Across the bed was Shona Murray, the Lead Scholar of the Missionra Protectiva, the branch that acted as the record keepers and researchers for the Sisterhood. The blue tunic wearing woman sat close by the head of the dying woman, a notepad in her hand, as well as saying good bye to her friend it would be her role to record the final words or instructions of the Reverend Mother, even in death her words were law. Next to her sat Mary McCaul, the General of the Truthsayers, the Sisterhoods military order. She was sat in her khaki dress uniform in complete silence, her eyes never leaving the fading ones of the woman in the bed. In her hand Mary held a smooth knife known as a crysknife, it was made from bone and sharpened to a wicked point. It belonged to the Reverend Mother, all members of the Sisterhood made one in their final year of training regardless of their branch of service, it would be used for a whole host of rituals and now had one left to perform. Finally at the foot of the bed was Alison Grace, the 1st Matres, head of the Honored Matres, those girls deemed to be concubines and carers for the noble families. She was weeping, it was typical, everyone knew the Honored Matres were the most sensitive of the four branches and her tears for her dying friend ran down her cheek.
"Come close" the Reverend Mother croaked with a small gesture to Shona who dutifully did as she was instructed, her pen hovering ready. "The Sisterhood must expand, the Sisterhood needs new blood. The Kwizach Hadarach needs fresh chances, deliver it, open Chapterhouse" with that her eyes closed and Shona placed a hand over her nose and mouth, their was no breath. She placed two fingers at the old ladies neck, nothing.
"She's gone" Shona stood and moved to one side, "Mary, its time" The Truthsayer stood and took a bugle from her crossbelt, she blew it long and hard, the sound carrying out the open window a signal to the Sisterhood and the world that their leader was dead. The notes played she placed the bugle on the bed and took the knife, pricking the Reverend Mothers thumb she with the Crysknife she squeezed a drop of blood into a box containing the dark red ritual spice known as Melange, she used the knife to mix it and then another drop. The ritual prepared for the future she crossed to a box prepared for this purpose, it was full of chemicals designed to destroy the knife, its owners life over it's was too. Carefully Mary dropped it into the box and watched as it bubbled and fizzed.
The four women stood at the foot of the bed and began talking.
"Oh mighty Shai-hulud
Keeper of balance
Bless the Maker and His water
Bless the coming and going of Him
May His passage cleanse the world."
Two days later the Reverend Mother was given to the desert, her body had been taken from Chapterhouse up to the desert city of Seitch, the 2nd most holy place in the world to the Bene Gesserit. A deep hole had been dug, so deep the water table had been hit, with thousands gathered in the surrounding dune's the simple burial took place, he body wrapped only in a single thin piece of cloth and tied. "With this act we return the Reverend Mother to the desert from where we all came. Her water shall return to the Earth and her body consumed by the sandworm, to become Melange, by this action her knowledge shall live forever more." A small 12 year old girl recited at the grave side, it was always the duty of a young apprentice to remind the Sisterhood that the Reverend Mother would in some form last forever.
All that was left now was to select the successor, this was done back at Chapterhouse, the Missionara had researched long and hard the last few days, with the diagnosis of cancer they had been prewarned and as such the task had been made simpler. Katherine Mayfield had of course made the list, as to had the 3rd ranked Mother, a middle aged woman who had horn rimmed glasses, but finally they had selected a 19 year old, just one year out of training at Chapterhouse, her family lineage and test results had made her an unlikely choice but the Missionara were swayed by science and logic and not neccessarily tradition. The three candidates were each accompanied by a member of the Missionara who meet with the heads of the other three branches, each scholar presented the case for their representative and then the final test came. Each of the three perspective new Reverend Mothers was given a small pinch of the spice Melange, it had come from the box with the blood of the former incumbent mixed in, each licked it from their fingers and then sat meditating on the floor. One at a time they were called behind a screen by Shona and asked a simple question. "What would the former Reverend Mother do?" each gave their answer in private and then returned, their actions being observed. With the final candidate asked they were dismissed and the three woman, Shona, Mary and Alison sat in discussion.
"I can't believe we're doing this" Alison shook her head.
"It was almost word for word" Shona showed the pad with the words spoken by the deceased woman, next to them were the answers given just moments ago, and there was an almost identical answer, just a word different. "We must abide by our methods" Shona insisted and the others reluctantly nodded.
"Very well, do as we've been instructed." Mary announced, with that their choice was made, 19 year old Erin Brennan would become the new Reverened Mother, and with that she would meet the world.
To All Heads of State
It is with deep regret we announce the death of Reverned Mother Tessa Harris at the age of 67 from cancer. She had served as the leader of both the Bene Gesserit faith and the leader of Kaitaine for 25 years and in that time gained the love of her people. She was buried in the traditions of her faith that she loved, and as such there will be no state funeral. Her dying wishes have been used to help determine a successor. In two days time, at the next full moon, Erin Brennan will inherit the Reverned Mothers title and knowledge, this will give her the triple role of leader of the Sisterhood, leader of the Bene Gesserit and leader of Kaitaine. It was Reverned Mother Harris' wish that the faith open ourselves from much of our secrecy and embrace the world in a warmer way than we have. Therefore we invite all nations to send a representative to witness the initiation of Erin Brennan at Chapterhouse Island.
May Shai Hulud pass you by
The Sisterhood and the Four Holy Houses of Kaitaine
It had been determined that a small reception would be held at the quayside that housed the only boats permitted to travel to Chapterhouse, they were not luxurious, simply wooden hulled boats with small engines for calm days and sails for days like today where the wind made the sea form small peaks. Each boat was painted black and had the gold Bene Gesserit emblemn painted on one side. There hulls had been rubbed down with the spice Melange to bless them and their passengers which would now form, or at least was hoped, members of the international community. As the most beloved of the Four Holy Houses, at least by Harris, it was left to Niklaus Corrino to meet any of the arrivals. He was rather nervous and his wife Agatha urged him to stop pacing as the ships crews watched him. "Dear you're wearing a groove in the beach" she chuckled as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Look, think about it this way, everyone who comes here is going into this blind, at least we know whats coming next and how things will be done. They'll be so nervous about making cultural mistakes they'll be grateful to see you helping them. So relax, enjoy the day, and start planning how we make this girl keep you as her favourite." she kissed him on the cheek and held his hand to stop him beginning his pacing once more.
