Chapter 15

New Beginnings

"The likeness was astounding though, more than I'd expect for any two people other than twins.", Weamar said. "Strange even if we were related."

"I've seen that happen, though it is most unusual.", Marius replied.

"Do you recall any other details about these tales of Henri?", Weamar probed, hoping that there was more to the story. "What happened to him, or where he went?"

Marius reflected back for a moment. "I'm sorry, the tale only says that Henri disappeared.", he answered, looking sympathetically at the ranger. "I believed it to be only a story, and so I didn't ask any questions."

Weamar nodded. "That's fine.", he answered. "I just thought the story may have said something."

Marius shook his head. "But if you were running away from someone like the Lady Renier, there aren't many places where you could hide.", he said, trying to be helpful.

Weamar raised his eyebrows. "Her reach is that extensive?", Weamar asked, with the tone of someone asking a rhetorical question.

"She has allies everywhere.", Marius explained. "Dementlieu, Mordent, Borca, and she aids the resistance in Falkovnia. And so, if my geography is correct, that leaves Verbrek as the only other country which borders Richemulot."

"Which can be hard to find things in, even if you do know it well.", Weamar said, stating an obvious truth.

"He could have gone there.", Marius said. "Of course, it's just a hunch. The Mists could have snatched him up and taken him anywhere."

Weamar nodded. "True, I know that only too well, since it is how I first arrived here in Sturben.", he reminded the priest.

"Indeed. I remember now.", Marius replied. "The three of you arrived that way."

"Yes, the fates or gods or just chance. I don't know.", Weamar said, getting mystical, which was rare for him. "We've not long parted ways again."

"It did seem preordained.", Marius replied. "That was the reason I helped you so much. I believed that Ezra had a hand in it. I still do."

Weamar considered the events of the last few months and smiled. "Ezra's ways are convoluted, indeed, then....", he said. Then he switched subjects. "Actually, considering recent events, does the name 'Kendra' mean anything to you?"

Marius searched his memories once more. "I've heard tale of an evil sorceress by that name who lives in the midst of the Shadow Rift.", he replied. "A Drow or so I've heard. One of only a few who remain."

"That's her.", Weamar answered. "I'm not sure whether 'evil' is the word I'd use. Nor that she's exactly 'good' either. She restored Eliza to health, for example, but at considerable cost."

Marius didn't like what he heard. "Considerable cost?", he asked hesitantly.

"We obtained some powerful magic items for her, 'gloves of life and death' you might call them, as the price for restoration.", Weamar explained.

"Have you told Aselid?", Marius said. "I'm sure that he would know better what to do about that."

"No, I left there a few days, well a week now, ago. Did a whirlwind tour of Verbrek, and then came here.", Weamar replied.

"I hope that Eliza is all right.", Marius said, feeling very worried.

"As near as I could tell, yes.", Weamar replied. "It's so hard to tell with that accursed pair of rings. Lynn certainly seemed to react as though things were fine. Then again, with a powerful enough being wearing the other ring, Lynn may have had no choice, maybe... I don't know."

Weamar's voice trailed off. Everything seemed so uncertain.

Marius looked at Weamar, and worried even more. "Yes, Eliza told me about the rings when I saw her last.", he said and didn't say more.

Both men sat deep in thought for a while.

"However, regardless of her 'evilness' or otherwise, one thing seems true of Kendra, she expects people to keep their word and does likewise.", Weamar said, hoping to dispel Marius' concern. "There was nothing other than that compelling her to restore Eliza once we'd given her the Hands."

Marius looked up at Weamar and simply nodded. Weamar wasn't sure if the priest had heard what he said or not. Weamar decided to change the subject.

"Marius, you said Aselid might know what to do.", Weamar asked. "Do you know where he's likely to be at the moment?"

"He would either be at his home in Port-a-Lucine, or traveling somewhere.", Marius replied.

"I'll see what I can do about getting in touch with him for some advice.", Weamar said. "Speaking of getting in touch, if the church is going to move you, do you know where to yet?"

"I will be staying here, just at a lower capacity.", Marius replied, then he went back to thinking.

