Faint raps on the iron bars of the door woke Waithe and Ceres. Waithe jumped up while Ceres rubbed her eyes and sat up. In the dark, it was difficult to make out the identity of the figure on the other side of the metal grid. Waithe approached the door. A young guard, hardly more than a teenager, shot apprehensive glances down both sides of the hallway.

Waithe narrowed his eyes. "Do you wish something?"

The guard jerked his eyes to Waithe and then to Ceres. His mouth hung open. "My Lady? You be a Medice healer?"

Ceres answered, "Aye, sir."

"Perhaps this not proper, but my mother be deathly ill. And um..."

"You wish healing for your mother?"

"Aye, my Lady. I mean, if you would..."

Waithe tipped his head and raised an eyebrow toward Ceres. She smiled. "I would try. I don't suppose you could take me to her?"

"Um, no. I have not the key."

"Then bring her here to me."

Waithe grinned as the young guard slunk away into the dark hallway. "It seems, my dear daughter, you have a reputation even here in the house of our enemy."

About an hour later, a hushed female voice drifted in from the dark hallway. "Be you sure? Trouble could you find for this."

The young guard answered as they arrived at the cell door, "It shall be fine, Mother. The only one who saw us be my friend, and he be sworn to secrecy."

Waithe spoke softly through the bars as Ceres joined him. "As for us, ma'am, this shall also be our secret."

The guard held up the frail trembling woman who seemed not able to stand on her own. Her long dark hair laid in tangled strands. Even in the faint light, Waithe could see the yellow pallor of her face.

Her hands shook as she held up a small cracked leather purse. "I hope this be enough. It be all I have."

Ceres held her hand up. "Nay, ma'am. I shall accept neither money nor favor. Lay down here before the bars and I shall begin."

The guard helped his mother lay down on the floor, letting her head lay in his lap. Ceres sat down and reached through the bars to take up a hand.

Ceres asked, "Do you know of the Spirits?"

The woman shook her head.

"I would call the Life Spirit Myr. Through her comes the Magic that would heal. Do not be alarmed."

Ceres closed her eyes. Myr's umber light appeared above her, circling back and forth through the iron bars as if they did not exist. The woman's jaw dropped as her widened eyes tracked the Spirit. A small smile came to Waithe's face. Those who saw a Spirit for the first time always had an amazed look on their face. The shimmering Magic, like tiny sparks in the darkness, descended to envelop the woman.

Ceres mumbled, "It is your liver, ma'am. A disease has taken hold of it. Let us see..."

As the Magic worked, the yellow faded from her face, replaced on her cheeks with a faint rouge. After a few moments, the sparks faded away and the Spirit disappeared.

Ceres smiled. "There, you should feel better. You shall still be weak, but your strength will return in a few days with rest. Be sure to eat and drink well."

Tears streamed down her face as her son cradled her. She smiled back at Ceres. "And I had already sewn my burial dress."

"Then wrap it well and store it away. I pray you shall not need it for a very long time."

The young guard turned up his moistened eyes to Ceres. "We be grateful beyond any words. But why? Why do you bless us so?"

"To heal is my true calling. I believe we are all called to compassion, to care for one another. This is the will of the Creator God."

The woman sat up. "Why then do you reside in Lord Scias' jail?"

"The tale is a long one. But ultimately, the Darkness brought us here."

Waithe said, "Best you leave now. Soon it will be dawn and I know not when the guard shall change."

With a final thanks, the young guard and his mother disappeared down the dark hallway.

*****

Word of Ceres' ability and willingness to heal spread quietly through ranks of the estate staff like ripples in a pond. The sick and injured sought her out, first surreptitiously, then openly as the guards who stood watch looked the other way as long as she stayed in her cell, and also because many of the same guards had accepted healing for themselves or their family. Enough began to come that Kori took it upon herself to act as a sort of triage and to schedule appointments.

Ceres accepted no payments, but Kori would deliver small gifts of appreciation to her, typically foods and treats. Ceres further endeared herself with the guards and staff by sharing these with them.

Quar spoke up from her cell. "A good heart you have, Ceres. Again you humble me. I am reminded what the Order of Medice should be."

Ceres responded, "Then join me. With so many I have become weary. Rest I need."

"But so loathsome am I that the Spirits do not come to me."

"Then I shall plead to the Life Spirits on your behalf. Open your heart and let this be the first step of redemption."

Over the next two days, Ceres and Quar provided healing to a steady stream of people, even to some from the city who somehow managed to gain entrance to the estate. Many began to openly grumble against Lord Scias that he would lock away such healers.

Waithe felt a deep admiration at his daughter's outreach, but he knew it would not last. The powers that be would not long stand for it.

*****

The Captain of the Guard stomped down the hallway, his face even redder than the first meeting. Waithe cringed at the threats and curses the Captain flung at the two guards who were unfortunate enough to be on duty then. Ceres jerked up as the Captain let out a loud "humph" through the iron bars. He glared at them with narrowed eyes and gritted teeth. Waithe let out a small chuckle imagining steam erupting from the ears of the rotund officer.

Waithe raised his mug with as big a smile as he could muster. "Good afternoon, Captain! Care to join us for a pint?"

The Captain spat his words. "You will not get away with this!"

"Get away with what? Perhaps you mean healing the ill and injured? Very diabolical, don't you think?"

Ceres' actions were in a way diabolical from the Captain's point of view, Waithe thought to himself. By her goodwill, she had created many allies among the estate staff and her legend among the community continued to grow. Lord Scias, for all his ego, did know the importance of public sentiment, so he would be hesitant to hurt Ceres, at least not in public.

The Captain banged against the bars, causing Ceres to grasp her father's arm. "A few days chained in the dungeon would quell your tongue, old man!"

Waithe shook his head. "I think, my dear Captain, that Lord Scias would be most disappointed if his guests were mistreated."

The officer huffed. "There shall be no more healing here." He stomped away, shoving a hapless guard out of the way and cursing under his breath.

Waithe turned to Ceres. "It would seem, daughter, that the clinic now be closed. A good thing it was while it lasted, though."

*****

Late that afternoon another face appeared at the cell door, one they had met briefly before. He was a tall handsome man with neatly trimmed dark hair, but for a few streaks of gray, and an immaculately styled dark beard. His fine black silk shirt laid open halfway down his muscular chest. Everything about him shouted prestige.

Waithe stood up. "Lord Scias, we meet again."

"Again?" A smile of recognition grew on his face. "You were with Lady Jenn in that tavern in Tarne, were you not? I did not catch your name then, sir."

Waithe bowed. "My name be Waithe Rand, my Lord. And I should tell you, that Lady Ceres sat with me at the same table."

Scias' eyes shot toward Ceres, who sat clutching a blanket on her bed. "I remember, the young attractive dark-haired woman?" He tipped his head back and let out a rolling laugh. "Ingenious! Had I known at the time we might have avoided a great deal of trouble. But no, matter. My Lady Ceres, please join me later for dinner, we have much to discuss."

Ceres answered. "I would be delighted, much to discuss there be indeed, but I must insist that Waithe accompany me."

Scias narrowed his eyes. "And who is he to you?"

"My protector and my father. He has been with me from the start of my quest."

Scias lifted an eyebrow. "I understood you to be an orphan, but your father you say? Very well, I should much like to hear this story. Until this evening then, my Lady." He bowed with a flourish and winked at Ceres.

Ceres blew out a big breath as Scias walked away. Waithe turned to her. "So it begins."