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It was a beautiful day for the first of Spring. Kelle felt leaden, though. Her belly protruded so heavily that there were many suggesting she may bear twins. She thought it strange when she had such wide hips that her own child jutted so much and Cybele's looked no larger than it had two moons ago. Compared to Kelle, Cybele hardly even looked pregnant. Why Cybele complained so much of her pregnancy when hers had been so free of difficulty was beyond Kelle's comprehension. Kelle had been ill every day for many moons, and now carried a belly so huge that she could barely walk. And yet it was Cybele who said to anyone who would listen that she wished she had never gotten pregnant. Attis moped gloomily whenever Cybele complained of the child, for it was his most cherished pride even though it was yet unborn. Near as Kelle could tell, they were due within a half-moon, around the Hilaria Spring feast. Cabirius and Attis had been spending a considerable amount of time together over the past two moons. Attis was again taking lessons in letters each afternoon although little good it had done him before. Nearly sixteen, and he still could barely write his own name. She had barely spoken to Attis herself since the time she had coupled with him in Jenna's hut. It had all been so strange, as though everyone had been possessed that day. She had tried to act as though nothing was out of the ordinary when Cabirius came home that night, but he seemed to pick up that something was wrong, for he had avoided her and gone to bed early. For weeks afterward, she had had to be careful that he did not see her naked, as Attis had marked her back with welting scratches which would have been a clear sign of her infidelity. If she understood the reason for her unfaithfulness, she could have borne the guilt of it more easily, or even admitted it to Cabirius with an explanation. But there was no explanation, it had just happened. How could she explain that? There had been no need for explanation, though. Cabirius had been caught up so in his own concerns that he had not questioned her strange behaviour. He had seemed somewhat distant from her ever since, now she came to think of it. Perhaps that was to be expected. She was so heavy now with the child that she avoided his touch, and he pressed her not in bed. It was inevitable that they would not be quite so close now, and perhaps the closeness would return after the birth. Kelle had joined the Panel in Jenna's place, although there had been so few developments regarding the murders that their meetings each mid-moon seemed rather pointless. It was the night before a scheduled meeting when Jai sought her out in her hut. Cabirius was still away tutoring Attis, and so Kelle was alone preparing their meal when the young bakeryhand called at her door. "Kelle, it is I, Jai, from the Panel. May I speak with you?" Kelle bade her enter, and stood by the fire stirring a thick soup as the girl entered. They were of much the same age, and of a similar background in that they had both dropped from the Temple to become laywomen very early on. Despite this though, Jai deferred to Kelle as though she were her superior. Kelle's rank, as pairbond of the Chosen One's chief advisor and Priest, was somehow above that of any other layperson. As the Isle's most qualified Healer, she also had rank of her own merit that no mere baker could match. But the girl had brought with her a new-baked loaf of the finest white flour with herbs, and the smell of it wafted through the cloth in which it was carried. It was the peak of her skill as a baker, and certainly status was warranted for such fine craft. "Here," said Jai awkwardly, pressing forward the loaf to Kelle. "A present. A loaf fresh from the ovens for your supper." Kelle smiled warmly, trying to allay the girl's discomfort. "That is very sweet of you, Jai. But surely you did not cross the Isle merely to show me the quality of your loaves, for that it already common knowledge." "I.... have made a discovery, and I knew not who to tell. It had bearing on the cases, but I have some reason to distrust the Panel." "But you trust me? How know you that I am to be trusted?" Kelle asked. "No. I know you are honest. You are not of the Temple, so I know you were no part of it." "Neither is Melissa. Or Bron, or Galatia. Why not them?" "Well, they are... you know, laywomen. They do not seem to realise the importance of what it is we are investigating." "Are we not laywomen ourselves?" Kelle said, and could not help the humour in her voice. "But you are different. And Cabirius, he is the cleverest person on the whole Isle." "But he is not here, as you can see. Will I suffice?" Kelle asked, with a light touch of sarcasm. "Of course," Jai