which the abbess administered with solemn approval.
After the vows, the nuns began singing again. This time, as they sang, they arranged themselves in two concentric rings around the altar holding their candles before them. Cait took advantage of the movement and edged closer for a better look. From behind her pillar she now viewed the hooded figures from the side; Alethea was nearest her, though Cait could not see her face.
Returning to the altar, the abbess picked up a small wooden cross on a leather loop. Stepping before Alethea, the older woman held out the cross for the younger to kiss. Alethea leaned forward slightly, reached out, took hold of the cross and brought it to her lips. As she did so, Cait felt a pang of yearning pierce her heart. This took her by surprise. She had not thought to be moved by the ceremony in this way. What did it mean?
She had little time to wonder about this, however, for Abbess Annora nodded, and Alethea reached up, pulled back the hood and lowered it to rest on her shoulders. It was then Cait saw that her sister's head was completely shaved. The sight made Cait's breath catch in her throat – all that lovely long dark hair… gone. Strangely, the sight of her sister this way, on her knees, denuded head bent in prayer, awakened Cait to the solemn seriousness of her sister's decision. Oh, Thea, she thought, dear, dear Thea, for once in your life I hope you know what you are doing.
The abbess moved to the other young woman and repeated the conferral of the cross. Then one of the sisters stepped forward, holding two lengths of dove-grey cloth across her outstretched palms. Taking one of the cloths, the abbess draped it around Alethea's shoulders like a shawl; leaning close she kissed the younger woman lightly on the forehead, then raised her to her feet. The procedure was repeated for the second novice, whereupon the two newest members of the abbey were embraced by the abbess and each of the other sisters in turn; thus were they welcomed into the intimate fellowship of the Order.
Cait thought the ceremony would end now, and the Grey Marys would leave, but as soon as the new sisters had received their welcome, the nuns reformed their circle. The abbess turned once more to the altar. Crossing her hands over her breast, she bent her head, and called out, 'In the meeting of our hearts and minds: Thou. In the calling of our souls, dear lord: Thou. In the weaving of life below with life above: Thou, saviour lord, and Thou only.'
So saying, she stepped to the altar, pressed her hands together, and then placed her palms flat on either side of the huge golden cross as if she would remove it-an unusual gesture, and unexpected, which drew Cait's attention. As she watched, the abbess withdrew her hands, and Cait saw that a door had opened in the base of the cross, revealing a hollow place. Reaching in, the abbess brought forth a footed cup.
Cait could not see it clearly from where she stood, but it seemed an ordinary drinking cup of wood, perhaps, or pottery. A glint of candlelight traced the rim as the abbess turned and presented the cup to Alethea, who, gazing steadily at the vessel, extended her neck slightly as the abbess brought the cup to her mouth to drink No sooner had the cup touched her lips, than the young woman gave out a loud cry. She raised her head and in the candlelight Cait saw her younger sister's face aglow with a strange light that seemed to dance over her features. Alethea cried out again and swooned, crumpling slowly on to her side.
It was all Cait could do to keep from rushing to her sister's aid. Instead, she bit the back of her hand and forced herself to stay behind her pillar. The cup was offered to the second novice, who likewise accepted a drink and promptly sank to the floor, a smile of ecstasy on her fresh young face. At the same time, Cait became aware of a sweetening of the air, as if a blossom-scented breeze had suddenly wafted into the cave.
The two young women lay before the altar for a long, silent moment. The sight of them sleeping so peacefully, their features suffused with such rapturous abandon, produced in Cait a longing she had not felt for a very long time. Oh, to know such peace, she thought.
After a while, the abbess returned the cup to its hidden nook, and then stood over the stricken novices; stretching her hands above them, she intoned:
'Now art thou the beloved of God.
Receive these gifts from the Gifting Giver:
The grace of form,
The grace of voice,
The grace of good fortune in all things,
The grace of kindness,
The grace of wisdom,
The grace of charity,
The grace of modesty and fair virtue,
The grace of whole-souled loveliness,
The grace of pleasing speech.'
So saying, Abbess Annora stooped and placed a hand on each young woman's head. Then, resuming her place once more, she said, 'As you abide in Christ, He abides in you. Therefore, through all things whatsoever shall befall you, remember:
Thou art the joy of all joyous things,
Thou art the light of the sun's glorious beaming,
Thou art the door of generous hospitality,
Thou art the shining star of guidance,
Thou art the amity of the deer on the hill,
Thou art the comeliness of the swan on the lake,
Thou art the strength of the steed on the plain,
Thou art the beauty of all lovely desires,
Henceforth and for ever more.
Amen.'
The abbess placed her hand on the novices' heads once more and said, 'Arise to life renewed.' With these words, both young women rose and stood smiling, looking slightly bewildered-as if they were indeed seeing the world for the first time. Abbess Annora blessed the newest members of her order, and the nuns re-formed their ranks and began withdrawing from the rock-cut sanctuary, singing as they went. Taking up their candles once more, the two young nuns fell into place behind them, leaving the abbess alone for a moment.
After the others had gone, Abbess Annora made reverence herself before the altar, and then knelt, head lifted high, gazing up into the darkness of the cavern, arms outstretched as if to receive a gift from her unseen lord. Cait watched, and something about the simple devotion touched her, and she wondered how long it had been since she had knelt like that and experienced the tranquillity of a free and open heart. Instantly, she was seized by ferocious yearning to be at peace within herself once more.
When Annora's prayers were finished, Cait waited until she could no longer hear her footsteps and then crept out from her hiding place behind the pillar. She thought to take a candle from the altar so that she might find her way back through the tunnelled passages.
Stepping quickly to the altar, she reached for one of the candles and paused to look at the handsome golden cross. What from a distance appeared a work of solid metal, closer observation revealed to be carved wood overlaid with sheets of beaten gold. At the base of the cross she saw the thin vertical crack which defined the door of the niche containing the communion cup.
Moving closer, she placed her hands on either side of the base in imitation of the abbess. Although she felt nothing save the cool smoothness of the metal, the pressure of her palms caused the thin covering of gold to bulge slightly beneath her right hand. She pressed the bulge with her palm; there was a click, the little door opened in the base of the cross, and there was the cup.
Thinking only to admire its simple, uncomplicated shape she reached in and brought it out. It was, as she had guessed, a simple footed bowl of pale, deeply grained wood, to which had been added a golden rim, and the foot gilded. In the gentle light of the candles, the wooden bowl shone with a fine lustre where the touch of many hands had polished it over the years.
She tilted the cup and looked inside. It was empty; more than that, it was dry – which she thought odd, for she had seen Alethea and the other novice drink from the cup. Even if they had drained it there would still remain some residue of the wine they had tasted. But there was none.
Raising the vessel, she put her nose into the bowl and sniffed. The faintly sweet aroma she had smelled at the offering of the cup during the ceremony still lingered there. The scent reminded her of beeswax and rose blossom,
