Stone of Tears

“Ma’am, I must speak to the Prelate.” Across the room, Richard saw doors to a courtyard standing open. “Is she about?”

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked in a quiet, gentle voice.

“No,” he admitted. “I’ve been trying to get one for days. Those two wouldn’t cooperate, so I made my own appointment.”

She put a finger to her lower lip. “I see. But you must have an appointment. Those are the rules. I’m sorry.”

Richard started for the open doors. He was getting impatient, but kept his voice calm, as he didn’t want to frighten the old maidservant. “Look, ma’am, I must see the Prelate, or we are all going to have an appointment with the Keeper himself.”

Her eyebrows lifted in wonder. “reeeeally.” She clicked her tongue. “The Keeper, is it. My, my, my.”

Richard stopped suddenly. He winced and let out a groan. He turned on his heel.

“You’re the Prelate, aren’t you?”

An impish grin came to her face, her eyes twinkling with it. “Yes, Richard, I guess I am.”

“You know who I am?”

She chuckled. “Oh, yes, I know.”

Richard sighed. “so you’re the one who runs this place?”

She laughed louder. As I hear it told, you seem to be running it now. Been here hardly a month, and you have half the palace wound around your will. I’ve been thinking about asking for an appointment to see you.”

Richard gave her a friendly scowl. “I would have granted it.”

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” She patted his arm. “From now on, you may come to see me whenever you wish.”

“Then why wouldn’t you let me in before?”

She folded her hands together beneath her ample, rounded breasts. “A test, my boy. A test.” She smiled up at him. “I am impressed. I expected it to take you another six or eight months yet.”

The door burst open. Richard was jerked from his feet, yanked back by his collar, and smacked up against the wall. He was stuck tight, the wind knocked from his lungs. Two irate Sisters stood just inside the doorway with their fists on their hips.

“Now, now,” the Prelate said, “stop that, you two. Let the boy down.”

Richard thumped to the ground, glaring at the two Sisters. “I am the one who talked those two boys into doing as they did. What they did is my fault. If there is any revenge, it had better be against me, and not them. If you harm them, you will answer to me.”

One of the Sisters took a step toward him. Their punishment has already been ordered. This time, for once, they will learn a lesson.” She angrily pointed a stout rod at him. “You are going to have your own punishment to worry about.”

“Yes, Sister Ulicia,” the Prelate said, “I think punishment is in order.” The Sister gave Richard a self-satisfied smile. “Yours,” the Prelate said.

Sister Ulicia gaped. “Prelate Annalina?”

“Did I not give you specific instructions that Richard was not to be allowed in here?”

The two Sisters straightened. “Yes, Prelate Annalina.”

And here he is. Standing in my office.”

Sister Ulicia pointed at the door. “But… we left a shield! He could not…”

“Oh? Could not?” The Sister’s hand dropped at seeing the Prelate’s wrinkled brow. “seems I see him standing here. Do I not, Sisters?”

“Yes, Prelate Annalina,” the two said as one.

“And so now your idea is to reward your own failure by going back to your posts, as if nothing had happened, and punish their success?” The Prelate clicked her tongue. “You two will take the punishment you have ordered for the two boys.”

The Sisters blanched. “But Prelate…” the second whispered. “You can’t have that done to a Sister.”

“Really, Sister Finella? What did you order for the boys?”

To have their bottoms strapped… publicly… tomorrow morning, after breakfast.”

“That sounds fair. You two will take their place.”

“But Prelate,” Sister Ulicia whispered in astonishment. “We are Sisters of the Light. That would be humiliating.”

“Learning humility never harmed anyone. We are all humble before the Creator. For your failure, you will be strapped in their place.”

Sister Ulicia stiffened. “And if we fail to submit, Prelate Annalina?”

The Prelate smiled. Then you would be telling me that you no longer deserve to be trusted, and further, that you no longer wish to be Sisters of the Light.”

They both bowed. When the door closed behind them, Richard lifted an eyebrow to the Prelate.

“I hope never to get on your wrong side, Prelate Annalina.”

She chuckled. “Please, call me Ann. That is what my old acquaintances call me.”

“I’d be honored to call you Ann, Prelate, but I’m not an old acquaintance.”

“You think not?” She smiled. “My, what a knowledgeable boy. Well, no matter. Call me Ann, anyway. Do you know why I punished them? Because you took responsibility for your actions. They did not recognize the importance of that. You are learning to be a wizard.”

“What do you mean?”

“You knew it was dangerous to cross those two, did you not?” Richard nodded. “Yet you used those boys, knowing that it was a possibility they could be hurt.”

“Yes, but I had to do it. It’s that important, and it was the only thing I could think of.”