Ok, here's another shorter chapter. We kinda left Manna in a tight spot, and things aren't looking great for her at the moment, but lets go back to her POV. Remember that all she knows right now is that Simar was setting out to find Karina...

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MANNA

It had been nearly two days since Simar Temdin had come to her, and she had yet to hear any news regarding the Council's ruling on the fate of herself or her student. The confinement of her home had grown unbearable. Manna had been unable to eat or sleep as she waited with dread to hear her worst fears confirmed. 

Simar could not have failed to find her student. Manna was certain of it. And though she wanted so much to believe that Karina's power would be enough to convince the High Priestess to work towards sparing the girl's life, there were no guarantees.

What if Simar too had deemed Karina too dangerous to live? She had hoped that the woman's honor would prevent her from making such an unjust decision, but what if fear had won out instead? And then there was the Council.

 Simar Temdin was a persuasive woman, but Avery was exceedingly stubborn. Manna knew his desire for revenge was likely to close his ears to any talk of mercy for herself or the girl. A petty man, he might have sentenced Karina to death merely to make Manna suffer.

Manna tried to console herself with the likelihood that no news was in fact a good sign. If there had been a ruling made against them, Avery Trenton would have no reason to delay convening the assembly that would make her condemnation official. 

Still, as day passed well into night yet again, Manna sat awake at her kitchen table, an unfinished cup of tea clutched tightly in her hands, waiting for the dawn and a new chance that she might finally gain release from the prison of her thoughts with a concrete answer to her fears. She had nearly dozed off when she heard the voice.

"Elder Nita."

Manna looked up in surprise, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Her guards had long since fallen asleep in their chairs by the door. The room was otherwise empty. It took her a moment to realize the words she heard had not been spoken aloud.

It was then Manna noticed a shimmering patch of air by the light of the fire. As she stared, a strange translucent figure materialized. Manna bowed her head immediately in deference to the new presence in the room.

"I know you," she said in an awed whisper, fearing that she might wake her guards. "Though it has been long since I have felt your presence here in this place, long since you visited the child entrusted to my care. I am honored to once again invite you into my home though I know I am not worthy."

"Raise your head, Manna Sayers," came the response in her mind. "You are indeed worthy of my presence and I would speak with you."

Manna obeyed though she remained entirely awestruck. Of all the visitors she might have expected to enter her home, a spirit of such strength seemed the most impossible of guests.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" she asked, speaking to the creature wordlessly. She tried to rise from the table, but the creature held up a shadowy hand to stop her

"There is no need to rise on my account," the spirit said. "I can sense your exhaustion, Elder Nita. You have been put through great pain and I have no desire to add to your suffering in any way. Please rest yourself and I will answer all of your questions." As Manna sat again, the spirit came closer to the table, though she maintained her distance.

"As I did in the past," the faery continued, "I come here in service of your student, Karina Amoral."

Manna felt her heartbeat quicken, her fingers digging into the wooden table as she braced herself for whatever news the creature had come to bring. 

"Please tell me spirit," she begged, "is she safe?"

The creature nodded its translucent head and Manna breathed a guarded sigh of relief, releasing her grip on the wood slightly.

"Simar Temdin has questioned her," the faery said.

"And her conclusions?"

"I believe she will help us for now in keeping the girl alive."

Manna heard the uneasy tone in the faery's voice and felt her own fears mount again.

"There is more isn't there?"

The shadowy figure hesitated a moment before she responded.

"I do not trust the High Priestess."

Manna sighed. "I don't believe I have any choice but to trust her," she answered. "And if she will protect my student as I cannot, she will have my gratitude. The Council will no longer listen to me. With good reason I suppose," she added with a sad smile. "How could they? I have betrayed them for so long."

"You have worked to save them from a grievous error," the faery corrected. "Do not allow their ignorance make you doubt the truth. You know what you and Fiona Amoral did was right."

Manna nodded, trying to hold back the tears of relief and regret she felt forming in her exhaustion.

"Manna Sayers," the creature said. "You have already stated you 'know me'."

Manna nodded once as she wiped at her eyes and attempted to regain her composure. "I remember you. When Karina was a young girl she used to tell me of her conversations with a denizen of the fae. I recognized your presence as soon as you entered. You were that spirit were you not?"

