"Poor thing!" Isabel said. "She has had almost nothing to eat today. The child has been toiling since dawn for the Holy Mother." Out of the corner of her vision, CC could see several of the monks cross themselves reverently at the mention of the statue. "Here!" CC felt a tug as Isabel grasped the amulet firmly in her callused palm. "It does not burn. It is but a gift from a loving mother. Sir Andras has had an unfortunate apoplectic attack. The good knight is not in his right mind. He obviously needs your aid, as the princess needs mine." Isabel spoke with a firmness that appeared to shock the abbot into silence.
"Oh, Isabel, I feel so weak," CC gasped. "What happened?"
Isabel smoothed back CC's hair. "Hush, lamb, all is well. You will recover when you have eaten."
Struggling to her feet, the old woman pulled CC up with her. "Now I beg you to excuse us, Abbot. I will see that the princess is cared for and then retires for the night."
Isabel began limping towards the door to the dining room, one arm wrapped protectively around CC's waist. The sea of silent monks parted for them.
"Until we understand exactly what caused the attack on Sir Andras, I will post one of the Brothers outside the princess's door—to keep her from harm.'" The whiplike sound of the abbot's voice caused the women to pause.
CC kept a tight hold on Isabel as she half-turned to face the priest. He had moved back to the knight's side and his hand was resting protectively on Andras's shoulder.
'Thank you for your concern for my safety," CC said, allowing her voice to sound weak and shaky.
"I have concern for all of the lost…" The abbot's voice drifted after them as the women left the courtyard.
"I don't want to eat in the dining room," CC whispered to Isabel in the hall. Isabel nodded in understanding, and they headed for the servant's entrance to the kitchen.
Lynelle was the first to notice them. Her look of welcome shifted instantly to one of concern.
"Sir Andras attacked her," Isabel said grimly, leading CC over to a roughly carved stool that sat near the center workstation. "She needs food and drink."
The four women went to work like a well-oiled machine, and soon CC was eating a steaming bowl of Isabel's excellent mint-flavored stew and taking turns sipping from a mug of herbal tea and a goblet of rich red wine.
"Drink all of the tea," Bronwyn slurred as she and the other women hovered henlike around CC. "It is chamomile and rosehips. It will help to soothe your stomach upset."
"And drink all of the wine," Lynelle rasped in her grumpy voice. "It will help with everything else."
CC smiled weakly at the old women.
Isabel offered her a second helping of the stew, which CC enthusiastically accepted. As Isabel placed the steaming bowl in front of her, she asked, "Have you recovered enough to explain?"
The other women paused in their chores, their interest piqued. CC nodded slowly.
"The knight was not himself?"
"No, he wasn't," CC answered, meeting Isabel's gaze squarely.
"He seemed to be possessed," Isabel said.
CC heard the shocked gasps from the old women, but she kept her eyes on Isabel.
"Yes. Andras was possessed by a creature named Sarpe-don. I was escaping from him when the knight found me washed up on the shore."
Isabel nodded. "I knew it. I could clearly see the change in the knight, and that was the name you used when you spoke to him." The old woman took a deep breath before she asked her next question. "You did not want the abbot to touch your amulet. Why?"
The room fell silent waiting for the answer.
"Because I didn't know what he would feel if he touched it. What did you feel?"
"Warmth," Isabel said simply.
CC nodded. "Because you don't wish me harm. Sarpe-don did, and the amulet protects me. I think the abbot wishes me harm, too. I didn't know what would happen if he touched it."
"Are you a sorceress?" Isabel asked.
Still meeting her eyes, CC shook her head. "No, I'm not."
"But how do you know?" Gwenyth broke in breathlessly. "You cannot remember your past."
"I remember more about my past than I can admit to you right now, and I'm sorry about that. I can assure you, though, that I am not a sorceress." CC looked at each woman as she spoke. "But I do believe that women have magic. I don't mean anything dark and sinful. I just mean that I think that there is something special inside of us, and it's a part of what makes us women. I don't think you have to be young or beautiful or a princess to have it—you just have to be female and willing to listen within and to believe."
The room was silent as CC continued eating, but the silence didn't feel tense, instead it felt thoughtful.
"I had no idea I would be putting to use what you taught me this afternoon so quickly," CC said, breaking the silence with a smile.
CC was surrounded by looks of confusion until Isabel threw back her head and laughed.
"It was a ruse! The swoon was a ruse," Isabel said gleefully, nudging the two women nearest her. "You should have seen our princess. Like a delicate flower folding, she crumpled into my arms." Isabel did a rough imitation of CC's faint and the women cackled happily.
"Probably not as believable as my swoon," Lynelle grumbled before winking at CC and refilling her wine.
CC drank the last of the wine, grateful for the warm buzz in her stomach that helped offset the ache within her that seemed to be getting stronger by the minute. Now that work or talk wasn't distracting her, desire for the sea rolled through her and coupled with the longing she felt for Dylan, almost caused her to wince with the pain. Tomorrow night, she reminded herself. Then maybe she would never have to leave the water or Dylan again.
"You are tired, Undine. Come, let me take you to your chamber." Isabel said gently.
"Thank you, ladies. I appreciate all of you. Dinner was delicious—almost as good as the company. And thank you for trusting me."
A medley of "Sleep well, Princess" followed CC and Isabel from the room.
In the middle of the dining room, CC paused. "I don't want to walk back through the courtyard. Can we go the other way?"
"Certainly," Isabel said, changing direction for the doorway at the far end of the room through which CC had entered that morning.
"The creature's spirit comes from the well, doesn't it?" Isabel asked in a low voice.
CC glanced at the old woman. Then she nodded. "He is using the well to enter the monastery."
Isabel looked sharply at CC. "Can this thing harm you?"
CC shook her head slowly. "Not directly, but he can cause all kinds of problems for me, like he did this evening. And I worry what would happen if the abbot or even Sir An-dras realize what is happening." CC turned to Isabel and grasped the old woman's gnarled hands. "Thank you so much for not betraying me to the abbot."
Isabel's smile was motherly. "As you have already said, women must stick together."
"And we certainly did stick together."
The women shared a satisfied smile that was decidedly feminine. They continued down the dim hall, swinging their joined hands.
"I am relieved to hear that the evil spirit cannot harm you. But I would also be relieved to know…" Isabel said haltingly.
"No, I don't think he is able to possess you and the other ladies." CC cocked her head to the side and grinned at her.
"That is unless any of you are harboring hidden lusts for my body."
Isabel cackled and it took several moments for her to answer CC. "I feel confident that I speak truly for the other women when I say we feel no such desires for you."
"I'm glad to hear it."
Isabel snorted, and CC laughed.
They walked on a little way before CC spoke again. "I have to stay at the monastery for a little while longer."
Isabel flashed her a look of understanding. "You are safe here."
"Yes, and my family is helping me."
"As is the Holy Mother," Isabel said with certainty.
CC squeezed her hand. "Yes, the Great Mother is helping me."
They turned the corner. A plump little monk knelt near the door to CC's room. He appeared to be deep in prayer.
"Your guard," Isabel whispered.
"More like a jailer," CC whispered back.
The women exchanged grim looks as they entered CC's room, ignoring the kneeling monk.