Chapter 144: Damn Hawnthornes
Mount Callum was no journey for the weak, neither was it a small journey for pregnant women. The sisters of the earth live on that mountain, dedicating their lives to helping women get their lives back together. They also say they follow Natuks, the great mother of nature and earth, the one who restores life and can choose to take one if she so wishes.
It wasn’t that I didn’t know about the sisters of the earth, it just that I didn’t care much for them since they were nothing more than an old midwife’s tale, mother to daughter whispers. So when Marian had told me I had spent the entire day in the library reading up on what I can on the sisters of the earth.
The sisters of the earth duties extended far beyond normal healing practices and midwifery work. Their mission was to protect an origin beyond the royal power and kingdom, powerful natural forces beyond war and governmental influence.
In the book I was reading, there were some pictorial art of Mount Callum and the artist had done quite a very good job on it, it looked almost realistic. Mount Callum stood as an immense shadow covered by mist which carried hidden mysteries. The steps that were drawn in the picture showed higher cliffs that required special caution and I will assume the paths became dangerous even in good weather conditions while the altitude caused breathlessness.
The sisters of the earth were also very shy people and as a result only limited people were allowed to visit them. Though I did find out that most of the women that visited them came from the long line of house Hawthorne. They believed it was thanks to the sisters that they managed to have save deliveries and also able to give birth to healthy heir that sustained the bloodline.
I would have claimed it was superstitious had I not read many stories about the sisters of the earth in some of the records hidden deep inside the archives of the library which contained details of their extraordinary accomplishments. The records contained stories of women who had near death experience but their health suddenly restored after they went to the mountain. They also had powers in their bodies and enlightenment in their minds. Another record also stated that women had been childless started having babies after spending time with the sisters of the earth. Another stated that the barren women found new vitality by recovering from death before returning to perform ancient songs that had faded into history.
Marina had also told me I needed to be humble during my trip. Nothing fancy, just a horse some food stuff for the journey and three companions to go along with. Marina had assured me the journey was safe since it was said Natuks watch over those who came to seek sanctuary in her abode.
Honestly the whole thing if I had my way, I’d rather just stay in and just deliver my baby the old fashioned way instead of being locked in the mountains with a bunch of nuns but of course nothing ever goes the way I want it to.
Besides Marina had given me with a long speech about how it’s very important I do not break this tradition so I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.