"Then you know my name," the faery replied. "The child must have told you. She did not know any better. Why do you not now attempt to use it now?"

Manna smiled and shook her head slightly. "You have so little faith in the manners of my people," she replied. "You gave that name to Karina Amoral. I have no right to employ it."

"You are a wise woman, Manna Sayers," the spirit answered. "I willingly give my name to you now. I trust you to keep it safe and give you full permission to employ it should you believe my aid could be to your benefit."

"Then I am honored. I will only use it in dire need. But for the help you give the child I love as my own, I will take that name to the stars as I leave this earth, and sing its praises for all of eternity."

"You do not have much time left."

Manna gave another tight-lipped smiled and shook her head.

"My heart is broken, great spirit. My soul is tired. I need the rest only death can provide. Whatever the Council decides my fate to be, I fear my time is coming to an end. I pray only that my transgressions in this life will not keep me from the God's light when my soul departs."

The faery said nothing for a moment, as she seemed to be considering her words.

"I am a creature of this world and know little of any life beyond it," she answered finally. "But I tell you, a God who would not accept a soul such as yours is one I would not deem worthy of worship."

"You are kind," Manna said. The faery's words were the first of true comfort she had heard since her announcement to the Council. Manna realized she had feared she might never again hear another truly kind word.

"May I ask you something?" Manna said after a moment.

"You may."

"Why to do you help the girl? I can never show the degree of gratitude I feel towards you for having done so, but I do wonder at the benefit to yourself."

"In fact, I wondered that myself for a long time," the faery replied, "But somehow I was drawn to Karina Amoral. From birth I watched her grow. She is a remarkable creature. It is as if she is of faery blood, though her lineage is clearly human. She fascinates me. Her soul is kind. In the end, I suppose I stay by her side because it pleases me to do so. Our lives are long. I occasionally find interest in children of the mortal realm."

"Your Queen does not approve of such endeavors as I recall," Manna answered.

 The creature laughed slightly. "No, she does not," she agreed. "Still Amara and I have our understandings."

Manna said nothing. Clearly this creature was high in the court of the faery Queen to speak of her so casually. Manna marveled at Karina's ability to attract the attention of one so powerful. Though she wondered if the creature was not hiding some greater reason for her interest in the girl, she was confident the faery had her student's best interest in mind.

"Simar has taken Karina to the Council Leader," the faery continued, returning to the matter at hand. "But she has already convinced Avery Trenton to spare your student's life. Karina is with the priestess now and is safe. The Elder Council met already this evening and I believe they will announce the Council and the Initiate's joint rulings tomorrow."

Manna nodded, not bothering to ask if the spirit had any news regarding her own fate. If she had something to share, she would have likely done so already, and in the end, it didn't matter. For Karina's life, she was willing to sacrifice her good name and face the flames of the pyre.

"I am prepared for the Council's ruling as long as Karina is in no danger," she said.

"You are a woman I respect, Manna Sayers," the faery answered. "Much of Karina's goodness has come from your teachings. If I can help you in any way, do not hesitate to call on me."

Manna smiled. "You have already helped me so much. My mind is at ease thanks to you. I am eternally grateful."

"I help the child for my own sake," the faery replied. "The aide I offer you is intended to repay the debt no one else will think to repay, for the service you have provided in producing such a worthy student to follow in your footsteps."

"It was my duty to do so."

"Nonetheless."

Manna bowed her head low. "I humbly accept your offer of service," she said. "I pray I will have no need to use it and I wish only that you continue to extend your pledge to the child on my behalf."

"I will watch over her. That is my solemn promise."

"Promises from the fae are hard won. I am honored."

The faery nodded once, and then she was gone. Manna looked to the men by her door who remained in blissful slumber and was suddenly very tired. Feeling better than she had since Fiona's death, Manna went to her bed and, for the first time in a long time, she slept soundly. 

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So this was kinda a breather chapter. The next chapter will bring will bring the official Assembly at which Manna and Karina's fates will be decided...So any thoughts on the chapter? Perhaps in seeing how Manna treats Serifina you can see a bit more why the faery might have been annoyed by Simar? Do you feel like you learned anything more about Serifina in this chapter? I know its only a brief sighting;-) You will get a bit more of her before the book is through. As always, thanks for reading! And if you liked the chapter, don't forget to click the star:-)