«Under our Lady's grace, all who seek shall find such refuge», the voice replied. «A moment, if you please».
The aperture closed, they heard the sounds of thumping, of metal against metal as a bar was withdrawn, and then a wicket gate opened in the larger door, just high enough for a single rider to enter, crouched down. Drawing aside, Jessamy nodded to her daughter, who urged her pony through the opening, then gestured for Alyce and Marie to follow. Except by special permission, men were not permitted within the walls of Arc-en-Ciel, so their escort would retire to lodgings in the nearby village for the night. Meanwhile, Jessamy and the maid followed behind Alyce, Marie, and Jesiana, and the servant with the pack horse gave its lead over to a nun who led it through the doorway.
Inside, Jesiana was already off her pony and hurtling toward a slight figure in blue robes and the rainbow-edged white veil of a novice. Three more blue-robed women were waiting a little beyond, on the bottom step leading up to the chapel door, all wearing the sky-blue veil of professed sisters. The one in the center, a handsome woman of indeterminate years, also wore a silver pectoral cross.
«Welcome back to Arc-en-Ciel, dear Jessamy», she said quietly, holding out both her hands in greeting. «And these must be the two demoiselles of whom you wrote».
«They are, Reverend Mother», Jessamy replied, dismounting. «And thank you for meeting us in person».
She went and bent to kiss the woman's hand and then embrace her. Alyce and Marie also got down from their ponies, coming shyly forward as Jessamy beckoned.
«Mother, these are Alyce and Marie de Corwyn, daughters of the Earl of Lendour», Jessamy said, with a sweep of her hand. «Girls, this is Mother Iris Judiana, in whose charge you will be for the next several years».
Dutifully Alyce and Marie came forward to dip in pretty curtsies and kiss the mother superior's hand, earning them a faint smile of apparent approval.
«I bid you welcome, dear daughters», said Iris Judiana. «Sister Iris Rose will take you to the robing room, where you may clothe yourselves in the habit of our order. We shall meet you in the chapel shortly, where you will be enrolled beneath the Rainbow. Jessamy, I believe your Jesiana has already gone with her sister to the parlor. You are welcome to join them for a few minutes, if you wish, while the girls prepare themselves. I believe you know the way».
«Yes, Mother, thank you».
With a nod to the mother superior and a wink to Alyce and Marie, Jessamy hurried off in the direction her daughter had disappeared. At the same time, the novice called Iris Rose gave the newcomers a shy smile and indicated that they should follow, conducting her charges silently into the cloister enclosure. Passage along a short stretch of corridor paved with encaustic tiles in cream and blue brought them at last to an arched door whose rounded door case had been painted like a rainbow.
«In here, please», Iris Rose murmured, finally speaking, as she opened the door and stood aside to let them enter.
The robing room was cozy and warm, near to the parlor where visitors were received, and had its own fireplace and several screens to provide for the modesty of those who used it. Several robes of pale blue wool were laid out on a table before the fire, along with a folded stack of white wool under-gowns and a pair of cinctures plaited of different-colored cords of rainbow hues. Fingering the lining of a dark blue mantle draped over a corner of one of the screens, Alyce decided that the fur was rabbit, or possibly squirrel. Not so sumptuous as the fox-lined cloaks she and Marie wore at present, but clearly the sisters of the rainbow did not intend their votaries to freeze to death.
«May I assist you with those?» Iris Rose asked, lifting tentative hands toward the cloak Alyce had started to unfasten at the throat. «Oh, 'tis heavy as well!»
She hugged the cloak against her body as she gathered up its folds, letting out a faint sigh as her appreciative gaze took in the fine gown of forest green wool beneath, and the deep blue one that Marie wore.
«Ah, me, I fear our habits are not nearly so elegant as the gowns to which you must be accustomed», she sighed. «But we believe they are pleasing to our Lady», she added, lifting her chin in faint challenge for Alyce to say otherwise.
«No, I'm sure the habits are quite suitable», Alyce said diplomatically, as she picked up one of the blue gowns and held it against herself to measure its length.
«You'll find several different lengths and sizes to choose from», Iris Rose said helpfully. «We never know what our new postulants will look like».
«We aren't postulants», Marie said briskly, shaking out one of the under-gowns. «We've come as students».
«Oh, of course you have», Iris Rose said lightly. «Please forgive me. I didn't mean to imply that you're expected to make vows. I suppose it's the habit of the habit». She essayed a tentative grin.
«You will be asked to promise that you'll abide by the rules governing the school, that you'll be obedient to the direction of Mother Superior and the sisters in charge of you, but that doesn't bind you from leaving, when your guardians determine that it's time for you to go. Surely someone told you that?»
Alyce made herself relax a little and began removing her outer garments, deciding that she liked Iris Rose. Though the other girl appeared to be a few years older than she and Marie, her carriage suggested gentle breeding — though perhaps that came of the convent education. With care, Alyce thought she might be able to find out more about what would be expected of her here; and it was always good to have a friend.
«Oh, of course we were told», she said, touching the other girl's hand in reassurance, though she did not yet dare to try establishing any kind of Deryni link. «My sister has heard too many horror tales of girls locked up in convents against their will. Tante Jessamy assured us that this is not the case at Arc-en-Ciel. In fact, she told us that her daughter has been quite happy here — though I must confess, we've not met her. I assume that you know Sister Iris Jessilde….»
«Oh, we all know Iris Jessilde». Iris Rose grinned, her brown eyes taking on a new animation. «She can be so funny — and she's quite the accomplished embroideress. Very pious, too. But — how can it be that you've not met her? Is she not your cousin, if Lady Jessamy is your aunt?»
«Well, I suppose she would be our cousin», Marie said, from within the folds of outer gown she was pulling off over her head. «But Tante Jessamy isn't really our aunt. She and our mother were like sisters, so we've always called her Tante Jessamy…»
«We only came to Rhemuth in the autumn, so we don't even know Tante Jessamy very well», Alyce said, picking up one of the white wool under-gowns. «Before last summer, we hadn't seen her for years».
«Oh», said Iris Rose. «Well, I know that Jessilde went home last spring for her father's funeral, but obviously you weren't there yet. So, where did you come from? You don't sound local».
Flashing Iris Rose a smile, Alyce stepped behind one of the screens nearer the fire and continued to undress.
«We're not at all local», she replied. «We were raised with our brother at Castle Cynfyn, in Lendour. But our mother died when we were very small, and our father has finally decided to remarry. Unfortunately, our new stepmother — didn't want rivals around for his affections», Iris Rose finished for her. «So he's packed you off to the convent for finishing».
«Well, we will need to manage large estates someday», Alyce replied, pulling on the new under-gown. «Our father is an earl, and our brother will be a duke when he comes of age — through our mother's inheritance», she added, at Iris Rose's sound of inquiry.
«I'd heard who your parents are», Iris Rose said neutrally. «Not that it matters to me — that you're… well, you know».