Call of the Goddess: A Bona Dea Novel (Stormflies Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

trying to retain her smile despite the less than cheerful welcome. “From the village of Port Gammerton.”
    “That is quite a distance” Nancy stated. She knew well for she too was from the Western Islands, though not from Port Gammerton. “I judge by your arrival that you are determined to see this through.”
    “I am,” Axandra replied seriously, more closely matching Morton's demeanor. She replaced the book carefully on the shelf before more formally addressing the Councilor. “As I suspected, you have doubts about my claim.”
    A server arrived with tea. Miss Korte waited silently with Morton while they were served. Neither moved to sit down among the lavishly upholstered furniture. Nancy watched the visitor as the woman surveyed the room from ceiling to floor.
    When they were alone again, Axandra reminisced, “I loved the Library. My mother would let me hide in here from time-to-time to read picture books.”
    Nancy scowled listening to such a contrived story. The books on these shelves were rarely touched and the Protectress-Past had never mentioned her daughter's love of books. Elora rarely mentioned her daughter at all in recent years, and when she did, the thoughts sent the sick woman into a fit of grief.
    “Let's get down to business, shall we?” urged Nancy. “With your permission, I have arranged two identification studies to be performed to validate your claim.”
    “Of course,” the young woman agreed.
    At that moment, Nancy took a good look at the woman standing a meter in front of her. Though disheveled from her travels, her resemblance to the Protectress-Past was unmistakable. From her oval face to her large almond-shaped eyes, round nose and soft lips painted in a natural shade of pink. Dark tea-colored curls contrasted her ivory skin tone, tanned from time under the suns. Miss Korte must have spent much of her time outdoors. Her mother's skin had never darkened to such a shade.
    And those eyes—those lavender-colored irises that seemed to swirl like clouds in a whirlwind. Only the women of the Protectress' family were ever documented to have such color of eyes. The longer Nancy looked at them the more she decided that their color was true and not a trick of the light.
    “First, our staff Healer will examine you physically and mentally to determine if you are being truthful. She will compare your physical examination to notes made by the Healer who would have cared for you as a child. Any birthmarks or scars will help determine the authenticity of your claim. She may also request a blood sample for further comparisons. Secondly, a Prophet who is familiar with the child Ileanne will examine your thoughts. I believe his examination may be the most definitive.”
    With that, the Councilor summoned the Healer, a middle-aged woman named Eryn Gray, who politely asked for the Councilor to wait outside while she conducted her examination. Nancy imagined the procedure to include a thorough examination from head to foot, making notes on a sheet of paper of paper, and then continuing with the entrance into the mind. For privacy, Nancy felt no concern being asked to vacate the area. When the door to the library opened, Nancy noticed Miss Korte fastening the last button of her dress and rising to her feet from where she had perched on a wall-mounted bench. Eryn slipped a vial containing a blood sample into her pack.
    “I find no reason to believe that this woman is lying to us,” the Healer announced openly. “She bears a pink stain birthmark between the spine and left scapula, similar to the one described in Healer Cardra's notes. I will compare the blood sample to those records as well.”
    “Very good,” Nancy bowed gratefully to the Healer. “Thank you for your assistance.” She ushered the Healer out of the Library and stood alone with Miss Korte once again. She thought she spied relief in the young woman's eyes. One obstacle overcome successfully.
    “Tomorrow, the Prophet will arrive. I will