Page 140 of The Cerulean Sister
"Your tea." An elder priestess comes over with a delicate teapot, holding it out to the cups already set at the table.
I want to scream at the woman to leave us alone so she can speak to me.
"No, thank you, Elder," Leema says, holding her belly.
"Oh, it is good for you, good for the baby. It's a special blend that helps?—"
"Yes! Fine, thank you!" Leema snaps.
The woman does not even react. I have seen lesser priestess slapped for using that tone with an elder. Instead, she smiles like she finds what Leema said amusing and pours the tea into her cup.
"I will be back. I have another blend that softens one’s mood." She smiles and bows her head.
The interaction is strange, but Leema seems to be exhausted by it, as if she has dealt with this constantly and is tired of the placid smiles and blank eyes.
"I am not drinking that," she whispers to me and adjusts herself, pushing on her lower back as if in pain. Once she is situated in her seat, she takes a large breath and gives me an apologetic look.
"What did you mean by what you said?" I ask, trying to find a reason for her reaction.
She scans the room and tracks someone too close to us as they float over to another seating area before she turns to me.
"Leema?"
"Shh. The day they found out I was having a daughter, they moved me to a larger room, started shoving fruit and tea in my face."
I can't move, can't even breathe as I listen to her.
She tilts her head, not realizing how dangerously she is speaking. "They sent a few of the women who made the pilgrimage here home, no matter how heavily pregnant they were. I heard another woman say they were all having sons, all three of them."
She eyes me, gauging my reaction, and I know she is wondering if she should continue, unsure if she can trust me, and it breaks my heart.
"I am listening," I whisper because it is all I can say calmly.
"A high priestess gave birth when I first arrived, before you returned." She glances around again as if trying to find her. "She has not stopped crying. They will not let her go back to her duties until she has made peace. They took her baby to the School of Divine Children. A baby. I don't remember them taking you there. I was so young."
“The children, we lived there.” I nod.
"She is not permitted to see her child." She shakes her head in disbelief. "I can't. I thought I could, but I had no idea."
"Has anything else happened?"
She looks truly confused by my question and then shakes her head. "I did not know if I could trust you to ask of such a thing."
"What exactly are you asking, Leema?" I whisper.
"Please, I cannot stay here." She touches her belly again. "I cannot have her here."
I wrap my arms around her, wanting to provide comfort but also to hush her raising voice. "I will help you, but you have to keep your voice down." I look over Leema's shoulder at a smiling elder who is serving tea to another pregnant woman.
Leema smothers a sob like she is so relieved to hear my answer. "I am sorry. I know I am asking you to do this, risk yourself for me when you have finally ascended and have everything you want. Now you will protect the Estate from First Son. It is truly amazing, but I would not ask if?—"
"It's ok." I shush her, trying not to draw attention.
"You will truly help me? I can't stand the thought of that woman being in the same room as me when I go into labor. She scares me."
"Yes," I answer her pleas but then remember what Crixa said, that she will be there when Leema does give birth.
"Leema, how often does the highest priestess come to this temple?"
