Sister Casslyn made her way slowly down the steps. Her long black dress brushing against the cold stone. It was dark, but she had no use for a lantern. She paused for a moment before opening the heavy wooden door that led into the large underground space known only as the vault.
The room was lined with small alcoves housing row upon row of small spheres made from Skovlan glass. The contents of the globes bathed the walls in a soft orange glow. They were the only source of light.
The others had already arrived. The first, Sister Vestine, the eldest, and the second, Sister Lizete the taller of the three sisters. Sister Vestine lived in the vault permanently now. Sister Lizete would have arrived through the door in the far wall. It had been quite some time since they were gathered together.
“Why have you called us here Sister Casslyn?”, asked Sister Vestine, “Don’t you have your duties to attend to?”.
“My apologies Sisters, but there are events occurring we must discuss. I believe things are happening that could put not only the Sisterhood, but Doskvol itself at risk”.
“Don’t be ridiculous!”, spat Sister Lizete, “Nothing can jeopardise the Sisterhood.”
“My dear Lizete, I mean no disrespect, but you’ve been out of the city for far too long. Sister Vestine, I assume you’ve had the dreams?”, Sister Casslyn asked. The two younger Sisters turned to look at the older lady.
“I dream of the cold! I dream of the darkness, and of a soft voice singing in the streets! I dream of the great barrier crashing to the ground! I dream of the sea rising and swallowing Doskvol whole! Yes Sister, I’ve had the dreams.”, replied Sister Vestine, “Do you believe them to be a sign?”.
“Yes, and there have been killings!”
“This is Doskvol, “, snapped Sister Lizete, “there are always killings. The scum of this city can’t be trusted to live in peace.”.
“Yes Sister I agree, but these killings are slipping by the Spirit Wardens, and that fact alone is enough to worry more than just the residents of Bell Weather Crematorium. Word is the Lord Governor has convened a meeting of the city’s great and good to discuss what to do about it.”.
“Tell me more about these killings Sister.”, demanded Sister Vestine.
“There have been at least six so far, each time the corpse is found with a coin in it’s mouth.”.
“A coin? Have you seen one, what do they look like?”, Sister Lizete was leaning in close now, the anger in her voice replaced by curiosity.
“By chance we had a visitor last night. A fool who hasn’t got a clue what he’s getting himself into! He came to the manor and demanded to be given an audience. Sister Brena told him what she could read from the coin he brought us.”
“And what was that?”, asked Sister Lizete.
“That it’s older than the empire! That it’s somehow linked to dark magics! There were markings on the coin, a primitive depiction of a leviathan. She could sense that the design on the coin somehow relates to a book of ancient knowledge. Knowledge that a great number of powerful people desire.”
Sister Lizete turned her back on the others and walked towards the nearest alcove. She seemed to watch the glowing spheres for a few seconds before quietly saying, “I’ve seen these coins and I can tell you there are more than six of them. I fear you may be right about the future of Doskvol!”.