Getting Sister Margaret's help

While Adam and Mika consulted briefly in hushed tones, Winlay looked over the three fugitives. Mika was far more serious than Winlay was used to and she missed her cheerful giggles and irreverent comments. The Oracle - and Winlay knew in her heart that he was indeed the Oracle - looked awful. His eyes were nearly closed, and even when they opened to try to take in the situation they soon glazed over. Adam was as handsome as she first sensed, his square clean-shaven jaw reminded Winlay of the heroes in the fairy tales of her childhood and even though his clothing was covered in the wastes of the convent she could see the quality in the material and how the tunic had been tailored to accentuate his athletic body.

His arms were the arms of a warrior, strong and scared with old wounds, but Winlay could see how gently he held the Oracle. She wondered what it would feel like to have this strange man hold her like that, not that that was likely to happen now that she had all but called him an idiot. Winlay's few interactions with the young men of her village taught her that explaining why they were wrong never ended well.

"What do you think Winlay?" Mika asked and Winlay realized with horror that both Adam and her friend had just asked her about something and because of her daydreaming she missed the question.

"I'm sorry Mika, I guess I'm a little overwhelmed by all this." That much was certainly true, "Can you repeat the question?" Mika gave her an odd look but then explained.

"Adam and I think that the two of us" She motioned to Winlay and herself "are less likely to attract attention in the garden than he is. So we are going to leave him somewhere safe with the Oracle, and you can take me to meet this Sister Margaret of yours." She paused "OK?"

Winlay nodded mutely in agreement and soon all four of them waded their way the rest of the way out of the sewer and climbed along the walkway that led from the mouth of the drainage pipe. With Adam and his charge safely hidden in a bramble of weeds behind the compost pile Winlay led Mika up three of the terraced levels of gardens to where Sister Margaret's little stone workshop sat surrounded by herbs and flowers.

Knocking at the door of the cottage Winlay hoped that the Sister had not yet departed for her bath. To her relief Margaret opened the door almost immediately.

"Why hello Sister Winlay! Who's your..." Margaret's cheerful greeting trailed off as her eyes took in the serious looks on the girls faces and the filth that covered their clothes. "Come in, come in and get out of those robes. Goodness what have you two been up to?" As the young initiates stripped out of the soiled robes, Winlay introduced Mika to Sister Margaret.

"We need your help Sister Margaret.” Winlay began in a rush “Mika and Adam just rescued the Oracle, he was being held captive in the Templar's prison." Winlay realized just how farfetched that story sounded but to her surprise Margaret just nodded as she handed each of them an oversized work shirt to put on over their underwear.

"Go on Sister Winlay, who is this Adam? I take it you came out through the sewage pipes." Margaret said stuffing the girls robes into a large sack, "Where is he now?"

Winlay turned to Mika not sure how to explain who Adam was.

"Adam is a Chevalier" Mika began looking carefully at Sister Margarets's face for any hint of a reaction. "He's a Templar, but he still believes in the old values of the order." Mika began "We left Adam and the Oracle behind the compost pile in the lower garden, the Oracle was too weak to walk." Margaret reached for a earthenware pot from a shelf that held dozens of others just like it. Turning to the girls she handed the pot to Winlay.

"You two get washed up with lots of soap and water, when you are completely cleaned smear a generous layer of this on any open cuts or scrapes you have." She showed them a key as she stepped for the door. "I'll lock the door when I leave, do not open it or let anyone see you in here until I return."

The sound of the lock turning in the heavy wooden doors relieved Winlay, but Mika became noticeably more concerned.

"What if she's going to get the Templars?" She asked, "should I follow her and make sure?" Winlay smiled encouragingly.

"You can trust her, I just know it." She turned to the sink in the back of the room where she had washed up just an hour before. "Come here Mika let me clean up those cuts."