Chapter 63: Pamtha's Visit

During their trip, Delrik had finished settling the Baxarte debts, but the tensions regarding the church and testing Cosaria's divine powers had increased. They needed the help of a priestess, and they needed it immediately.

Cosaria sat on the couch reading a letter. Tilda read over her shoulder with furrowed brow. Delrik had given the letter to Cosaria as soon as she arrived back.

Tilda said, "Is that the reply letter from Pamtha?"

"Yes. I think. I sent out a request that she comes in haste to test my divine strength. I tried to explain as much as I could… I don't know what to think…"

Cosaria looked to Tilda to decode Pamtha's letter, but Tilda just shook her head.

Marley approached and asked, "What are you reading?"

Cosaria said, "It's a letter from my mother's friend. She's a priestess. She's going to help me with the divine strength test but… I don't understand it."

Marley read the letter. It said, "Salt and pepper go together, cook the carrots, shred the lettuce. Finish the dish with a plate full of fish. Love, Pamtha"

Marley asked, "Is it a recipe?"

Tilda said, "Knowing Pamtha, it could be a prophecy."

Cosaria said, "Do you think this means she'll help?"

Tilda said, "I don't think this is a good indicator to answer that question."

Cosaria wondered, "What could it mean?"

Tilda patted Cosaria, saying, "Don't think too hard about it."

Cosaria said, "But what if it's important?"

Tilda said, "Then you can ask her in person when she gets here."

Cosaria twiddled her thumbs. She said, "I do hope she comes soon."

༻✧༺

In the servant's commons, little maid Nelly was telling anyone willing to listen about what she saw in the garden earlier that day; "That's when I saw, the Duke and Duchess, they were strolling the paths and… and… holding hands!"

Bess, Deborah and Tilda were the gathered audience around the table.

Bess said, "Boring! I want to know about the intimate stuff. I've heard she's at his bedchamber every night."

Nelly said, "Sure, I've seen that but nothing happens. Isn't that right Tilda?"

Tilda shrugged, "Beats me." She knew that the reason why Cosaria went to Delrik's room was to heal his curse, but whatever flirting occurred, Tilda stayed intentionally ignorant of.

Bess glared at Tilda and said, "I don't believe that for a second."

Deborah said, "I'd say it's about time there should be a pregnancy announced."

Pamtha said, "How right you are! I couldn't agree more."

The maids all fell over at the random and unexpected arrival of the old priestess. She had utterly butted into their conversation by complete surprise.

"Pamtha!?" Tilda exclaimed.

"Yes, it is I! Now, tell me all of your names. I must get acquainted with such fine connoisseurs of gossip. Holding hands! I can see how our favorite couple is progressing!!!"

The maids all looked at each other questioningly.

Tilda explained, "This is Pamtha, she's the priestess Lady Cosaria has been waiting for."

Pamtha said, "Yes, yes, we've already established myself. Now, I don't have all day. Who are you people?"

"My name is Deborah."

"And… I'm, uh, Nelly."

"I'm Bess."

Tilda asked, "Pamtha, how in the world did you get in here?"

"You didn't tell me your name, dear."

Tilda said, "You didn't forget my name, did you?"

Pamtha said, "Of course not, now tell me what it is so that I can remember it."

"Tilda."

"Of course. Tilda, Tilda, Tilda… no, doesn't ring a bell."

"You-! We met when- never mind. How did you get in here."

"I snuck in."

Tilda said, "You don't just sneak into the castle. There are guards on duty."

"I'm not a simpleton, you simpleton." Pamtha said, "This is what I did. I put the guards to sleep. They looked so stressed and I just gave them a whiff of my divine powder and they relaxed like babes. Then I let myself in. Very unobtrusive like, you see."

"Why?" Tilda asked. "We could have had someone escort you in."

"I didn't want to bother on all the pleasantries. Now, where's Cosaria, I'm famished."

Tilda said, "You make it sound like you're planning on eating her."

"Of course not! How horrible. Really. Unless you think she would taste good."

All the maid's eyes widen in shock, their mouths curled into uncomfortable frowns.

Seeing the disgusted look on the maid's faces, Pamtha said, "A joke! Really, divine heavens, kids these days really cannot take a joke."

It was too hard to tell with Pamtha when she was being serious and when she wasn't. The woman was crazy.

༻✧༺

Tilda walked into Delrik's office, saying, "Priestess Pamtha has arrived, and wants to join you and the lady for dinner."

Delrik was at his desk while Felux was grabbing a book from the shelf.

Delrik said, "Excellent."

༻✧༺

The dining table was set in the extravagant Ragdorian feast style. The type where the nobles got first choice at the best dishes and the servants got whatever leftovers were available.

(Sometimes the servants begged the cooks to let them try the fancy dishes, especially if the cook was experimenting, but for the most part, they rarely got to try such exquisite food. Even though they were the ones who helped cook it.)

