"it's been two weeks, Michelle. The sisters failed in protecting her. We knew something like this would happen when the fortress showed up. They don't like not knowing something. It's why they are a part of the Shadow." The Oracle said to me. "I'm dumping our coffers into trying to get Tasha healed. The two runic healing blankets on her each cost a Paladin's yearly salary."

"I know the costs are mounting." I said shamefully to Darrien. I knew he was trying to help.

"Michelle, we can't have this happen again. Check her Ki. If it's flowing well enough, show her how to heal herself with it. When she wakes for longer than an hour, you are to teach her about healing herbs until she goes back to the academy."

"Yes, sir."

"Michelle, look at me." I looked up at him. "I'm worried about her too. I mean, who knew that Mr. Simon's daughter was a Valkyrie. Couple that with the fact that Persephone herself is watching over her."

He looked like he was about to cry.

"I've never seen a goddess stay on this plane for so long. And this thing she keeps mentioning about not being able to interfere. It's brought to light just how fragile Tasha is. I mean, yeah; she is the chosen of Demeter. But she has a weak constitution, almost nothing wakes her up, and her body can't even handle normal summer weather."

He looked down at the ledger, and spun it to face me.

"Michelle, all of these charges are just to try and help your daughter have a somewhat normal childhood. But we don't have a runemaster, and none of our priestesses can or want to learn. These ears and tails we had made, we even hid from her that we put runes on them. That was 3 gold crowns for each. And 6 crowns for each tail."

"I'm glad she is using them. But it's time to curb the cost. I know she is young, and still getting a handle on her gift; but the temple can't afford to keep doing this." Darrien looked absolutely lost as he looked me in the eye again. "Michelle, I'm sorry, but from now on, her ledger has to ballance. Her scholarship to the academy is paid for by the king himself. I won't take that from her."

The smell of an autumn rain wafts through the room, as a woman with chestnut brown hair enters the room. She looks just like Persephone.

"I agree with you Darrien. When she wakes up, she is to be treated as an initiate. She must earn everything you give her from now on. The only thing I don't want you to take from her is her school."

"Michelle, I need you to do something for me. Your daughter won't open her eyes for another two weeks. So you have time."

The woman handed me a scroll, it felt like a wet vine, and smelled of peppermint.

"If you follow those instructions, you will ballance the ledger up to date, and you are to teach her everything you learn from that journey. When you come back to the temple in two weeks, you will not remember leaving Tasha's side; and none of the temple dwellers will remember you gone."

With that the woman disappeared in a gust of wind. I unfurled the scroll, grabbed my cloak, and walked out, as that's all the scroll said I was allowed to bring.

If this helps Tasha at all, I must do it. Thank you Demeter, for reminding me why I follow you.