"I've worried you with what I've said.", Weamar said apologetically.

"I'm worried, yes, but I needed to know.", Marius answered. "I've enjoyed this talk with you. Do come again the next time you pass nearby."

"I shall, though if the church is looking for me that could be difficult.", Weamar said with a frown. "Is there anyone inside the church who might be trusted, and willing of course, to act as a go-between?"

Marius gave that some thought. "Not of the Home Faith. Not now at least.", he said. "But those in the Mordent and Dementlieu sects would be more understanding."

Weamar nodded. "Thanks very much for your time Marius, I'm sorry to be the bearer of such serious news.", Weamar replied as he stood to take his leave.

"I hope that the next time we meet that it will be on happier terms.", Marius replied.

"Likewise, very much.", Weamar answered, but wondered if such hoping would only be in vain.


Marinae was in the common room of the Red Eagle, sipping juice, eating breakfast, and people-watching when Shana's carriage arrived. The driver took care of Maelstrom and Shana invited her inside. The carriage was nice and roomy with soft cushions and springs over the axles. Marinae was surprised at how smooth the ride was.

"Nothing like the last wagon I rode in.", Marinae said with one of her typical understatements.

Shana just smiled. "I hear that you've been around.", she said. "Tell me about your travels."

Marinae gave her a sketchy condensation of her first adventure, where she and her friends sent Rastinon back to whatever realm he was trapped inside.

"You defeated Rastinon?", Shana said with a skeptical tone.

"He has doubtless been replaced by another evil monomaniac by now.", Marinae said, downplaying her deed. "But yes, we did."

"I'm impressed.", Shana added.

Marinae didn't mention the book or the gems and Shana didn't ask about them, but Shana knew that Azalin would be very interested in their whereabouts. She made a note of it and let Marinae continue with her stories. The young sorceress began to tell of her adventure through Falkovnia but when she came to the parts with the Drow she glossed over many of the details, mentioning Kendra only as an ill-favored woman who essentially bargained Eliza's life in return for the Hands of Balican.

"And what was this woman's name, may I ask?", Shana asked, growing very curious.

Marinae eyed Shana uncomfortably for a long moment. "Kendra.", she said, hoping that it wouldn't make the elf upset.

Shana looked uncomfortable for the first time as she heard the name. Then she smoothed out her expression. "You made a deal with that woman?", she asked curiously.

"Now you know why I didn't want to tell you.", Marinae explained. "And you must tell no other, without good reason. I owe Eliza my life, many times over. I was willing to bargain for that reason alone, though now I understand that my having done so prevented Drakov from getting the Hands. If only for a time."

"Eliza is in grave danger.", Shana said to Marinae's surprise. "Who knows what that woman has done to her."

"I cannot argue with that. It troubles me.", Marinae admitted. "Perhaps it is as Moth...er, certain people would say: Honor is a quaint, archaic notion, but is of little use in our modern times. But honor is important to me, even dealing with one such as, that, for the sake of a friend."

"Kendra is the enemy of all Darkon.", Shana said flatly.

"And Drakov is the enemy of all elf-kin.", Marinae countered. "I do not excuse my dealings, nor do I regret them, for they were done in good faith."

"You will not make any more deals with Kendra.", Shana said in a way that suggested that something terrible would happen to Marinae if she did. "This time, you are forgiven.", Shana added, asserting her position as a high ranking officer in the Kargat.

Marinae thought that it was rich, being ordered around by someone who wasn't there and who didn't know that she had no choice, but she said nothing. Then Marinae ordered her thoughts, mindful of the rumors that the secret police liked to eavesdrop upon them.

Shana wasn't though. There was no need. She knew that that was going to be taken care of once Marinae reached the castle. But she wanted to find out how Marinae truly felt about Kendra.

"Does Kendra trust you then?", Shana asked slyly.

Marinae was taken aback by the seemingly simple naiveté of such a question. But then she remembered that she was talking with an elf, who had the habit of framing their questions with shaded meaning and nuance.