There was a whole chicken, golden and covered in spices. There were casseroles, pies, cooked buttered vegetables, and an assortment of meats and cheeses.

Delrik, Cosaria and Pamtha were sitting at the large table. The one with lots of empty chairs, used for entertaining noble company. Since Duke Delrik took over the castle, not once had the table ever been full.

Tilda and Bess waited in their servant's spot by the door, ready to be sent for anything the nobles needed. Felux and Marley stood in the servant's spot by the wall, closer to the nobles. There was almost always a guard posted to protect the Duke and Duchess during dinner.

Cosaria said, "We are ever so honored to have you Pamtha."

"Oh my, what a feast! I can't eat all this food. I'll end up like a popped balloon by the end of the night? Delrik, I know you're a growing boy, but this much food? Really? You must have a bottomless pit inside you somewhere."

Delrik said, "The remains of what we do not eat go to the servants."

"Nonsense, why should they wait?" Pamtha turned to Tilda and Bess and waved them close, saying, "Come come, sit sit, all of you."

As Pamtha waved to Marley and Felux, Delrik said, "Priestess Pamtha, that is-"

"I'll have it no other way," Pamtha interrupted, as she pointed her fork at Delrik.

Delrik nodded and Bess, Tilda, Felux, and Marley all joined the table. Everyone was uncomfortable.

Pamtha said, "Isn't this more comfortable, see, now the table is full. It's much more fun that way. Shall we eat?"

Tilda and Bess exchanged a look as Pamtha loaded her plate.

Tilda said, "I must have forgotten the water pitchers. I'll excuse myself."

"Me too," Bess said, starting to stand.

"Nonsense!" Pamtha declared, "Tilda, you need to get used to this, you'll be sitting with the nobility soon enough, and Bess dear, oh Bessy Bess Bess. Actually, you probably should feel weird since this will be your first and last time sitting with nobles. That's why I'd say enjoy it while it lasts!"

The maids sat down.

Pamtha said, "Now, I know why I'm here."

"Yes," Delrik said. He didn't want Pamtha to go into too much detail.

Pamtha said, "I'll test the divine strength of that lovely lady there. Cosaria, you look more and more like your mother every day."

Cosaria blushed, saying, "Thank you."

Delrik said, "Yes, rather, we more expect you to report to the church that she doesn't have diving power. We don't want her to become a target of the church, I hope you understand."

"Of course I understand. You think I'm old? Old in the brain, I mean, of course my age is old, but my brain is as active as a summer's planting."

Delrik said, "So you understand that there is no need for an actual test."

"Nonsense. I'll test Cosaria and then I'll report to the church. She really needs a good testing, don't you know."

Delrik said, "Don't you know why we asked you to come? Why we chose you? The church cannot know about Cosaria."

"Of course I know that, you Duke. I won't be reporting her results."

Tilda and Felux watched the exchange go back and forth with their eyes.

Delrik said, "You just said-"

Pamtha said, "I'll report to them what I want them to know. And I want them to know that Cosaria's not to be involved with the church."

"…I see…"

"Yes, very good, we'll have the test this evening before sunset."

"You just said-"

"That we must test her. You just said that you see. I don't think you do."

Marley and Bess began eating. Might as well take advantage of the good food.

Marley nudged Bess, saying quietly, "Would you like some potatoes?"

Bess said, "Oh yes."

Tilda and Felux, again watched the back and forth between Pamtha and Delrik.

Delrik continued, saying, "The church mustn't know."

Pamtha said, "And they won't, but we will."

"What?"

"We'll know her divine strength."

"Are you saying that Cosaria be tested but that you will give the church false results?"

"Of course!!! You really are slow to catch on, Delrik my dear, dearest Dukey."

"I am Lord Delrik."

"And I'm Pamtha, but we've already been acquainted."

Meanwhile, Bess turned to Marley, and quietly said, "Do you get what's happening?"

Marley replied, "Oh man, not at all. A lot of stuff goes over my head, so I just sit back and settle in for the ride, you know."

"Okay," Bess said as she continued eating.

Delrik asked, "Why should she be tested then?"

Pamtha replied, "It'll be useful in knowing what level of spells she's able to perform."

"Oh," Delrik said as he put his hand to his chin. "I see. Perhaps it would be useful."

Tilda frowned. They were talking about Cosaria like she was an object, not a person. She said, "What do you think about this, Lady Cosaria? Do you want to be tested?"

Cosaria's eyes widened as she said, "Oh, do you want my opinion?"

"They have been discussing you this entire time, so yes. It should be taken into consideration," Tilda said as she glared at Delrik.

Delrik nodded as if he hadn't considered it.

Cosaria said, "Uh, I guess. Perhaps it would be good. To be tested, I mean."

Pamtha said, "Excellent. Then I'll conduct the test immediately after our meal."

Delrik corrected, "You said you wanted to test her at sunset."

Pamtha said, "Yes, and I'll have it no other way."

Her words clarified nothing except that this woman really graded on Delrik's nerves.