“Let’s go up a few levels and have a chat.” Fydelia glanced at the guards.

We climbed up to level three. The others already on that level stared at me with curious expressions, but seemed content to let Fydelia do all the talking. I guessed her age to be around forty.

“Whatcha think of your first day?” Fydelia asked.

“It was horrible,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. It throbbed.

“You’ll get used to it or...”

“Or what?”

“Or go insane. Some do.”

My thoughts reeled over the whole getting used to it or going insane bit. “Is that—”

“Yep. Every single day is the exact same routine. If we didn’t have these few hours to talk, we’d all be insane.”

“Who says we’re not?” one woman called.

A few laughed.

“Yeah, well, we help each other out here. There’s no fighting among ourselves and we don’t form gangs. We’re not going to make anyone’s life harder than it already is. I’ll show you some exercises to ease the cramps, but first tell us what’s going on? We haven’t had any news in months.”

I filled them in. They listened intently, leaning forward to hear every word.

“The High Priestess is returning?” Fydelia asked.

“As we speak.”

“Damn.” Fydelia exchanged a glance with another woman before returning her attention to me. “The war’s going badly, isn’t it?”

“Yep.”

Her forehead creased and she asked me a few more questions about Estrid’s retreat. At one point a low whistle sounded and everyone dispersed. Fydelia pulled me to sit next to her on a bunk. Soon after two guards arrived to check on us.

When they left Fydelia said, “They do random checks and if they see us grouped together or doing our exercises, they come more frequently. And if it seems we’re too friendly, they’ll break us up and assign us to different towers just in case we’re planning something.” She huffed.

“Exercises?” I asked, hoping to prompt her in that direction. My legs ached and even though I healed faster, I still felt pain.

Fydelia gave me a hard look. “If you’re thinking to rat us out to curry favor from the guards, think again. They’ll punish you just as hard as us and then you’ll be branded a traitor. If you think it’s bad now...having over two thousand penitents pissed at you is a hell you don’t want to experience.”

“I won’t say a word.”

She studied my expression for a few seconds. Then she led me up to the sixth level of the tower. Women stretched their muscles in a variety of ways. Fydelia showed me how to relieve the cramps in my neck, lower back, and thighs.

“It’s not a miracle cure,” she said. “It is just a matter of building up your endurance and stamina. It’ll get worse before your body adjusts. After that each day will be a little bit better. And once you get through the physical trials, we’ll help you with the mental.”

“Mental?”

“Once the pain in your body no longer occupies your thoughts, it’s a long day staring at that window.”

“Oh.”

I repeated the exercises Fydelia had demonstrated. From time to time a thump sounded from the level above. More exercises, or something more?

* * *

Hard to believe, but the next day was worse than the first. My neck cramped as soon as I tilted my head back. And all my aches and pains flared anew. Keeping still proved almost impossible. A guard stayed by my side the entire day.

When the day’s prayers finished, my legs refused to unbend. Fydelia appeared by my side and helped me to my feet. On our way to the dining room, I not only searched for Melina, but for Odd or the members of his odd squad. I needed a sign that our crazy scheme might work. Otherwise, I’d go insane. Too bad I didn’t recognize any of the guards.

Later Fydelia joined me as I stretched in the tower.

“Hang in there, Irina. A few more days and then it’ll be better,” she said.

A few more? Not a pleasant prospect. “What happens if I refuse? Will the guards just whack me all day?”

“No. They’ll take you down to the crypt, and...” Fydelia wrapped her arms around her chest.

“Kill you?” I asked in a whisper.

“I wish. The crypt is a place of punishment. Refusing to pray will get you two days down there. The bigger the sin, the longer the stay.”

“Do I want to know—”

“No. Trust me.”

I debated pressing her for details. My imagination tended to run rampant. With those dire thoughts swirling around my head, I about jumped out of my skin when a thud sounded from the level above us.

“More exercises?” I asked Fydelia.

She pressed her lips together, considering my question. “When you’re ready, I’ll show you.”

“You mean when you trust me?”

She smiled. “There’s that. And I’d like to know who you’re looking for.”

Busted. No sense waiting any longer, I had planned to ask her soon. “Melina from Mengels in Sectven Realm. Do you know her?”

“Depends.”

“I’m a friend.”

“So? It’s not like you’ll have a chance to chat and catch up.”

True. “I’d like to know she’s okay... Well, as okay as you can be in here. And, I’ve a message from her mother.” Which wasn’t exactly true, but Melina would be glad to know her mother worried about her.