Winlay follows Louis

Yet another wave of nausea swept through Winlay, Beldan had treated her like a piece of meat, and that's just how she felt; a bloody, raw piece of meat. A sudden clenching of her abdomen brought up a little of the medicinal potion she just swallowed and only her fear of rousing the High Priest kept her from vomiting all over the obese pig that lay passed out on the floor.

She couldn't think. Numbly she allowed the red faced clerk to pull a white robe over her naked body. She was vaguely aware that the robe was not the grey initiate's habit that she had worn to her ill-fated interview with Beldan, but it was easier to just allow herself to be guided through the process.

As soon as she was dressed Brother Louis led her from Beldan's suite into the quiet halls of the Holy Palace. The corridors were dimly lit by flickering oil lamps, twice Louis paused and waited as figures walked past them in the early morning.

"I'm taking you to the kitchen doors. There'll be someone to meet you there." Louis whispered as they descended yet another set of stairs into a part of the great building that was much less grandiose than what Winlay had seen so far. In these chambers and passageways the early morning's activities were already starting. Winlay could smell the fresh yeasty scent of bread rising and hear the sounds of coal being shoveled into the kitchen ovens. All around her, the lower levels of the great Cathedral and Church offices was coming to life, and gradually Winlay could feel herself reviving as well.

The numb emptiness was gradually being replaced with a bitter anger and contempt for the man who had so mistreated her.

"Why didn't you kill him?" She asked suddenly. "We should have. I should have! Why didn't I kill him!?!" Winlay wondered if she turned back, could she hope to find her way back to the High Priest's private suites without the red nosed clerk's help? If she did would that fat slob still be laying knocked out on the floor. Winlay turned hopefully to Brother Louis, but his words calmed the anger that was surging through her heart.

"You are no killer Sister Winlay, and I," Louis paused briefly then with a sniffle and a sad smile, he finished "well I ... I guess I am too much of a coward."

Winlay immediately felt ashamed of herself and her words. Brother Louis was no coward, he was risking everything to help a novice that he had never before met.

"You're not a coward!" She told him fiercely, but Louis shook his head. "I mean it." She tried again, "You are the only one in the whole Church who has done anything to stop him. You're a hero!"

"I'm no hero, but maybe you can be." His words were quiet but intense. "Tell people what Beldan is, once you are safe, tell as many people as you can." Louis lifted his hand to touch her on the shoulder and in spite of everything he had done for her Winlay jerked away before he could touch her.

"I'm sorry Winlay." He clasped his hands together awkwardly "Sister Prudence couldn't, but maybe you can." Winlay felt bad about pulling away from his touch; she could hear the stress in his words, but didn't know what to say or do? Did this strange little man who seemed so pathetic have anything to do with Sister Prudence's escape as well?

Then Winlay was outside the walls of the Holy Palace, she had passed through a small side door and turned just in time to see brother Louis' tear streaked face as he closed the door behind her. She vaguely remembered the clerk mentioning that someone would meet her, but she couldn't remember any of the details. The whole day and night seemed to blur together in an awful nightmare and her head was not much clearer this morning.