Abbess Liai was awoken in the the night by one of her novices and asked to go I immediately to the Infirmary. The Abbess knew that there was one reason and one reason only she was woken in the night. It was bad news.

She placed her soft white linen robes on her body, slipped on her wooden shoes and tied the golden straps of her belt mindful that the strap went through the dragon shaped buckle in the manner she was shown in her youth. She plaited her long dark hair as she walked the corridor from her rooms to the Infirmary asking for as much information as she could from then novice.

Novice Praffa had been tending her duties at the gate of the great temple when she heard the wild dragons singing in the hills. She explained that she found it a comforting noise at night. She went out to the front court yard where the dragons could be heard better. She found the young girl wandering aimlessly around the courtyard. She wore strange clothing and spoke the common tongue but beyond that the girl knew only two things her name and that she was here to take part in the Finding.

The Abbess hoped that her face did not betray the concern she felt at this information and she gathered her pace in order that she could reach this young girl before any rumour of her existence began to circulate in the Eternal City. The Abbess knew all to soon the danger this girl presented to herself and to the city.

"Novice Praffa, who else has met this girl?"

"Me, then I got Sister Alma the sister of the Temples Watch to give me assistance. It was she who brought the girl to the Infirmary and hastened me to wake you not but 10 minutes since."

The Abbess gave an inward sigh of relief it was Sister Alma. She was the Nobelist and most trustworthy of all of the Senior Sisters and she was more than capable of acing as necessary in such an event.

"No one else saw you? No one else could have seen you? I am sorry to be so blunt with my questions but it is of the utmost importance that you think carefully."

"No one Abbess, the other Sisters were at second matin prayers or at attendance to the sick in the other side of the Infirmary. Have I done something wrong Abbess?"

The young novice looked very scared, which made her look ever bit her fifteen years, her ebony skin looking paler by the second.

"No," The Abbess comforted her, "you have done something very right Novice Praffa. You have shown all the qualities that the Many Faced God would have asked of you in this situation. Prudence, support and guidance. I know you will make a wonderful addition to this order in the future."

They both stopped outside the room. The novice looked wide eyed at the Abbess.

"Before we go in, I want you to know that I think the Many Faced God has picked you for this. What happens tonight you must keep as a secret from everyone. I mean your dormitory Sisters, your family and anyone who is not me, Sister Alma and yourself. Do you think you can manage that?"

Praffa nodded, trying not to appear overcome by the situation. She followed the Abbess into the room and stood quietly as instructed.

Sister Alma talking gently in a low voice to the girl. She had washed and changed the girl from the strange clothes into the night shift that all novices wore. Alma was beginning to brush the girls hair when the Abbess approached and nodded for her to allow the Abbess to complete the task.

"Has she spoken yet?" She asked quietly to Alma. Alma nodded and gestured to a parchment she had written on the side of the bed.

On the parchment were the notes Alma had taken about the girl

Her name is Lily
She has the mark
She is here for the Finding
She had the object
The object is with the others

The Abbess nodded to Alma that she understood. Alma took the parchment and placed it in the lit fire in the corner of the room.

"Hello Lily, I am the Abbess Liai, do you know where you are?"

The girl shook her head and gazed at the Abbess with her large blue eyes, set in a pale face. The Abbess brushed her dark red hair and began to set it into a Novices's plait.

"I am here to help you and give you somewhere to live. Do you know where you have come from?"

"No, I have told the others Abbess that the only memory I have is before I met the girl in the corner is that I was in a room with many others. It was like I was asleep. I remember flying, someone was with me, I am so sorry I don't know who. The person I was flying with told me that I was to be involved in the Finding. They gave me a bag, told me not to look inside and to give it to Sister Alma. I heard the most beautiful music and I woke up in your courtyard."

The girl trembled, she was hungry and she was cold. She did not know where she came from but it was warmer than here.

The Abbess turned to both of the Sisters.

"Praffa, Lily is to be your patient. I will have a bed moved into this room for you. Until Lily is feeling warmer and has a few days of rest you will be her constant carer. I will make sure that you a re assigned form all of your other duties. Praffa please go and attend to your possessions and bring what you will need for the next two days here."

The Abbess and Alma watched as Praffa left the room and listened for her feet moving away down the corridor.

"Alma this is the second time this century, it is becoming more frequent, in line with the prophecy."

"I know," Alma nodded, "it seems not to long ago Rose was here. I think we should waken her and tell her."

"I think that is a good point, also we should get a message to the dragon master as he should be having as interesting a night as we are."

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