"Trust? Hardly. She doesn't need to trust anyone. She has power over people.", Marinae replied. "I avoided using magic of any kind in her presence because she could have destroyed me as easily as a man kills an insect, and with as much effort."

"Do not mistake me.", Marinae continued, trying to make her point clear. "Had we not played her game, she would likely have killed us all. We suited her for the moment, but only because it was of use to us."

"Perhaps then you could be quite useful to us as well.", Shana replied. "Do you think that you could get back inside her castle?"

Marinae laughed out loud, but only partly in amusement. "The humans have a saying for such situations: 'Not on a bet'.", she replied, thinking of her father.

Shana frowned and gave Marinae a hard stare.

"Nothing happens in her realm without her knowledge.", Marinae replied, straightening herself up.

"We know how to deal with that.", Shana said firmly. "But we cannot get anyone close enough to her."

"First you tell me not to deal with her.", Marinae replied cleverly. "Now you hint at further dealings?"

Normally Shana would have come down hard on someone acting so flippantly towards her, but Shana saw that Marinae's attitude was one of her strongest assets and she wanted to encourage it. They needed someone who wasn't afraid of Kendra, or the Kargat, to go after the Drow sorceress.

"Cloak and dagger.", Shana said with a smile. "We mean to get rid of her once and for all."

Marinae knew that she probably wouldn't have a choice either way, though Shana was at least polite enough not to mention the exile when she asked.

"You do realize that this will only open a power vacuum for another like her to fill?", Marinae replied. "Besides, I have somewhat uncomfortable reasons for not wanting to go back."

"She is an unwelcome guest in Darkon.", Shana said. "And when we are rid of her Azalin will make sure that no one takes her place."

"It's not as if I have a choice. Is it?", Marinae asked, knowing that she didn't.

Shana just smiled. "We hope that it is something that you want to do.", she answered.

Marinae saw the writing on the wall. "But it's not as if I have a choice. Is it?", she asked again, then added. "If, IF, I do this, I want something very big in return."

"Such as?", Shana asked.

"I want my exile ended.", Marinae answered.

"Is that all?", Shana replied. She had to admit that it wasn't very much. The Kargat could make that happen in a heartbeat.

"Isn't that enough?", Marinae replied. "I have spent two years being utterly homeless. I suppose I could have written letters or something. But all this time, I couldn't do the important things, like tea with Grandmother.", Marinae's voice trailed off. "It's the only thing that really matters."

"Then after you have talked with Azalin, we shall discuss this mission.", Shana said.

When Marinae got out of the carriage that night she was surprised to find that they were already in Viaki. At that speed they would reach Castle Avernus the next day. Marinae retired and slept fitfully, having nightmares about Drow, Falcons, and a man's face erupting into flames.

When they got underway the next morning Shana wanted to talk about Eliza.

"What exactly did Kendra do for Eliza?", Shana asked, saying the words carefully.

"As I understand it, she banished the black thing and captured it for her own purposes.", Marinae replied.

"Did Eliza act strangely afterwards?", Shana asked.

"I suppose she did, but I believed it part of her recovery.", Marinae answered.

"Did Kendra have contact with anyone else?", Shana asked.

"I don't recall any of the others spending much time alone with her.", Marinae said, then added, "But we were in separate bedrooms, however, and there were hours during which we were separated."

Shana considered Marinae's words, but said little more the rest of the trip. She'd planted what she wanted into the young woman's mind.

By mid-afternoon they passed around Il Aluk to the south. Marinae could see the towers of a castle atop a great hill in the distance to the south of the city. The carriage continued for a couple of miles and then turned south. Not long after the driver stopped at a fork in the road.

"Castle Avernus is at the end of the road.", Shana explained. "I wish you well."

The driver untied Maelstrom and held his reigns for Marinae. Marinae was surprised at being sent to the castle alone but she hid it well and got out of the carriage. She checked Maelstrom over, retrieved his saddle and such from the baggage rack of the coach, and got him together.

"Is it far?", Marinae asked.

"A few miles.", Shana answered. "I would take you there personally but it is not allowed."

Marinae nodded but didn't understand. She vowed to ask Azalin once she saw him. Marinae tightened the saddle-girth and hopped aboard.

