Mistress of the Night - Don Bassingthwaite [21]
"The New Moon Beneficence." Velsinore turned as she spoke and walked briskly through the gate into Moonshadow Hall, the Waning Crescent sword banging against her leg. Feena had to hasten to follow, lengthening her stride as best she could in the billowing skirts.
"What's the New Moon Beneficence?" she asked.
The nights of the new moon were generally a quiet and contemplative time for the followers of Selune, a recognition of the only time that the moon didn't sail the sky. Feena couldn't recall any significant events of Selune's worship that took place during the dark of the moon.
"A charity feast instituted by Mother Dhauna several years ago," Velsinore replied. She turned along an inner corridor, heading for the long hall that was the temple's refectory. "She conceived of it as a way of extending Moonshadow Hall's good works in the city. All who wish to attend are welcome, whether they follow Our Silver Lady or not, and together we drive back the darkness with song."
As she spoke, a warm note entered Velsinore's voice. Feena looked sideways at her. She had known Velsinore almost as long as she had known Mifano, though not so well. When she and Mifano had been novices and later acolytes together, Velsinore-several years their elder-had already been a priestess, with little time and less patience for her juniors. Ironically, she had ended up in charge of the acolytes' dormitory. She had found a swift distrust for Mifano and his flirtatious manners, but it had always seemed to Feena that she reserved a special and immediate dislike for her. If punishments were handed out for bad behavior, they always seemed to fall more heavily when Feena was involved. Eventually they had developed a cool distance that had enabled them to get along, and before she left Moonshadow Hall to rejoin her mother in Arch Wood, Feena had even discovered a grudging respect for Velsinore. The priestess might have been cold and stiff on the outside, but her passion and devotion ran deep.
"That sounds like a wonderful way to pass the new moon," Feena said.
"It has been one of Mother Dhauna's wisest innovations," agreed Velsinore. "As the new moon is less than a tenday away, it's past time to begin planning the next Beneficence. The High Moonmistress has always been closely involved in the celebration. I presume you will want to keep up that tradition."
Feena's stomach sank. "You want me to speak at the feast?"
"It is expected." Velsinore pushed open the doors of the refectory. The temple's cook waited for them beside one of the dining hall's long tables. The table had been stacked with account books. Velsinore gestured toward them. "But for now, you need to plan the menu."
Feena stopped dead. "What?"
"You need to plan the feast," said Velsinore. "Idruth can give you suggestions, of course." She laid a hand on the stacked books. "These are accounts of our food stocks and of the sums budgeted for the event. You'll find menus of previous Beneficences as well, if you want to follow the easy path and duplicate one of them. Naturally, I can understand if you would prefer-"
"Velsinore," Feena interrupted, "is this really necessary?"
She fought to keep anger out of her voice, but didn't succeed. The cook flinched back. Velsinore stood firm. When she answered, her voice was cool. "The Moonmistress-Designate assumes the High Moonmistress's duties, does she not?"
Feena's hands were trembling. She forced them to be still.
"Fine," she growled. She glanced at Idruth and the cook flinched back another step. "A side of beef," she ordered, "and four- young pigs-more to round out the servings if that's not enough to feed the number of people who come-"
"Ah, meat," said Velsinore. She picked up a reed pen and made notes on a scrap of parchment. "Of course."
Feena sucked in her breath. "What do you mean by that?"
Velsinore looked up from the parchment. "Nothing at all, Moonmistress-Designate." Her voice was as calm as ever, but her eyes were hard. "Now," she asked, raising the pen, "would you like all this meat cooked or should we just leave it raw?"
Wo^f.