The little girls stopped combing and stared, big-eyed, until noticed by the old woman.
'That's enough.' She took the combs from them. 'Thank you, my dears. You can go now.'
The girls hurried away and she returned her attention to Tom. 'In your former realm. When this ceremony was held. Was it during the Moon of Morning Mists or at some other time?'
'At some other time, Majesty. On the first day of the Corn Moon, when the planting was done.'
'Aye. That makes sense.' The queen nodded. 'I've often thought there was something odd about holding a ceremony like this when winter is upon us.'
'I've given some thought to it,' Tom replied confidently. 'From my investigations, it seems the Blessed Sisters have slipped up in their calculations and got the dates of nearly all the holy festivals wrong. Their mistake stems from the fallacious assumption that there are exactly thirteen moons to one sun. This assumption is approximately correct but leads to cumulative errors which ...'
'Sky Warrior.' The old woman gave Tom a cautionary glance. 'I don't know what you're talking about. You sound like the priests of the Duideth. Don't try to confound me with clever words.'
'You don't need to understand.' Tom changed tack. 'I can correct the error. I'll tell the Sisters of Rebirth where they've gone wrong.'
'No. You are not to interfere in religious matters. You must confine your attention to matters of a military nature and leave religion well alone. My heart dies whenever I hear you talk of the Holy Mother or speak the name of the Lord Sun. You do not understand the damage you can do.'
Tom felt like a little boy being disciplined by an elderly aunt. The old woman saw his downcast expression.
'Sky Warrior. I am mindful of your concern for us.'
Tom looked more cheerful.
'I am honoured, Majesty.'
She smiled. 'You have done us a great service by your presence but I wonder what benefit there is in it for you.'
'Benefit, Majesty?'
'Aye. Sky Warrior.'
Tom was at a loss for words. He'd always looked upon his passage between realms as an adventure ... a bit like climbing a mountain ... something worthwhile in itself. He cleared his throat.
'I came here somewhat by mistake.'
'You have already told me that.' The queen inclined her head. 'That was not my question. I wonder about your blessed soul light. We all have paths through this mortal plane. What path will your soul tread?'
Tom was flattered that the old woman should worry about his cosmic destiny. He had never thought of her as religious. She spoke in religious terms but so did a lot of people in her position. Now it seemed she really believed what she was saying.