At last the Ascending Priestess’s cool veneer cracked and she shot Commander Sylvan an ugly look.
“If you heard everything I said, why didn’t you say so earlier?” she snapped.
“I wanted to see how far you’d go with your lying,” Commander Sylvan said calmly. “Now I see that your duplicity in the search for power knows no bounds.”
“Why shouldn’t I want power?” the Ascending Priestess demanded. “You have it—why shouldn’t I?”
“The Goddess assigned me to my position—I never sought it,” Sylvan said quietly. “And I certainly never tried to kill anyone for it.” He motioned with his blaster. “Get up—you’re going with these guards to be locked up until your trial.”
“My trial? So you can get rid of me and put someone else in my place? I’d rather die!”
And the Ascending Priestess raised the bottle of Dreaming Drops to her lips.
“Stop her! She’ll kill herself!” Beedra gasped through her tears.
Commander Sylvan charged forward, seized the bottle, and threw it against the wall. It exploded in a shower of green glass and purple liquid which oozed sluggishly down the wall in long, thin streams.
“Guards!” he shouted as the Ascending Priestess tried to run. “Take her away!”
The armed guards grabbed the struggling priestess and dragged her out the door, shouting and swearing in a most un-priestess-like way.
Commander Sylvan turned to Elli, who was still reflexively shielding the old Priestess Superior from harm.
“It’s all right, Ellilah…” His voice was gentle this time. “I know what you’ve been through to try and save the life of the old Priestess Superior.” He shook his head. “I’m just ashamed that I was taken in by this ruse. I examined her myself, when she first fell ill you know—and I didn’t catch the Dreaming Drops at all.”
“They’re almost impossible to detect, Commander,” Beedra offered in a watery voice. She had stopped sobbing but her eyes were still red and she still looked terrible. “My own mother was addicted for years before we found out she’d been taking them.”
“I still consider this whole situation at least partially my fault,” Commander Sylvan said heavily. “I should have tried harder to find out what was wrong with her.” He looked sadly at the old Priestess Superior.
At last Elli found her voice.
“Commander, do you mind…can I still try giving her this piece of the Healing Lattice?” she asked, pulling out the handkerchief and opening it to show him the shining piece of rainbow crystal. “I know she doesn’t really have wasting sickness but, well, this is supposed to cure just about everything, I think.”
Commander Sylvan examined the piece of Lattice for a moment and then nodded.
“I don’t see why not. I’ve read about the Healing Lattice of the Tenebrians—it’s supposed to be excellent for all kinds of internal ailments.”
“All right—thank you.” Gently, Elli lifted the old Priestess Superior’s chin and looked into her faded eyes. “Priestess Superior, do you remember me?” she asked softly.
“Of course I do, dearie.” The old woman smiled. “I’ve missed you—where did you go?”
“To find something to make you feel better,” Elli told her. “All you have to do is let it melt under your tongue.” She showed the piece of Lattice to the Priestess Superior. “Do you think you can do that?”
“I suppose so,” the old Priestess murmured. “Though I hope it won’t be so bitter as that other medicine they’re always giving me.”
“It won’t be, I don’t think,” Elli said cautiously.
Actually, she had no idea what the Lattice would taste like but when she brought it close to her nose and sniffed, it smelled a little like a ripe krisper.
“Open up now,” she told the old Priestess. “I’m just going to pop this under your tongue and hopefully you’ll feel better soon.”
Obediently, the old lady opened her mouth and lifted her tongue. Elli placed the tiny rainbow piece in her mouth and watched anxiously as she sucked it. She was hoping for an instant result but for a long moment, nothing happened.
Then, just as Elli was beginning to give up hope and feel that she had broken her vows for nothing, the old woman’s eyes—which had been half closed—popped wide open.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Oh my goodness!”
“Oh my goodness!” Elli echoed her words and Beedra shouted,
“Look!”
For the old Priestess was changing in front of their eyes. Her long white hair, which had been so dry and brittle, suddenly became jet black with emerald streaks again. Her faded eyes were suddenly bright and alive and her pale, sunken cheeks filled out and flushed pink with health.
She sat up suddenly in bed, moving without help for the first time since Elli had known her.
“Ellilah, my dear,” she said, turning towards Elli. “Whatever did you give me? Why, I feel thirty cycles younger!”
“You look thirty cycles younger too!” Impulsively, Elli threw her arms around the older woman who no longer looked like an ancient, sick grandmother—now she might have been Elli’s aunt.