"Thank you for last night, and for the ride.", Marinae said politely.

Shana waved and the carriage rode away.

"Frying pans without fires are few and far between.", Marinae thought to her faithful familiar.

"I didn't like her.", Rambis replied.

"She certainly lives up to the mistrust the police have earned.", Marinae replied, remembering how she had just been recruited on a mission against Kendra. "She's certainly not above blackmail."

"I don't want us to make any deals with her either.", Rambis replied.

"She's another like Kendra. She has power, and she's willing to use it.", Marinae explained. "Even the Baron fears her. And I may have no choice."

"We should go back to Port-a-Lucine.", Rambis replied.

"No argument, there. But we wouldn't be allowed to leave Darkon.", Marinae replied.

Rambis sighed and said nothing else.


Lynn closed her eyes. She could see the men in her mind. They were all around her, holding weapons, and ready to strike. She stood in the center, holding her katana in front of her, and listening carefully to every move they made. Her heart raced. Her pulse pounded. She tightened her grip and prepared herself for battle.

With a scream one of the men charged towards her. She sensed him getting closer. She heard him raise his mallet into the air. Deftly she dodged to the side at the last moment, spinning and dragging the edge of her katana across his chest. The next man charged in at her. Lynn curled into a ball and dove at his feet, knocking him to the ground. Then she rolled back up to her knees and finished him off before he could get up. Two men charged her from either side. Moving quickly she parried one's ax, spun around, and then blocked the other's sword. The three engaged in a furious melee with neither Lynn nor her foes able to gain any advantage. Then a third man charged in with a spear. Fighting desperately Lynn knocked the spear aside and then parried the ax, but she was too late to catch the sword on her katana and the blow landed, ending the struggle.

"Fantastic.", the leader of the men said as he applauded.

The three men backed away and the other two rose to their feet. Lynn rubbed the spot where she had been hit by the wooden sword and hung her head. She knew that she had lost. In a real battle she would be dead now, and the men would have captured Eliza. She knew that she had to try harder.

"It's been a long time since I've seen such talent.", Lynn's fighting instructor told her. "You could be great, but you have much to learn yet."

The other men shrugged. Some were jealous and some were in awe, but they had all seen under her hood and strove extra hard to prove themselves worthy of the stunning woman who stood in their midst. Lynn could feel their desire. It reminded her of the days back at the fighting school in Paridon where she first learned the way of the sword.

Lynn had been a good student. She was always attentive and followed the instructor's lessons obediently. She was the best student when it came to doing drills. She was strong and agile and her intuition always seemed to lead her to do the right thing. But when it came to sparring she had problems. She couldn't make eye contact with her opponent. She couldn't even look in his direction. So when she drilled against another student she always lost miserably. The instructor almost gave her up as a lost cause, but one day he had an inspiration and had her spar wearing a blindfold. Normally that was a training exercise that he only did with his most experienced students, but he felt that maybe Lynn would take to the challenge like she did everything else that he had told her to do. He was right.

Lynn's first days with the blindfold were awful. She got hit a lot and fell over many times, but it didn't take long before she learned to trust her other senses and soon she was as good as anyone in the class. Some of the men envied her ability, and some of them admired her spirit, but they all desired her, and Lynn enjoyed that feeling because at home she had never felt wanted. She didn't hide her beauty. She didn't feel the need to. She let her long, curly brown hair flow freely down past her shoulders and wore tight clothing that revealed much of her fair skin. And when her fellow students no longer wanted to be her friends but her lovers instead she didn't resist or worry. After all, she had the ring that she had bought from an old whore to protect her and she loved the feeling of being loved. So she gave herself freely to the passionate young men and finally felt as though she had found true acceptance.

But when the instructor discovered her moral turpitude her world was turned upside down. Lynn remembered the day he called her into his office and told her that she would have to leave the school and never come back. Lynn was heartbroken, but she obeyed. The instructor had gone easy on her. If he would have reported her sins to the town council or the church they would have put her in prison, or worse. But that was something that he could never do, not to his star student. And as he watched Lynn turn away with her head down and tears coming to her eyes his heart opened up yet more. He took one of the weapons off the wall behind him, a well polished katana with a shining black scabbard, and presented it to Lynn.

