Like a woman in shock, Ermine slowly walks to the church. Her ears are unhearing, she does not feel the wind on her cheek…her whole body is numb and she just walks.
As she approaches the grave and the stone caves, her senses finally return to her. She is very aware of the thief and her companion standing amongst the grave stones waiting on their next victim.
As she gets closer, she can see that the thief who stole her simoles is lying on the ground unmoving. In her normal state, Sister Ermine would actually care if she was dead or alive, but right now her emotions are muted. She cannot feel anything for anybody at this moment.
She walks on leaving the thief to whatever fate karma has chosen to send her way.
Back at the church, she tastelessly finishes off a bowl of gruel. The hot gruel burns her hands, but she does not care. She is just happy to feel something.
She lies down on her bed and sleep takes over faster than it has ever before.
For the first time in quite a while, Sister Ermine sleeps until very late the next day. She slept the whole night, not stirring, not even dreaming.
When she awakes, she heads straight for the stocks, hoping to see the monk. To her satisfaction, he is there waiting for her.
“I was hoping you would return good sister,” he says, pleased to see her.
“I was hoping you would return good sister,” he says, pleased to see her.
“I had to know why you would do such a kind act for me.”
“If I may be honest blessed Donston, it was not for you. I have acted out of selfish reasons, “ she answers slightly shamed.
“If I may be honest blessed Donston, it was not for you. I have acted out of selfish reasons, “ she answers slightly shamed.
“Do not fret sister. Whatever the reason, I am thankful to thee.”
“I was arrested under false circumstances. While entering Archolia, I was held up but had no simoles to steal. The thief, a badly injured woman, became upset and shouted to the constable that I had attacked her. I was arrested on the spot and sent here to the stocks.”
He continues, “but sister, I still wonder why you did this.”
Ermine tells the monk about her quest and her visions of the fountain. He tells her the story of the fountain and informs her that the fountain is indeed real. “I had a map on my person on how to locate the fountain, but your grace I am afraid that it has been stolen.”
“Stolen by the thief…the badly injured woman?” Sister Ermine asks, afraid of the answer.
“Aye sister. The very one. Are you familiar with such a thief?”
“Aye sister. The very one. Are you familiar with such a thief?”
Ermine is all too familiar with her. She is the same one to rob her yesterday before Ermine took his place at the stocks.
Sister Ermine recounts the story of her encounter with the same thief. She realizes that if she wants to find this fountain, she will have to confront her accoster. The monk gives her a hug to comfort her. “I am so sorry your grace. I wish I knew another way for you to locate the fountain.”
Sister Ermine pulls herself together and uses this moment as an opportunity to pray with the monk…
…and convert him to the Peteran faith.
