The heavy temple doors creaked open, letting in more of the golden afternoon sun.
The Saint Mother swept inside, intending to make a prayer for the well being of the Holy Order. She saw Paloma kneeling near the altar and it put a smile on her face. But that smile disappeared the instant she heard what the saintess was praying for.
"Stop this blasphemy at once!"
The Saint Mother rushed towards Paloma.
"Stop praying for them!"
Paloma looked up. Her eyes were wide.
"No one else prays for them. I must do it."
"You are praying for infidels!! Those women were condemned by the Holy Order for their sins! Don't you think trying to defend them at the village hall was atrocious enough?"
"They were foreigners and didn't know our laws."
"You are too idle and I have been far too lenient! Join your sisters in the meadow. Heal the faithful who come there today."
"I'm sorry Holy Mother, but I used too much mana yesterday. I cannot go out and heal today."
The Saint Mother's voice rose.
"Is that a no, Saintess Paloma? You do realize that you would have already replenished it if you'd meditated instead of wasting time here."
"Please, grant me one day of rest."
"You act entitled! You think you are special because only you heal with magic?"
"That is not true and you know it! Have pity on me!"
The Saint Mother leaned close.
"If you do not go out and start healing the people now, I will have you locked up! I know your limits Paloma, you can heal for another two days if you're just willing."
Paloma began to cry.
"I hate living as a saintess!"
"Blame your parents! They abandoned you here as a baby. Be grateful to me! I give you food and shelter and ask nothing in return"
Paloma knew what the Holy Mother could do if she pushed it too far. She decided to obey, getting up and walking towards the door as tears streamed down her face.
"Be in the carriage by the hour!"
"Fine."
The saintess stepped out of the temple with tears clouding her sight. The other sisters moved around doing their chores, some taking a break to steal a glance at the most beautiful woman in the Holy Order.
A tall, muscular sister put down the water cans she'd been crying and walked over to meet Paloma. She struggled to maintain eye contact.
"Did you think about my proposal?"
Paloma wiped her tears.
"I am sorry. I have been too busy."
The woman saw Paloma's tears.
"Did the Holy Mother hurt you? I will march in there! I will give that old hag a piece of my mind!"
"All I want is some peace and quiet right now."
"Of course. I will escort you anywhere you wish to go."
"I wish to be alone. I will meet you at the carriage."
The woman paused.
"Alright."
Then she looked at Paloma. "You are beautiful. Do not let a hateful old woman ruin your mood. I will buy your favourite wheat bread when you return to the carriage."
"Thank you."
The woman hugged Paloma tightly. She then lifted the shorter girl off the ground, which both surprised and made Paloma smile.
"Please excuse me." Paloma was a little flushed. She gave a small bow then walked off in a rush.
After she'd left, other sisters came near the tall woman.
"Did Paloma accept your love proposal?"
The woman glared at them.
"Piss off!"
Paloma climbed the spiral stairs in a hurry till she reached her room. It sat high in one of the thick side towers circling the great temple of the Holy Order. She crossed the simple space of her living quarters without pause. Rough uncut and unplastered medieval stone walls surrounded her and a narrow window faced the inner courtyard. A small, plain bed and a single wooden box for her clothes were the only furniture in the small room.
She stepped through a low archway onto the small balcony at the back.
A wide view opened before her. The temple stood like a mighty fortress on the very top of a steep, bare hill. Far below, the land spread out like a green and brown patchwork quilt. Small villages dotted the valleys between winding rivers and fields. Thin roads, like dusty threads, connected them and tall pine forests covered the lower slopes of distant, blue-grey mountains.
The faithful people from those villages climbed the hill every three days. They came to pay tribute and confess their sins in hopes of attaining salvation. Once a year, people from all over the world would also visit the temple for their pilgrimage, which was just a month away.
The saintesses of the temple went down the hill several times each week as well. They met the people, prayed for them and settled their arguments as judges of the Holy Order. Paloma hated that.
Paloma sighed and turned away from the vast land. She went back into her neat, bare room, walked to the small bed, and fell onto the thin mattress. She pulled the rough wool blanket up and covered her head and her whole body completely.
In that protected space, she let her thoughts run free till her time to go down the hill arrived.
She still managed to arrive at the temple gates in the hour as instructed and reached the carriage just as the last of the luggage was being packed up.
The space inside was full as the other sisters filled every seat.
"I will sit at the back."
Hardy, the tall woman, spoke quickly.
"You can sit on my lap."
"I do not want to impose."
Hardy pointed to another sister nearby.
"Look. She sits on a lap too. There is no imposition here."
"Are you sure? The ride is bumpy. You might get tired holding me."
"I can handle you easily. You are petite and cute and so adorable."
Paloma climbed into the carriage and hesitantly sat down on Hardy's lap, who felt very stiff and strong, like steel.
Hardy showed Paloma her hand. A small cut marked it.
"Look. I cut myself chopping vegetables. Can you heal it?"
Paloma had long accepted that her healing magic made people desire and lust after her. Many sisters in the carriage already struggled with this because she'd healed them before. The magic stirred strong feelings and healing Hardy now would only make Hardy want her more.
"My mana is low. Use medicine instead."
The other sisters laughed. One spoke to Hardy.
"We told you! Paloma is not a fool."
The carriage kicked off and started moving down the hill. To pass the time, the sisters talked about temple life and how each of them felt about it.
Hardy asked the group, "Has anyone ever gone beyond the villages?"
Paloma answered this one, "I healed a man once. He said he came from a kingdom across the sea."
Another sister teased Paloma, "How did you get rid of him?". The group laughed.
"He was still too weak to walk when he left."
The carriage erupted in even louder laughter at this.
Hardy's voice grew serious, "I worry about those executed people. I heard they worked for a dangerous mafia boss."
"That is why I hate it. The Holy Order should not judge people. It benefits no one other than the higher ups of the Order. All the rest of us do is put ourselves at risk." Paloma said with long held resentment.
Hardy tightened her arms slightly around Paloma, "Do not worry. I will always protect you."
Another sister called out to Hardy.
"If Paloma rejects you, remember I am next in line!"