"A beautiful weapon for a beautiful woman.", he told her. "Never use it in anger, and never let it rust."

Lynn nodded and took the sword in her hands. She swore to care for the weapon and hoped that she'd never have to use it.


Eliza was surrounded by books. The stacks of ancient tomes dwarfed the young woman as she turned page after page, searching for the truth. The pages were so old and the bindings so brittle that she had to be careful or else the books would come apart in her hands. Diligently she read on about the history of the church of Ezra, grateful that Bastion Joan Secousse of Ste. Mere des Larmes had allowed her the chance to use her library even though Eliza had been officially excommunicated from the church. But the Ste. Mere des Larmes sect did not like taking orders from the Home Faith in Levkarest and they didn't spend much energy enforcing its dictates.

Eliza knew that there were four sects of the church of Ezra. The Home Faith, founded by Yakov Dilisnya, which was based in Levkarest and which she had been a part of, was the most powerful. The Mordent sect, founded by the late Felix Wachter, was founded after the first schism and put forth a more compassionate view of Ezra. The Ste. Mere Des Larmes sect, founded by Joan Secousse, was the second most popular sect but did not extend far beyond Dementlieu. And there was an apocalyptic sect founded only decades ago by Teodorus Raines somewhere in the nether reaches of Darkon. Eliza knew that the Home Faith didn't like opposition from the scholars of the other sects and were seeking to bring those errant churches back into the fold.

Eliza also knew that the wars between Falkovnia and the four countries of the alliance had weakened Richemulot, Dementlieu, and Mordent so much that they had become dependent on the Borcan army for their defense. Borca's ruler, the Lady Boritsi, was using that dependence as leverage to levy high taxes on the merchants in those countries. She also leveraged her influence to allow the Home Faith to take more and more control over the Mordent and Dementlieu sects of the church. When she was a member of the Home Faith Eliza thought that what the Lady Boritsi was doing was a good thing. Now she wasn't so sure.

The church at Port-a-Lucine was a mystery in itself, having been discovered rather than built, by a group of missionaries which included a young Joan Secousse. Inside, Joan had found a stained glass likeness of Ste. Mere Des Larmes and saw that the likeness to Ezra was unmistakable. At that moment she knew that she had discovered the lost history of the church of Ezra and dedicated herself to probing the church and finding all it's hidden secrets. And find them she did. In buried chambers below the church Joan and the other anchorites discovered ancient texts that told of Ste. Mere Des Larmes, stories that matched well with accounts in the first two books of Ezra, but with some important differences.

The ancient scrolls told that Ezra was a goddess and had always been. The texts were clear on that point, and they also contained a different creation myth and philosophy which inspired Joan to write the Third Book of Ezra. At first the Home Faith was reluctant to accept it as revelation, but since Joan and her early followers were able to manifest a unique Shield of Ezra they couldn't be called heretics. But the Home Faith wasn't really comfortable with many parts of the third book and so they sought to discredit the sect, calling their scholars crazy and claiming that the tomes which had been discovered in the catacombs deep below their church were actually scrolls that the Dementlieu sect's scholars had penned and planted themselves.

In the year that she and Lynn had spent outside Port-a-Lucine Eliza had never entered Ste. Mere des Larmes. Part of that was because she feared that they would have her arrested and send her back to Borca for violating her excommunication. The other part of that was because she still believed the things that she'd learned about the heretic scholars of Dementlieu. Now she was questioning everything that she had learned from the church.

After the long trip home from Pont-a-Museau Eliza had spent a full week in bed, recovering from the strain of her ordeal. Though she slowly got better, there were dark times as well, and she would lie awake at night staring into the future which was now uncertain and frightening.  The innocent faith and hope that Eliza once held had been fiercely shaken. She felt betrayed by the church and couldn't understand how Ezra could allow her priests to pervert her word and will. In those dark moments, Eliza wondered if Ezra even cared what the church had become, and as she read more of Kendra's edition of the holy book and came head to head with the corrupt bureaucracy of the church, Eliza's hopes for a reconciliation grew even more distant.

