that.” She cocked her head. “So you don’t know? Well you are young.”
The woman pointed to a hill dominating the horizon. Atop the hill glittered manors. “God’s servant hides up there behind locked gates and armed militia with the rich. At least Lord Heim was honest and got out of town as soon as this started. Looks like God’s man abandoned us.”
“I know what we need to do to turn away God’s wrath.”
The old woman laughed. “You sound just like the new prophetess.”
Tera blinked.
“Not heard of her either? She is said to be able to heal this sickness.”
“And you believe this?”
The woman shook her head. “If I did, would I be here by this empty church?”
“There is a demon is this town. If we find it, I am certain God will show mercy.” Tera knew for certain that God would once the fox was in chains. No. Once the fox burned.
“S-Sister. Could you please pray for us?” A mother close to Tera’s age shuffled forward. The woman held a threadbare cloak closed. A few signs of her future blackened her face. A small girl clung to the woman’s skirts. The girl looked at Tera with luminous blue eyes, and her tangled blond hair hugged healthy cheeks.
“Maggie, don’t go bothering the nun,” the old woman said. “I think she just might be better than the prophetess. Can’t hurt to hope at this point, eh?” She laughed at her own joke.
Tera forced a smile and descended the church’s staircase. “It is not a bother.”
People of all ages appeared from the surrounding tombs. Several more watched from the streets beyond. Tera glanced at the old woman.
The woman shrugged. “They looked to me for help, so helped them I did. We gathered around the church. It never hurts to be close to the house of God at times like this.”
“You are too modest, Caroline,” a man said. “You kept all of us from losing our heads.”
Caroline snorted. “Fat lot of good it did many of us.”
Tera felt foolish. She could have been a grandchild to most of the people, and many had children in tow. Tera’s heart froze at the looks on their faces.
The man removed his cap. “Sister, would you pray with us?”
“Please, Sister.”
“Yes, please.”
Caroline smirked. “Seems a pretty face is more inspiring than an old woman.” She knelt with visible difficulty. “Best not keep us waiting, Sister.”
Tera’s eyes flooded. These people need me. I will end this. I will find the demon and end God’s wrath. She pulled out her rosary. Her hands shook. She couldn’t just leave them. More people gathered; soon the small square in front of the church filled. Many more stood among the tombs. And many will soon be in them, Tera thought. She swallowed. One by one they knelt. She knelt with them to keep her knees from shaking. The church loomed behind her.
“Hail Mary, full of grace…”
Children’s voices and voices edged by long life followed her lead.
Finished, Tera climbed to her feet. Wrinkled faces, smooth faces, young faces, and dying faces smiled up at her with relief. She hoped the Holy Mother would spare a few of those faces.
Caroline smiled. “You have a good, strong voice. I am sure the Holy Mother and God heard us through you.”
“You make a good nun, Sister.” A petitioner looked up. The fine hood shifted enough to reveal red hair. Her gaze stabbed Tera. “Tell me, where is my shepherd?”
Tera took an involuntary step backward and gasped. Tera could feel vileness in the air around the hooded creature.
Tera forced her voice to work. “Demon!”
Several people looked at the demon with confusion. The fox stood and glared. A small fang flashed in the mirthless smile.
“Don’t tell me you still think that of me, Sister. Need I repeat the sacred words again for proof? ‘Hail Mary, full of grace…’ or is this more sacred? ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’ Need I continue?”
Tera’s throat worked, but she couldn’t form words. It shouldn’t be possible for
The woman pointed to a hill dominating the horizon. Atop the hill glittered manors. “God’s servant hides up there behind locked gates and armed militia with the rich. At least Lord Heim was honest and got out of town as soon as this started. Looks like God’s man abandoned us.”
“I know what we need to do to turn away God’s wrath.”
The old woman laughed. “You sound just like the new prophetess.”
Tera blinked.
“Not heard of her either? She is said to be able to heal this sickness.”
“And you believe this?”
The woman shook her head. “If I did, would I be here by this empty church?”
“There is a demon is this town. If we find it, I am certain God will show mercy.” Tera knew for certain that God would once the fox was in chains. No. Once the fox burned.
“S-Sister. Could you please pray for us?” A mother close to Tera’s age shuffled forward. The woman held a threadbare cloak closed. A few signs of her future blackened her face. A small girl clung to the woman’s skirts. The girl looked at Tera with luminous blue eyes, and her tangled blond hair hugged healthy cheeks.
“Maggie, don’t go bothering the nun,” the old woman said. “I think she just might be better than the prophetess. Can’t hurt to hope at this point, eh?” She laughed at her own joke.
Tera forced a smile and descended the church’s staircase. “It is not a bother.”
People of all ages appeared from the surrounding tombs. Several more watched from the streets beyond. Tera glanced at the old woman.
The woman shrugged. “They looked to me for help, so helped them I did. We gathered around the church. It never hurts to be close to the house of God at times like this.”
“You are too modest, Caroline,” a man said. “You kept all of us from losing our heads.”
Caroline snorted. “Fat lot of good it did many of us.”
Tera felt foolish. She could have been a grandchild to most of the people, and many had children in tow. Tera’s heart froze at the looks on their faces.
The man removed his cap. “Sister, would you pray with us?”
“Please, Sister.”
“Yes, please.”
Caroline smirked. “Seems a pretty face is more inspiring than an old woman.” She knelt with visible difficulty. “Best not keep us waiting, Sister.”
Tera’s eyes flooded. These people need me. I will end this. I will find the demon and end God’s wrath. She pulled out her rosary. Her hands shook. She couldn’t just leave them. More people gathered; soon the small square in front of the church filled. Many more stood among the tombs. And many will soon be in them, Tera thought. She swallowed. One by one they knelt. She knelt with them to keep her knees from shaking. The church loomed behind her.
“Hail Mary, full of grace…”
Children’s voices and voices edged by long life followed her lead.
Finished, Tera climbed to her feet. Wrinkled faces, smooth faces, young faces, and dying faces smiled up at her with relief. She hoped the Holy Mother would spare a few of those faces.
Caroline smiled. “You have a good, strong voice. I am sure the Holy Mother and God heard us through you.”
“You make a good nun, Sister.” A petitioner looked up. The fine hood shifted enough to reveal red hair. Her gaze stabbed Tera. “Tell me, where is my shepherd?”
Tera took an involuntary step backward and gasped. Tera could feel vileness in the air around the hooded creature.
Tera forced her voice to work. “Demon!”
Several people looked at the demon with confusion. The fox stood and glared. A small fang flashed in the mirthless smile.
“Don’t tell me you still think that of me, Sister. Need I repeat the sacred words again for proof? ‘Hail Mary, full of grace…’ or is this more sacred? ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’ Need I continue?”
Tera’s throat worked, but she couldn’t form words. It shouldn’t be possible for
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