Lucy Wickshire 175 Chapter twenty-one 8

Carriages rolled through a mountain path. One could see the gold crest on their black doors. They were accompanied by an entourage of guards riding on their horses. The way up the mountain was clear, safe the rough ground that causes the carriages to rock as it moved. The wooden gates of the Lucen mountain nunnery opened, letting the carriages enter. Maids rushed out the moment the carriages stopped and lined up before the middle carriage. Lady Steinhouse was first to step out. She looked completely nervous as she stepped aside to allow a girl with snow white hair step out into the light. The maids curtsied the moment her silver crested shoes graced the grounds. The nuns standing at the entrance needed only look to know who she was; Lady Wickshire.

The nuns cleared the path to allow Lucy and her entourage pass. Lucy walked till she was right before the large open oak doors, where an entourage of five led by one; whom many would suspect from the shape of her body, was an elderly nun, awaited her. Like the other nuns, she was dressed in a grey heavy fur, over her flowing pale blue gown; that covered all but her face and fingers. Half their faces were veiled to under their nose, by a delicate see-through cloth; raised up six inches by what one would imagine to be their complicated hair do. This look made them out as mysterious.

"Welcome, Lady Wickshire." the elderly nun said, leading the nuns behind her into a bow, that was neither deep enough to show reverence nor shallow enough to portray disrespect.

"Matriarch Lilac?" Lucy asked.

"The holy mother awaits you." the elderly nun said, leading the way in, while the other nuns returned to their businesses. The guards that were mostly men, were not allowed into the nunnery. They were led through another path to the outer nunnery behind.

The stone walls were tall and the ceilings were high. Silence hugged the grounds just as much as the biting cold did, safe for the clicking of shoe heels on stone floors that followed after Lucy's entourage. Lady Steinhouse and the maids were asked to stay behind, as Lucy alone was led into the innermost part of the nunnery. Soon, the elderly nun opened a tall door, after bowing to the door's oak wood or better, who ever was on the other side. Lucy alone entered before the door was closed behind her.

She found herself in a sitting room. Safe a few necessities; books and scrolls, the room was empty of much decoration. At the centre, was seated Matriarch Lilac, looking exactly as Lucy remembered. The light of the day was as comparable to the cold outside; allowing Lucy a better look at her face, incomparable to the view she had gotten back in her dark sitting room. She did not cover her face as the rest of the nuns, so Lucy could tell that this woman was old, very old. One looking at her would think her a foot from the grave. Yet her eyes shined regardless, full of life and strength. Though she was dressed just the same as the other nuns, she extruded an air of nobility and gave one a sense of ancient grace.

"I only received word of your arrival today, and here you are. If one were not sound of mind, she would think you capable of transcending space." Matriarch Lilac said, her voice strong, yet calm.

"I am not one to fancy the habit of travelling under watching eyes." Lucy answered, stepping closer and taking a seat before the matriarch without asking.

"Your message only said you were coming bearing gifts. I dare not fathom the thought of receiving such attention from your person, which makes one wonder what gift would bring you up the mountain to deliver personally."

"You sound like you want nothing more than my leaving." Lucy said softly.

"I hear you made a move on Other-side or better yet, you forced Xier of the hooded eyes to make a move."

"Force? You flatter me. I gave her an opportunity; one she could have ignored."

"Then you are here to give me an opportunity?" Matriarch Lilac asked.

"Your wisdom transcends realms, Matriarch Lilac." Lucy complimented.

"Then, I am right?"

"Worry not. As oddly incomprehensible as my actions may be, I have never wronged you all, so you will not be wronged." Lucy said and Matriarch Lilac frowned at her words. She was sure that before they had made themselves known to Lady Wickshire, she had known of them. Not about their Thraine linage of course, but they were after and much scarier, the arsenal they had under their sleeves.

Lucy put her hand under her her heavy white fur and took out a small box. The box opened and a blue stone was revealed. As light hit the stone, pressure of a thousand seas descended upon the room. Lucy choked and immediately closed the box, lifting the weight upon her lungs. It had only been opened no more than a second, yet the entire mountain felt it. The nuns were alerted, and some of them were rushing towards their direction.

Chapter end