One evening, while a gentle rain drummed upon the roof of their cottage, the gnawing doubt that had been building in Eliza since her return to the world of the living became too great to be ignored. Eliza laid awake in the arms of her lover. Being held by Lynn, bare skin to bare skin, should have comforted her but on that night it didn't. She tried to fight it, to push it down, but she couldn't. She knew that Lynn could feel her emotions and Eliza didn't want her to worry but it was just too much to hold on to. Eliza began to shudder and sob quietly, tears sliding down her face to the pillow beneath her.

Through the haze of her sorrow Eliza felt Lynn's warm support washing over her. It brought to Eliza's mind memories of long winter nights spent sitting with Lynn in front of the hearth. Sometimes they would talk for hours about anything and everything and other times they would just hold each other as the blazing fire warded off the season's chill.

Once Eliza's crying had eased she rolled over to lay face to face with Lynn in the dark of their bedroom. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "I know what I have to do but, Lynn, I'm so scared. I...I...", Eliza said as she bit her lip and clenched her eyes tight, fighting back a new wave of tears.

Lynn wiped away Eliza's tears futilely and then touched her forehead against Eliza's. "I know. You don't want to fight but sometimes you have to.", Lynn said softly. "And I'll be there by your side. Always."

Eliza felt the truth of Lynn's words. She knew that Lynn would stay with her no matter what and do anything to make sure she was safe. Eliza asked herself, "What have I done to deserve such devotion?" At that moment, in Eliza's mind, it was as though the pieces of a puzzle had all suddenly fallen into place. Devotion, like she had for her goddess. Eliza thought back on all the good and virtuous things that had so enthralled her about her path as an Anchorite. Protection, sacrifice, faith, hope, and love. The Church was meant to have been a physical representation of those concepts in the world. Through the long years since the first revelation had been granted to Yakov Dilisnya, that symbol had been changed and corrupted to suit base whims and desires of selfish and arrogant men.

However, laying right there in front of Eliza were those five ideals wrapped in the soft form of her beloved. Lynn had protected her from harm, mundane and monstrous, countless times. In the past Lynn had sacrificed her comfort and dignity, and if it would have been asked: her life, for Eliza. No one, not even Marius, had ever had the kind of pure and unblemished faith in her that Lynn did. Though both would fall into their own dark times, they always knew that so long as they were together there was hope for a brighter day. Finally, love. Eliza had never known that anyone could love as strongly and deeply as Lynn did. To be the focus of that love was almost overwhelming. Eliza was convinced of this revelation, now. It could not have been mere chance that she and Lynn had come together. Their love had a purpose greater than themselves.

Tears, born of joy rather than sorrow, now streamed down Eliza's face as she softly whispered, "You've saved my life more times than I can remember. You save my heart every time you kiss me. And now you save my soul."

Lynn smiled and kissed Eliza lightly. Eliza touched Lynn's face.

"How did I ever come to deserve someone like you?", Eliza said.

"When I said that I loved you, the first time.", Lynn said softly. "You took my hand. You gave up so much for me. I didn't know how I could ever repay you."

Eliza thought back to that time that seemed so long ago. "For everything I gave up, you've given me so much more.", Eliza replied, gently stroking Lynn's cheek. "Without you I'm nothing but with you, there's not a thing that we can't do."

Lynn smiled as Eliza's eyes opened wide. "I see it now.", the priestess said, filling with wonder and a sense of purpose. "You're the reason I'm here. I told you once that I had waited my whole life for Ezra to call me to a great task. When we met, that's when my life and my task really started."

Lynn kissed Eliza softly once again and Eliza melted into Lynn's kiss, losing herself in the moment. After a time she spoke again. "There's a temple in Port-a-Lucine.", Eliza explained. "They are a splinter sect of the faith and they believe some strange things but I think they might be more...accepting of us than the others. I have to go there. I have questions that need to be answered."

