5. Farewell
“Meri, may I come in?” rarely did Demetra ask to come into her room. Normally Demetra would speak with her during breakfast. This only happened when something urgent was going on.
“You may” Meri got up and quickly made her bed. Not that it mattered as Demetra had seen how messy her room could get. When her mother’s gatherer entered, Meri noticed the anxious expression she wore.
“What is wrong Demetria? It isn’t uncle Titus is it?” Titus had been very ill lately, Meri couldn’t help but think the worse.
“He is fine, working with the boys to clean up the compound” Meri silently thanked the gods at these words. Meri worried each day that she would get bad news about her uncle.
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“We have a visitor from the capitol. She was sent by the amazons in the far west.” Demetria continued. “She is here to-”
“I am here to help” The woman seemed to appear at Demetra’s shoulder in the doorway. “Forgive the intrusion creator heiress but I felt it important that I introduce myself”
“Of course, if you will give me a moment to change” The woman nodded and was ushered out the door. Meri tore through her dresser in attempts to find something for today. Some of her items had disappeared in her absense.
It would be easy to say that her items had gone missing but some part of Meri was sure that her items had been taken. She had been assumed dead until she showed up at the edge of Solare’s temple with vague memories of the past few weeks. Despite all her efforts she couldn’t remeber anything beyond that.
The young creator heiress found something to wear. A dress similar to one her mother used to wear. Her father had sent it to her for her birthday years ago. She had never worn it until today.
Meri found the two women waiting for her in the halls outside her room. The new comer was studing the building around her, while Demetra was trying her best not to let her nervousness show. When the woman noticed her she tilted her head in greeting.
“You look lovely creator heiress. Will you be showing me around today” the tone gave Meri the feeling that she could not say no to this.
“I would love to but I can not show you around without knowing you name. Here in tribe Isla it would be considered rude to not know your name” Meri was lying but she couldn’t just come out and say that she wouldn’t show a stanger around without knowing something about her.
“I wouldn’t wish to be rude. I am Marcella” Unlike most of the women visitors Marcella did not give her tribe name.
“Thank you” Meri walked across the yards towards the gardens. Meri should probably show her the main hall but she prefered the gardens. Before she had gone missing Meri had sold most of tapestries, fruit and other items from the tribe, with the coin she gave the land an overhall. The well from her mother’s time was not surrounded by purple flowers and faced the meditation area. There was a place to hang the clean laundry and collect the goods. A new building was added for gardening and plant work.
Meri showed Marcella the various plants that had been procurded from the markets. While she couldn’t afford proper books for plant tending Demetra and the boys did their best.
The next stop was the men’s quarters. It was connected to the gardens. Meri sent a silent praise to the goddesses as she showed Marcella the rooms. Titus was up and about today. Meri had feared that he would be bed ridden again and that Marcella would want her to punish him.
From the men’s quarters, the kitchens, training room, meeting area and learning room was shown. The tour was almost finished when Marcella finally spoke, stopping the trio outside of the temple.
“I have seen enough” Meri turned at those words, unable to keep the concern off her face.
“There is much to be done and little time to do it” her words confused Meri.
“I do not understand what you mean Lady Marcella” Meri knew she was here to help but help how.
“I am here to help get the tribe back on track. Your mother has caused many problems for this tribe and your recent disappearance has the high council worried for your safety. The goddess are displeased and I am here to put things back in order” her words unsettled Meri.
“The first thing that will be done. Boudica will be sent to the citidel, where she will be properly trained in a tribal ranking.” Before Meri had opened her mouth Demetria cut her off.
“You can not be serious! She is a child, my child. You have no right to send her away from this tribe!” Meri had never seen Demetria so angry. It seemed to catch Marcella momentarily off guard as well.
“I have the authory of the amazonian council. This tribe had no creator. Meritamun is not old enough to run this tribe and you are in no position to run this tribe. You were no appointed and even if you were you are not from any amazon tribe and have no claim to rule” Marcella’s commanding aura never wavered.
“The second thing that will be done.” Marcella met Demetria’s angry glare. “You Demetria of the Sands are freed from your position in tribe Isla. Worry not as you have served Isla as best you can, you will not be alone. The blond slave will go with you but you will not be welcomed back”
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