"Groomer?" Thought Lisell, what could that mean? Her heart raceing with new worries the girl tried to still the new fears that now stumbled over each other in her mind. When the door was opened by another old crone, Lisell peered forward in fear and anticipation. Another brightly lit corridor stretched out in front of her. This was different tho', it had doors and hallways scattered along it's length. As they were admitted to the corridor and the door closed behind them, the two warders marched confidently forward. After passing several of the doors, they turned to the first right-hand corridor that presented itself. Another corridor, this to the left. Now a right turn down a dim hallway. After 5 or 6 such turnings, Lisell knew that she would never be able to remember where she was in this seemingly endless labyrinth. After what seemed to be miles of walking, the two slowed and halted in front of a non-descript door. It was no different than any of the several dozen that they had by-passed already. Tall (as Lisell now thought of her), now gently rapped once on this door, and was answeared by a querulous and somehow, gnarled voice from the room beyond. Lisell couldn't quite make out the words, but Tall evidently did. "We have a young lady that wishes to meet you, Sister.." A grunt from within, and Lisell understood the next word from that strange voice. "Enter." Tall reached out and opening the door, ushered Lisell into the room, while at the same time the two women held back and stayed in the hall. As she shuffled into the dimly lit room, Lisell vainly tried to pierce the gloom with her frightened eyes. A soft sound behind her caused the lass to spin around, only to discover that the door had been closed and she was now alone with who ever was this 'groomer'. Turning back to the room with more than a little trepidition she saw movement directly in front of her. An indistinct arm was lifting out of the shadows from what appeared to be a vast chair. "Closer child." came the imperious command. Without willing it, her legs moved forward as if under some magical spell. The raising arm, now struck a match upon something and reached the sudden sparkling brightness to a small lamp that instantly sprung into a soft amber glow. This glow brought the details of the room and the match wielder into view. Lisell now was faceing one of the most peculiar looking women she had ever seen. Sitting in a high-backed chair that was covered with a fabric of the darkest velvet green, was a woman of extremly advanced years. And what a woman. Lisell watched in wonder as the ancient one stood to examine the youngster. Sister Majjerit was maybe 5 feet in height, Lisell was astonished to realize that the woman must weigh 200 or more pounds. Broad and apple colored cheeks dominated a face that featured eyes so puffy with sleep that they were mere slits. A few wayward wisps of dark grey hair were trying to escape the skull cap that was slightly off of center. A mouth that was more of a gash under the bulbous nose was flanked by rows of laugh lines. With a grim visage the old one shuffled to a position in front of the terrified child. "Well Gurl, turn around, let me see you." This said a voice that betrayed the fact that the old woman had just been rudely awakened. Lisell did as bid, and turned slowly in a circle, while wondering what ws going to happen next. As she again faced the woman, Lisell was unable to avoid staring into the slits that hid the crone's eyes. A bright twinkle was all she could see of those hooded eyes. "By God, you are in rough shape child." "Nearly nekkid, I bet those bitches of the top floor ain't even given thought 'bout yer damned feed neither. It's damned sure you ain't been bathed in years, an the stupid sluts never thought of that either." At this stream of unexpected profanity from the woman, Lisell cringed back and tried to cover her hitherto forgotten nudity with her hands. A cackle and the ancient face split open in a grin that was astonishing. The line that indicated the mouth of the woman became a cavern that revealed that she had at the most maybe five teeth and she now laughed at the childs shock. Ahh, child, don't pay attention to this old woman's mouth, never did learn how to speak politic, if you know what I mean." This being said, the woman placed her hands on her hips and stared hard at the girl for a moment. "First things first, as I always say, what's yer name child?" "Lisell, mum." came the stuttered answear, with her wide eyes locked onto the face of her inquisitor. "Lisell, hunh, well that for sure is a purty name." "Now you follow me, and we will get you decent." With astonishing speed the crone moved towards the door and opening it and beckoning the astonished girl to follow headed down the hall to the right. To her surprise, Lisell had to almost run to keep up with the older woman. After a series of bewildering turns a now breathless Lisell was herded thru another door that led them into a room that was dominated by a huge pool of clear water. The old woman now clapped her hands and two younger women stepped out of the shadows, rubbing sleep from their eyes. "Clean this one!" came the imperious voice of the old woman. For the next half hour, Lisell was subjected to the first bath she had ever experienced in her eleven years. The two women had forced her into the water against her objections and literaly torn the remnants of her shift from her scrawny body. She had protested with much resistance when they tried to take the woolen bag with it's prescious coppers from around her neck. She had fought them fiercely when they tried to take the metal token given to her by the sergeant from her hand. Sister Majjerit had settled both arguments by takeing the items from her hands, and assuring her that they would be returned as soon as she was clean and dressed. After these two skirmishes, Lisell discovered that she could actually learn to luxuriate in the warmth of the pool and the ministrations of the two women that scrubbed layers of dirt and grim from her body. She didn't even object when they had to cut off several layers of her tangled hair. At the end of the bath, when the maidens dried her off and dressed her in a new shift of the purest white that she had ever seen, Lisell felt like a completely new person. The act of washing off the layers of her old life had somehow liberated the young girl. Even the critical Sister Majjerit nodded approval as Lisell stood demurly infront of her for inspection. Nodding her approval at the bath-maids, Majjerit dismissed them with a nod. "Now, gurl, lets get some food into that damned scrawny frame of yours." All Lisell could do was to try and keep up with the old lady as they sped down another corridor. Another 5 minutes brought them into a vast and almost deserted hall. This hall was filled with many long tables and benchs'. Majjerit strode purposly towards the far end, where she proceded to browbeat the poor woman there. Demanding "A meal, and a damned good meal, and right now, dammit!" After a few moments, the serving wench brought forth a platter filled with more food than Lisell had ever eaten in two weeks. Lisell followed Majjerit to a table and was ordered to clean every scrap off the plate. She tried to obey, really she did. However after the first dozen or so bites, she felt as if she was about to burst at the seems. Majjerit seemed to understand the fact that the young one wasn't used to such a surfeit of food. Showing Lisell how to dispense of the leftovers and the dirty tray, she then rapidly led the way back to her quarters. Once there the old one showed Lisell into a small alcove that contained a bed and a small dresser. Tucking the young girl into the bed she bent forward and looking deeply into Lisells' eyes "Ah, my child, sleep now, and sleep deeply, for tomorrow your education begins." With this said, the old witch leaned over Lisell and planted a soft kiss upon her cheek. The last thing that Lisell remembered as she drifted into sleep, was the sound of Majjerit humming happily to herself.