Lynn knew what she had to do too. She'd left fighting school too early and she wasn't good enough to defend herself and Eliza against all the things that they might face together. But they had money now and Lynn knew of a fighting school in town that was run by the best teacher in all the alliance. So she resolved to go there the next day and finish her training.

Lynn smiled at her beloved. "Do you have to go there right now?", she asked innocently.

Eliza smiled slowly and rubbed the tip of her nose against Lynn's as she shook her head and replied, "No, I don't."

Passion flowed through their rings and through their veins and they made love. As Eliza took a break from reading the books around her she remembered that night so vividly. It felt like the start of a new life for her. It felt like the day she pledged her heart and soul to Ezra. Through the good and the bad Lynn had lovingly cared for her, making her realize that Lynn's love was what had kept her going through the Mists. The love between them was a sign to the priestess that her goddess was real and did care. And so she felt that if she couldn't have faith and hope in the will of her goddess as embodied by the church, then she'd have faith and hope in what she saw as a personal expression of that will. Lynn.

Eliza felt through the ring. Lynn was on the other side as always and they sent warm feelings to each other. Eliza basked in the feeling and then went back to her studies. She needed to take a break now and then since her investigation wasn't going well. The books that she most wanted to read were missing. The library didn't have any earlier versions of the Book of Ezra, and almost every book from the time before and during the Drow war had been removed from the shelves. The only books from that period that remained were some thick and tiresome accounting summaries which Eliza set aside when she found them too boring to read.

Bastion Secousse, Joan as she liked Eliza to call her, had told her what had happened to the missing books. Every year representatives from the Home Faith came to Ste. Mere des Larmes to add copies of new books to the library. But when they did so, they also brought revised versions of older books, and removed some books completely. When Joan protested the representatives claimed that it was essential that they make the changes since the "purity of the doctrine" had to be maintained. But Joan knew that the real reason was to slowly bring all the churches into line with what the Home Faith taught, and to make the old doctrine the same as what the current church leaders believed.

Frustrated but determined, Eliza poured through the old books, knowing that she could find clues about the missing books within the books that had not been changed. Her most recent discovery confirmed her suspicions about the Canon of the Virtues. Eliza had looked through many books which summarized the church's position on the moral behavior of its members. She had noticed that only those books which had been written after the second edition of the Book of Ezra included references to the Canon of the Virtues. Books written before the second edition used quotes from other parts of the First Book of Ezra, but never quoted anything from the Canon of the Virtues. And what was more was that they seemed to be more lax about moral standards for anchorites.

It had been a revelation for Eliza. Here was proof that the Canon of the Virtues had been added to the First Book of Ezra at the time of the second edition. Yakov Dilysnia didn't write it, and Eliza wondered who did. She told Joan about the fruits of her research and the elderly woman smiled with pride at what the young priestess had discovered. Joan also had her scribes carefully copy the chapters of the books that showed the problems, just in case the scholars at the Home Faith discovered them and replaced those books as well. But Joan also told Eliza that it wasn't truly proof. Joan explained that just because the earlier books didn't reference the Canon of the Virtues it didn't mean that the Canon wasn't in the original First Book of Ezra. Eliza argued her side passionately but Joan knew the arguments that the scholars of the Home Faith would use against her. She'd heard them all herself in her many clashes with them. And so Eliza went back to the library with renewed spirit to find further proof that Kendra's version of the Book of Ezra was the original.


And that was how Eliza and Lynn spent their days. Eliza would pour through reams of religious texts while Lynn would hone her skills at the fighting school. In the evenings they would meet at the White Rose for dinner and tell each other about their days. Then, on the days when Lynn wasn't exhausted, Eliza and the rest of the crowd would bask in the bittersweet melodies that flowed from Lynn's angelic voice.

As they road home to their cottage one night Eliza rested on her lover's arm, happy and contented. In the moonlight she could see Lynn smiling broadly.

"What are you thinking about?", Eliza asked.

"Tomorrow.", Lynn said with a smile.

"What's so wonderful about tomorrow?", Eliza asked, feeling Lynn's wonderful mood and unable to hold back a smile.

"Because it's going to be just like today.", Lynn replied.