continued, wide-eyed. "You are the second cleverest." Kelle almost laughed aloud at the girl's bumbling innocence. Had she ever been so naive herself? She doubted it. "I have found a secret entry to the Temple," the girl continued. "The Temple of Ceres?" "Yes. A small wooden door, hidden in the bushes to the side of the Temple. It was made as a coal-door for the room behind the altar, I think, but there is no coal there now, only a clear way into the small room where Cybele once lived." "Well, what has this to do with the crimes?" "I... saw someone enter the Temple by that way. Of course, I cannot go inside the Temple myself unless there is a public ceremony, but I waited outside to see who it was, but after a long time, they did not come out. I had to return to the bakery to bake the morning loaves, so I could wait no longer." "I still do not see how you can be sure it had bearing on the killings," Kelle said a little too sharply. Jai drew back, as though suddenly thinking that perhaps she should not have spoken of the matter to Kelle after all. Kelle saw her reticence, and apologised. "I am sorry, Jai. I did not mean to snap at you, I am just a little irritable, with the babe so near and all." "Oh, yes. Of course. That is alright. Well, I meant to say, the next morning... I mean, I know I should not have... but..." The baker stopped, as though she could not bring herself to admit some heinous crime of her own. "Go on," assured Kelle, "I will not be angry." "But... I know it is forbidden, I only wanted to see... I felt that there was some reason I had to look inside... So..." "So you went inside yourself?" "Yes. I know laypeople are not permitted, but how could I ask anyone from the Temple? It would seem that I was casting suspicion on the Priestesses." "Are you not?" Kelle asked her, with some small amusement. "Well... I would not wish to do so without evidence. So it seemed the only course to take. If I found nothing, then no harm would be done, but if I did.... I... I would.... I mean, I did.... I mean I have... come to you." "And what is this incriminating evidence you claim to have found?" asked Kelle, the disbelief a little too clear in her voice for politeness. "This," said Jai, thrusting forward her hand to show a small iron and enamel crescent. "It was Annia's, was it not? She is the only Initiate who would no longer be wearing her brooch, and it was certainly not on her when we found her." "I believe you are quite right, although no-one mentioned its absence at the time. And you say it was in the Temple all along?" "Yes, I suppose so." "The one place we have not searched on the whole Isle! Who would think that Cerridwen's followers would choose the very Temple of Ceres to hide their gory souvenirs?" "Oh, I think it was not kept as a deliberate souvenir. It was wedged, well hidden, in the coracle." "Coracle?! What coracle? The only boats on the Isle are those boarded away in the building beside the Temple of Priapus. None could get to them without causing much disturbance, and the Priests would surely know. And yet you say there is a coracle hidden in the Temple of Ceres?" "Yes, in the small room behind the altar." "But none have used that room since Cybele lived there." "It is used for storage, is it not?" the baker commented. "I remember little of my brief time in the Temple, but was it not used for keeping Herms and such?" "Yes, I think you may be right. I have little experience of the Temple myself, but I know the room of which you speak, and certainly a small coracle could easily fit in one corner without filling the room." "It was surrounded by wooden crates and covered in wallhangings and gowns and such. I suppose you could say it was hidden, but not very well. I would have thought it fairly easily discovered, if any were looking." "No, there are not many who would have access to the room, only those who prepare the Temple before rituals," Kelle said in thought. "Who has such duties?" Jai asked. "I have no idea. It has been a long time since I attended a ceremony, and I certainly have never arrived early to see who prepared the altar. I would suppose it is someone of high rank, but then equally it could be every Priestess in turn. I really do not know." "There must be someone that we could trust to ask who would know." "We risk that the one we ask is indeed the very one guilty of Annia's death. I do believe that you have chanced upon an important clue, and we must be careful not to let the fox smell us near." "Is there any Priestess who can be trusted, then?" "Only Cybele herself," suggested Kelle. "You would bother the Chosen One with such a thing?" Jai asked, wide-eyed. "Let us say that she owes me a favour. Beside, methinks she would be as interested as we to find the murderers." "Truly? But how can we speak