile you?”
you were and still, he had
“That’s why I wanted her to give us his name,” Priestess Tania sucked her teeth, “Not only does he deserve a good beating but he needs to be stripped of his title and his position given to another.”
My eyes misted with tears as I stared at the women in the hall. None of them had judgments in their eyes. Yes, they were disappointed and angry with me, but they didn’t think it was my fault entirely.
I couldn’t have felt more loved.
“I’ve known you since you were a child,” Mother Liora continued. “And I’ve watched you grow into the woman you are now. And I cannot bear to see you punished so harshly. So, we’ve all agreed…” She paused and turned to the other women who nodded in unison.
“As punishment, You will carry the child to term and when you give birth to it, you will give it away. I and the Priestesses would look for a couple deserving of the child and give it to them and you will never see it again. You cannot feed the child or touch it. In return,
spared.”
–
I nodded – that should be easy right?
life will be
I had expected death and had even come to terms with it in some strange way. But this, I didn’t. know how to feel. I was neither relieved, happy nor sad.
Mother Liora’s eyes softened as she came up to me and raised me. “I’m giving you a second chance, Miriam. Do not waste it. Also, all these women in this hall are staking their lives for you, Miriam… if this blows over, we’ll share your punishment. So, a lot of lives are on the line on your behalf.”
Present Day
I stood in front of the familiar stone altar. I haven’t been back here in two decades, but everything looked the same. It was as though time had slowed down within the walls of the temple, though. I hadn’t changed so much.
59 Reunion….
them right now were staring at me with shock and clation.
“Miriam?” Priestess Zahra approached me. “Is it really you?”
I nodded slowly, trying to fight the nostalgia that tightened my chest suddenly. “Priestess Zahra. It’s me. Miriam.”
“By the Goddess, you’ve returned to us,” Priestess Tania exclaimed reaching forward and clasping my hand in hers.
Before long, I was surrounded by most of the Priestesses who I grew up with. One by one, they gave me hugs, making me tear uncontrollably. I hadn’t expected the warm reception.
“You’ve returned at last,” Preisestess Khaliah – Mother’s bosom friend announced. “We thought we’d lost you forever.”
I nodded, my voice still filled with emotion. “I missed
you all.”
As the women bombarded me with questions I was trying my best not to lic. Although most of the answers I gave were far from the truth but that didn’t matter, I was no longer bound by the three oaths. Suddenly, someone pushed through the crowd, her eyes mirroring tears as she came towards me.
It was my best friend, my roommate, my confidant – Terra.
“Miriam!” Terra breathed, a tear rolling down her cheeks as she pulled me into a tight hug until I could no longer breathe. When she pulled apart, her eyes ran the length of my body, checking
me out.
“When some of the Novices informed me that they spotted someone with the Silver mark in the Temple, I had hoped it would be you… turns out it is..” she sobbed. “I’ve missed you so much. I’ve missed you all these years and you haven’t aged a day! You must be in a better place.”
I considered my little office at the Caffee Nook that brought in enough income to take care of me and Lyla and the two–bedroom house I lived in. It wasn’t luxury but then again, I was comfortable. Also, it could be all the shine from when I was still at Blue Ridge.
I laughed softly in response. The joy of seeing my friend after so many years. “I’ve aged more than you think. How are yo
you?”
“I’m better now that I see you. I became the Wisewoman just like you always said,” Terra laughed through her tears. “I always knew you’d come back to us someday.”