with her alone? It is said that her Consort is a dark companion, and not to be trusted." "Attis? Who has said such a thing? Dark, yes, and a dangerous foe, but loyal as can be to Cybele and her unborn babe. His fervour is simply misunderstood by many, methinks. I like the man not, but I would not call him untrustworthy or disloyal. Like Cybele, he expects obedience from we mere mortals, and in these times people wish to be obedient only to themselves." "Should we then see all together - Cybele, Attis and Cabirius?" the baker asked. "Yes, methinks that is the best plan. We could call in and collect Attis and Cabirius on the way to Cybele's hut, for they would be in the small classroom together." Kelle paused. "Have you told anyone else of this?" "No, of course not." "Could anyone have seen you enter and search the room?" "No, I was very careful." "Well, continue to be careful. Knowledge has been the cause of the death of others here on this Isle, and we need no further casualties." They walked together to the small hut where Cabirius tutored Attis each day. Kelle knocked on the wooden door. There was no immediate response, and she went to try the door but found it bolted from within. She was filled for the briefest heartbeat with panic, that some violence had been done to them, but then Cabirius answered. "Who goes there?" he demanded through the door. "Only I, my love," Kelle replied. "Oh, am I late for my supper again? Sorry. I will be there directly." "No, it is more urgent business than a meal spoiled. We have to go to Cybele's hut. Immediately." She could hear Cabirius fumbling with the door. As it opened, she could see Attis sitting at the desk, bent over a book by the light of a small lamp. "You will go blind doing that, Attis," she observed. "Hmmm?" he replied vaguely. "Such a dim lamp, when there is still much light outside. You would be better not to close yourselves away so to study. Daylight is best for the eyes. Are Cabirius's lessons suited to such gloom?" "Errr," started Cabirius, "Attis was giving me a lesson, actually." "On what subject?" asked Kelle with amusement. "Ah.... Mainland customs. You know the sort of thing." "So you finally relented, then, Attis?" Kelle asked. "Hmmm?" "Cabirius has said that he had tried to get information of the Mainland from you for as long as he has known you." "Oh, yes. Well, I just thought it time to tell him a few basics of what I remember of my life there," Attis said a little doubtfully. "You remember the Mainland?" came the voice from behind Kelle. Kelle had almost forgotten Jai was there. Kelle turned to her with a withering look. "But luckily, we know you can hold your tongue, Jai, else it would be very dangerous..... for Attis." Jai had never seen this side of Kelle, and her first thought was that Kelle seemed capable of anything to protect her allies. Jai immediately turned away, to make it clear she had no further interest in quizzing Attis. Kelle said quietly to Cabirius, "Do you recognise this?" and held out Annia's brooch. "A crescent. The iron and enamel of an Initiate," he replied. "Yes, but who no longer wears their brooch?" she prompted. "Ummm... Someone who has become an Unsworn? Or someone who has left the Temple for the layvillager?" "No, no, no. Cybele herself takes care to collect all such brooches as are no longer required. This is one that was... missing." Cabirius still looked at her blankly, but Attis spoke from behind. "Annia. She was an Initiate when she was killed, was she not? And her brooch was certainly not on her when Cybele and I found her." "Quite so." Kelle agreed. "Where did you find it?" Cabirius asked enthusiastically. "Jai found it." She looked back to the baker and smiled. "We should go to Cybele now and Jai can repeat all she has told me. Do you both wish to come, or is your lesson of more importance?" "Very amusing," Cabirius said, pulling his cloak form the back of a chair. Attis snuffed the lamp, and the four of them slipped out of the village to arrive unseen at Cybele's outer door. Cybele invited them in, and Jai quickly repeated her story. "A coracle," Cybele said. "That would explain where Annia was for the half-moon she was missing before she was killed. She must have been taken to the Isle of Hebe or one of the other uninhabited and inhospitable islands. She probably wedged the brooch under the seat of the coracle on purpose, as a message to any who found it." "Well, it has worked then, but too late to help the poor child," commented Cabirius sadly. He had been very attached to the sweet young girl who had relayed messages between Cybele and himself a year ago. TO BE CONTINUED....... (those who know your mythology may know why I'm dreading going any further...) copyright
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